Suffolk Sheriff Introduces 10-Week SKILLS Program Replacing GREAT for Sixth Graders

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. has introduced SKILLS — Sheriff’s Kids Improving Leadership and Life Skills — a 10-week curriculum for sixth-grade students that began rolling out this week in the William Floyd and Brentwood school districts. Patch reported the program replaces the longtime GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) curriculum that the Sheriff’s Office taught in county schools for nearly two decades.

Patch quoted Toulon laying out the program’s aims: “We are excited to launch this brand new program aimed at assisting our youth in making good choices and empowering them to be leaders among their peers,” Toulon said. “The Sheriff’s Office has a robust presence in our school districts, and this initiative will further strengthen our relationship with the young men and women of our county. By developing this program in-house, we can keep the curriculum fresh, relevant, and inclusive of new trends.”

Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office materials describe SKILLS as “a 10-week initiative designed for 6th grade students that focuses on building essential life skills in a positive, engaging, and school-friendly environment.” The Sheriff’s Office lists the curriculum topics specifically: “Through interactive lessons and discussions, students learn effective communication, empathy, decision-making, conflict resolution, internet safety, and strategies for handling peer pressure and bullying.”

Program copy from the Sheriff’s Office frames SKILLS around values as well as techniques, saying the curriculum “promotes self-respect, respect for others, healthy behaviors, and responsible citizenship—without the stigma often associated with traditional prevention programs.” The web content also states that SKILLS was “Developed by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, SKILLS allows trained instructors to deliver impactful education efficiently while reaching more schools throughout the [...] efficiently while reaching more schools throughout the year.-program)BOOK NOW >>”

The Sheriff’s Office also references the Sandy Hook Promise Start With Hello program as a companion approach, listing its three steps verbatim: “See Someone Alone Step 1: Learn how to recognize the signs of loneliness and social isolation. Reach Out And Help Step 2: Find out what you can do to help others feel included. Start With Hello Step 3: Discover how to break the ice and strike up a conversation.” The office says Start With Hello “teaches students to be more socially inclusive and connected to each other.”

For regional context, the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office runs comparable youth programming and notes that “many of these programs are offered free of charge to local schools, teams, clubs, and community organizations.” Norfolk’s listings include Youth Leadership Academies with icebreakers, team-building and high ropes challenges, contact youth@norfolksheriffma.org or 781-353-3509, and the 2025 Braintree Youth Leadership Academy sessions at the Public Safety Complex, 2015 Washington Street, Braintree (session dates July and August 2025; registration for 2026 opens Monday, March 16th).

Suffolk officials say the in-house SKILLS curriculum is intended to both broaden prevention work beyond the GREAT model and strengthen ties between law enforcement and young people as the program expands to more schools throughout the year.