SUFFOLK SHERIFF ANNOUNCES NEW “SKILLS” SCHOOL PROGRAM

    March 4, 2026

SUFFOLK SHERIFF ANNOUNCES NEW “SKILLS” SCHOOL PROGRAM   

 Program in Suffolk Middle Schools will Empower Youth to Make Good Choices and be Leaders 

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY) Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. announced today the launch of the SKILLS (Sheriff’s Kids Improving Leadership and Life Skills) program. The program will replace the GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) program, a national program which the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office has taught in schools across Suffolk County for nearly 20 years.

The SKILLS program was created by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office to strengthen connections between law enforcement and youth, empowering students to make good decisions and remain on the right path. While the GREAT program served the community well, it has become outdated, with its last curriculum update in 2018.

“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,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. “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.”

The SKILLS program is a 10-week curriculum designed for sixth grade students. The program began its launch this week in the William Floyd and Brentwood school districts. By creating its own curriculum, the Sheriff’s Office will be able to continuously update the program to address the evolving challenges facing today’s youth. Developing SKILLS also allows the Sheriff’s Office to train instructors internally. In the past, training new instructors for the GREAT program required sending officers away for certification or hosting outside training sessions, costing thousands of dollars. With the SKILLS program, new instructors can now be trained in-service, significantly reducing expenses.

The SKILLS curriculum includes:

• Developing strong communication skills

• Learning self-respect and respect for others, and practicing positive behaviors over bullying

• Understanding healthy vs. unhealthy social media use, internet safety, and identifying trusted adults

• Recognizing signs of cyberbullying and how to respond

• Practicing decision-making, goal setting, and establishing personal boundaries

• Understanding positive and negative peer pressure

• Discussing vaping, emerging trends, unintended consequences, and strategies for saying “no”

• Building active listening skills and empathy

• Identifying anger triggers, utilizing calming strategies, and learning conflict resolution techniques

For more information, please visit www.suffolksheriff.com or contact the Public Information Office at SheriffPIO@SuffolkCountyny.gov

Correction Officer interacting with students from William Floyd Middle School

Sheriff Toulon presenting the SKILLS program to community members

Correction Officer interacting with students from William Floyd Middle School