Stronger Communities Through Collaboration

The Staunton Police Department, Waynesboro Police Department, Augusta County Sheriff's Office and VA State Police established a local anti-gang taskforce, titled R.A.G.E (Regional Anti-Gant Enforcement). RAGE recognized the need for an increase in programs that allow at-risk youth positive alternatives. In addition to the R.A.G.E. taskforce, The Central Shenandoah Valley Office on Youth (OOY) had been working informally in the field of gang and violence prevention since the late 90's; With the rise in gang and drug activity over the last few years, the Office determined the need to create a formalized gang prevention strategy for the community. Toward this end, the SAW 2010 Coalition was formally formed and coordinated its effort with RAGE. SAW 2010 represents what the community (Staunton, Augusta County, Waynesboro) could be like in the year 2010 after a three-year concerted gang prevention effort is made. The mission of SAW 2010 is to be a proactive, multi-organizational coalition charged with educating, preventing, and reducing street gang activity within the City of Staunton, Augusta County, and the City of Waynesboro. The SAW 2010 coalition is a regional prevention effort incorporating representatives from area school personnel, law enforcement, probation officers, clergy, mental health professionals and interested citizens. This project proposes the coordination of gang prevention and intervention strategies in the community through the continued funding of the salary of a SAW 2010 gang prevention coordinator who will be the point of contact in the community for gang prevention, a community service supervisor who will work with local police and school officials to target at-risk youth who are suspended and expelled from school, and two uniformed police officers who will partner with the gang prevention coordinator and community service supervisor to have both a presence with at-risk youth, as well as, within the community at-large to provide needed education and awareness. CA/NCF