Youth Gang Prevention

The OJJDP FY 10 Earmarks Program furthers the Department's mission by providing grants, cooperative agreements, and other assistance authorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, to organizations identified in the Conference Report to accompany the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-117), H.R. Conf. Rep. No. 111-366 at 702-714.

The Crossroads Programs will collaborate with community partners focused on preventing the involvement of at-risk youth in delinquency and other high risk behaviors, leading to improved personal outcomes and greater community safety and satisfaction. The program will serve boys, nine to 14 years old, who are assessed as high-risk with the intention of intervening early enough to divert them from a path leading to anti-social activities and juvenile delinquency. The Crossroad's focus is on youth who are not easily accommodated by traditional mentoring services due to the intensity of their emotional/behavioral needs. Using the boys council program model, professional mentoring/counseling services, and trained volunteers, the project will address the precursors of delinquency by introducing healthy role models and promoting pro-social behaviors. Boys and their families will be engaged in individual and group activities for two to six hours each week for 12 to 18 months. The goal is to increase the protective factors in the lives of boys assessed as at-risk for juvenile delinquency and/or gang involvement once they enter adolescence. The outcomes of the program will focus on building the boys social/emotional competencies, improving school engagement, and character building. Progress will be measured by parent and child self-reports, school attendance and progress, and pre/post questionnaires.

NCA/NCF