Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia's Gang Prevention Through Targeted Outreach Program

Youth gangs continue to have a significant adverse impact on youth, families, and communities across America. A growing number of communities have adopted multi-strategy, multi-disciplinary approaches to reducing and preventing gang activity. The OJJDP FY 2010 Youth Gang Prevention and Intervention Program provides funding for localities to replicate selected secondary gang prevention and intervention programs that are considered promising or effective. These programs must be a part of an existing community based comprehensive anti-gang initiative. This program is authorized by the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-117.

The Gang Prevention Through Targeted Outreach program directs at-risk youth, ages six to 18, to positive activities offered by Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia (BGCP). Through a referral network that links clubs to courts, police, schools, social service and community organizations, and through direct outreach, youth are recruited and placed in club programs as a diversion from gang activity. Youth participate in a variety of activities including sports, technology and career preparation. Goals for the project include the following: at least 200 youth will be recruited to attend four clubs located in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods with high crime, drug and gang activity; at least 160 youth will continue participation in club programs 18 months after intake; at least 50% of youth will improve school performance; and new juvenile justice system involvement will be discouraged in at least 50% of youth. BGCP will track youth progress using a gang prevention case management system created by Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Quarterly summaries of youth participation and an annual report on the project's success will be created. Specific outcomes will be measured using a BGCP system that administers surveys of youth, staff and parents to assess progress. CA/NCF