Youth Gang Prevention: Gang Prevention Through Targeted Outreach

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.

Boys & Girls Club of Central Arkansas seeks to enhance the Boys & Girls Club (BGCA) Gang Prevention Through Targeted Outreach (GPPTO) Initiative by integrating an existing OJJDP Gang Prevention coalition into successful BGCA interest-based programming. Increased prevention programming will benefit all Club members and a GPPTO recruitment effort will enroll and mainstream an additional 50 high risk hard-to-reach youth. The population served is high and at risk youth ages 6 to 18. The Youth Gang Prevention Program objectives are to 1) reduce delinquency and gang activity; 2) improve coordination, planning, and development among staff and community leaders for a team-oriented approach; 3) improve Club's prevention program activities; and 4) reduce violent gang-related incidents in the target area. The activities employed to reach these goals include 1) Mobilizing community resources; 2) Promoting positive academic, economic and social opportunities through Boys & Girls Club interest-based and L.O.V.E.'s gang prevention programming; 3) Using outreach and referral to recruit 50 new high risk youth; 4) Mainstreaming the youth into Club activities; and 5) Providing individualized case management across four areas (law enforcement/juvenile justice, school, family and Club). Desired outcomes are to reduce violent gang-related incidents, reduce contact with juvenile justice, increase academic success, and increase pro-social activities. The evaluation consultant will work closely with project staff to develop, monitor and/or adapt all data collection tools and protocols.

CA/NCF