Gang Activities Prevention Program - Young Adult

The Youth Gang Suppression Implementation Grants Program is designed to reduce violent crime, gangs, and youth victimization, while enhancing public safety in communities by utilizing gang suppression efforts for at risk and gang involved youth.

Collaborative Solutions for Communities (CSC) will address the root causes of the exponential rise in gang-related violence in the District of Columbia. The proposed Gang Alternative Prevention Program-Young Adults (GAPP-YA) will combat gang activity and violent crime intensively over a 3-year period with 30 adolescents and their families in neighborhoods heavily impacted by gang violence. The group will include victims of gang violence and teens in or at risk of gang membership.

CSC will convene a stakeholder steering committee representing local law enforcement, former youth gang members, schools, social service agencies, medical and behavioral health providers, civic groups, parents, religious leaders, and businesses. The targeted goals for the GAPP-YA are to (1) reduce gang-related violent crimes and youth victimization, (2) sustain reduction in gang-related violent crimes and youth victimization, (3) divert youth participants from entering or continuing in the gang lifestyle, (4) increase public safety, (5) increase community efficacy to address youth gang violence, and (6) raise awareness of implications of gang violence at the individual, family, and community levels. CSC will implement the following activities to achieve these goals: (1) strength-based case management, (2) workforce development, (3) responses to incidences of violence within 24 hours of occurrence, (4) timely intervention to prevent retaliatory violence, (5) community outreach and engagement, (6) mediations and peacemaking retreats, (7) trauma-informed care training, and (8) family group conferences. Funds will not be used for research.

CA/NCF