Gang Alternative, Inc.'s Violence Intervention Project (VIP)

Grantees funded under this initiative to develop program activities based on the core strategies of the Comprehensive Gang Model. Category 1, Intervention, supports intervention strategies that can dissuade youth from joining gangs and help them discontinue their involvement in gangs. Proposed strategies are built upon the principles of the following core strategies in the OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model: Community Mobilization, Opportunities Provision, and Social Intervention.

Gang Alternative, Inc. (GA) will implement the comprehensive gang model with the Violence Intervention Program (VIP), focusing resources on evidence-based prevention and intervention initiatives to reduce and sustain reductions in youth violence, particularly gang violence and victimization in high-crime, high-poverty communities in Broward County. Using an integrated approach of community organizing and educational programming, VIP’s multiagency community task force will include a network of various social partners collaborating to address the social and environmental challenges that enable and foster youth engagement in gang activity in Broward County. This program will have representatives from law enforcement, youth, parents, schools, faith-based organizations, juvenile justice agencies, and government officials. GA will develop a multidisciplinary implementation team. Outreach workers, probation officers, schools, police, churches, parents, and youth service providers will refer youth to participate in VIP. The implementation team and program staff will conduct a screening to determine if referrals meet the program criteria. Additionally, GA will provide presentations and training to community agencies, parents, and school personnel to mobilize the community in addressing the gang problem. CA/NCF