Youth Violence & Gang Prevention

Montgomery County
Parent Training Workshop
 The Name Game!
 Everyone stands up and forms a circle.

 Person 1 says his/her first name and

something they like that starts with the first
letter of their first name. For example: My
name is Mary and I like Money.
 Person 2 repeats what person 1 said and
adds his/her name and what he/she likes.
 Person 3 repeats person 1 & 2 and adds…
 Start and end on time.
 Turn off cell phones or switch to vibrate.
 Participate!
 Initiate and share ideas.
 Ask questions at any time.
 Respect the opinions of others.
 What is discussed here, stays here.
 Be open to new ideas.
 Be here — in body & mind!
 Stay focused on the topic.
 Introductions and Expectations
Please tell us:
 Your name

 The ages of your children

 What you want to get out of this

workshop or why you are here
 Course Overview
COURSE OBJECTIVE: To raise the awareness of course participants regarding gang activity (community) and the warning signs of gang involvement (their children). To present
strategies that will assist parents and community members when they are faced with gang issues. To educate participants regarding available resources and services.
To help parents and community members begin to develop a support network and action plan.

DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3

Welcome, Introductions, Opening Activity (Ice Breaker:
Ice-Breaker Activity Ice-Breaker Activity
Getting to Know You), Course Review

Pre-test: How Much Do You Already Know?

Review of Day 1 / Open Discussion Review of Day 2 / Open Discussion
(True/False to measure knowledge coming into course)

History of Gangs & Facts About Gangs Is Your Child at Risk?

Resources: Where Can You Go for Help and Support?
 History  Profile of a Teen Gang Member
Presentations/panel discussion from Service Providers
 What to look for  Warning Signs
 How big is the problem?
 Locations of gangs in Montgomery County

Guest Speaker: Youth or Parent Who Has Had

Q & A with Service Providers
Experience With Gangs
Gang Activity in Your Community
 Signs of Gang Activity in Your Community
 How to Keep Gangs Out of Your Community
 How to Report Gang Activity What Parents Can Do / Where To Go For Help Small Group Activity with Reports Back to Entire Group:
 How to Talk to Your Child about Gangs Developing an Action Plan
Guest Speaker: Community Oriented Policing Officer or  Strategies to Help Your Child Refuse Gangs (Individual and Group/Community)
State’s Attorney’s Office Prosecutor
Discuss how this group can stay in communication to
serve as a sounding board and support system for these
Discussion: Issues We Have in Common & parents.
The Attraction of Gangs / Consequences for Youth
How to Deal with Them
Course Evaluation

Opening / Closing Activities Presentations Speakers Discussion / Activities

What Do You Know
About Gangs?

Let’s take the Gang Pre-Test!

 True or False?

LS E
There is little difference between

FA
the level of violence that today’s
gangs engage in and the level of
violence of gangs of the past.
 True or False?

LS E
Gangs generally do not enlist

FA
children under age 12.
 True or False?

LS E
Gangs are at work only in large

FA
inner-city areas.
 True or False?

TR UE
Gangs give children attention
and status they may not get at
home or elsewhere.
 True or False?

LS E
Gangs are most exclusively

FA
composed of Latinos or African
Americans.
 True or False?

TR UE
Use of hand signals may be a
sign that a child is in a gang.
 True or False?

In an area where there

LS E
are many gangs, parents
FA
can do little to keep
their kids out of gangs.
 True or False?

Most gangs are exports from big cities

E
like Los Angeles and Chicago and are

LS
part of a national spread from groups

FA
like the Bloods and the Crips.
 Common Myths About Gangs
 Gangs are mostly made of boys and
young men, and girls are only part of the
gang as hangers on or to service the
young men.

 You can recognize gang members by the

colors they wear or their tattoos.
 All gangs are violent and deal drugs.
 Common Myths About Gangs

 Gangs are highly organized.

 Once in a gang, always in a gang.
 Youth are pressured by their peers into
joining gangs.

 It is life-threatening for a gang member

to leave a gang.
 History of Gangs & Facts About Gangs

 Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives

– To understand what we mean by gangs—

the definition.
– To learn about the nature and evolution of
youth gangs in the United States.
– To recognize gang codes, such as hand
signals, graffiti, clothing, etc.
– To understand the scope of the gang
problem in our community.

This section is presented by a member of

the State’s Attorney’s Office.
 Keeping Gangs Out of Your Community

 Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives

– Understand what makes a community

at-risk for gang activity
– To know how to report gang activity.
– To identify resources available to
community members.
 Gangs in Our Culture

 Music and Videos

 Internet
 Sports
 Where Are Gangs Today?

 In our communities
 In our schools
 In our homes
 Community Risk Factors

 Research shows gang activity is highest in

areas where there is a high percentage of:
– Individuals with low income
– Males without jobs
– Idle teens (no school, no jobs)
– Single parent homes
– Linguistically isolated homes – foreign born
population
 Damaging Effects of Graffiti

 Creates a perception of crime and fear

among residents

 Invites other illegal activities

 Property values decrease
 Graffiti Removal

REPO RT It
RECOR D It
REMO VE It
 Graffiti Removal Resources
 GRAB Inc.
– Website: http://www.graffitifree.org/
– Phone: 301-607-4733
 Contact local government
 THE COMMUNITY
– Community Clean-up Days
– Solicit Paint Donations
Remember…
An organized community is a safe
community!
Act On The Problem: Get Involved!
 Send a rejection message to gangs in
your community
 Join or form a Neighborhood Watch
 Know your neighbors
 Organize monthly community clean-ups
 Know where your children are at all
times – don’t be afraid to call a parent
and tell them if you see their child
 Advocate for more resources for youth
in your community
 How To Report Gang Activity

 Gang Tip Hotline

240-773-4264

 Drug Tip Hotline

240-773-3784

 Police Non-Emergency
301-279-8000

All reports are anonymous!

 Attraction & Consequences of Gangs

 Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives

– To understand why kids join gangs.

– To hear about the consequences of
gang membership.
What do families provide for
their children ?
 Why Kids Join Gangs

 Love
 Attention
 Protection
 Older siblings/mentors belong
 Financial Benefit
 Lack of Knowledge
 Why Kids Join Gangs

 Fun and Excitement

 Feel Accepted and a Part of Group
 Identity and Status
 Peer Pressure
 Intimidation
 Violence/Hate/Racism
Girls and Gangs – Why do Girls Join?

 Friends
– Peer pressure and desire to make friends
 Neighborhood
– Safety/protection and lack of opportunity
 Family
– Lack of parental affection and family
conflict
 Self
– Gain respect, feeling important, feeling
accepted, builds confidence
 Girls and Gangs

 Girls are attracted to gangsters

because of the respect they think they
will acquire
 Girls also form their own gangs, and
belong to spin-offs of the guys' gangs
 Girls are usually “sexed in” to become
members
Video: Skip Party
 Reasons Gang Members Get Out

Get a good job

Become a parent
Family responsibilities
Too old
Get married
Pressure from family
School/training
Move away
Pressure from partner
Jail or prison
Pressure from court

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Video: Interview with MS13 Member
 Consequences for Youth

 Death
 Injury
 Hospitalization
 Dependence on alcohol and drugs
 School drop out
 Criminal life
 Jail
Video: Consequences
 Is Your Child At Risk?

 Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives

– To understand the “warning signs” of

gang membership so that parents
can recognize them in their own
children.
– To discuss the profile of the typical
gang member.
Warning Signs of Gang Involvement
 Dresses according to a specific dress
code (specific clothing or colors)

 Wears clothing or
owns items that
he/she could not
normally afford
 Has less and less
interest in school /
skips school
These indicators must be considered together to be deemed meaningful.
Some of these behaviors may just be the usual signs of a teenager.
Warning Signs of Gang Involvement

 Sudden poor
grades
 Has lost interest
in former friends
and activities
 Sudden change
in friends or has new, older friends
identified by nicknames, whom the parent
has never met
Warning Signs of Gang Involvement

 Goes to street gang Internet chat sites

or has friends affiliated with gangs on
their myspace Web page

 Uses hateful or racist language

 Has been the victim of crime or fears
being victimized
These indicators must be considered together to be deemed meaningful.
Some of these behaviors may just be the usual signs of a teenager.
Warning Signs of Gang Involvement
 Withdraws from family activities
 Desire for excessive privacy
 Stays out later than usual
 Can’t account for long periods of time
 Owns a weapon
 Has involvement with
alcohol and drugs
 Has had problems
with the police
A Student’s Book Cover
 Profile of a Teen Gang Member
 The emotional, psychological and social
needs of street gang members are often
unfulfilled
 Behavior problems such as violence,
delinquency, truancy
 Weak ties to family
 Weak ties to school and the community
 Low self-worth
 Need for glorification
 Rejection of standards
These are Behavioral Characteristics
 Risk and Protective Factors

“Risk factors” are circumstances that

may increase youths’ likelihood of
engaging in risky behaviors.

“Protective factors” are circumstances

that promote healthy youth behaviors and
decrease the chance that youth will
engage in risky behaviors.
Source: OJJDP
Risk & Protective Factor Categories

Individual
Family
Community
School
Peers

Source: OJJDP
How Would You Address the Risk?

 Risk Factor
– Child is getting poor grades
 Protective Factors
– Talk to teachers
– Help your child with homework
– Look for after-school programs that
help with academics
How Would You Address the Risk?

 Risk Factor
– You don’t know your neighbors
 Protective Factors
– Organize a block party
– Go door to door to meet them
How Would You Address the Risk?

 Risk Factor
– Your child doesn’t have many
positive adult role models
 Protective Factors
– Find a mentor for your child
– Use current events to identify role
models and talk with your child about
them
How Would You Address the Risk?

 Risk Factor
– Your child knows gang members
 Protective Factors
– Teach your child healthy decision-
making skills
– Help your child become interested in
positive activities to keep them busy
How Would You Address the Risk?

 Risk Factor
– Your child has low self-esteem and a
desire for companionship
 Protective Factors
– Talk with your child’s school
counselor
– Tell your child how proud you are of
him/her and how special they are
 What would you do?

Discuss the scenario as a group

and identify the risk factors.
Then, list the things you could
do to address the risks
(protective factors).
 What Parents Can Do

 Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives

– To discuss how parents can talk to

their children about gangs.
– To identify strategies parents can use
to help their children refuse gangs.
 What Parents Can Do
 Talk to your child before there is a
problem. Emphasize that:
– You disapprove of gangs
– You don't want to see them hurt or
arrested
– There are alternatives to gang activity
– Your child is special and worth
protecting
– Family members don't keep secrets
from each other
 What Parents Can Do
 Listen to your child
 Know what your child is doing and who
they are doing it with—show that your
are interested
 Form a support network—talk with
other parents about gang prevention
 Take advantage of
“teachable moments”
for discussion
 What Parents Can Do
 Emphasize the importance of
education and help your child do well in
school
 Monitor your child’s attendance at
school and do everything possible to
keep your child from
dropping out
 Talk about the future—
graduation & college—
You Can Do It!
 What Parents Can Do

 Know your child’s

teachers
 Get your child involved
in after school activities
 Make sure your child knows that you
are involved in his/her school
 Stay involved through middle school
and high school
 What Parents Can Do
 Identify positive role models and
heroes; especially in your own
community
 Encourage involvement
in positive group
activities (sports, arts,
music, etc.)
 What Parents Can Do

 Be clear about rules and enforce

them, set limits
 Build your family relationship at
family dinners or family meetings

 Do things together as
a family and talk
 What Parents Can Do
CHILD NOT INVOLVED CHILD SUSPECTED OF KNOW CHILD
(PREVENTION) INVOLVEMENT IS INVOLVED

ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL
Group 1

MIDDLE
SCHOOL
Group 2 Will Address in Next Session

HIGH
SCHOOL Group 3
 What Parents Can Do
CHILD NOT INVOLVED CHILD SUSPECTED OF KNOW CHILD
(PREVENTION) INVOLVEMENT IS INVOLVED
 Talk about news/community
 Communicate  Sports or other structured
Find activities to occupy time activities
ELEMENTARY 
that are fun & positive  Increased supervision
SCHOOL  Limit computer access  Monitor behavior, attitudes,
 Get to know friends and their clothing closely
parents
 Drug/alcohol test
 Get to know friends/their
 Look for professional help  Family/Individual/Group
parents
Make sure they have Therapy
MIDDLE  Home computer in visible

supervision  Learn about legal system
SCHOOL place in home
 Find out how they are being  Use resources in the
 Monitor TV/Movies
exposed community
 After school activities

 Look for red flags/sudden

HIGH  Same as above, plus: changes
SCHOOL  Curfew  Parent involvement – what
 Limit access to car activities can you do
together