Gang Intervention

Broken Chain offers a comprehensive gang intervention program that focuses on both those who work in the child industry along with youth who are either gang affiliated or show signs of gang activity. BCF offers a seven week program for youth who are referred to participate in the program. Once they have completed that portion of the program they are then placed with a mentor for another 4 weeks.

Program Description:

The Preventative Solutions program is educationally based intervention training designed to teach those in the child care industry effective methods of reducing adolescent violence, gang related activities and other problematic behaviors in youth. This comprehensive and interactive training is five hour course with all materials and resources provided. Educators will learn valuable strategies to:

· Decrease youth’s interest in gangs.

· Identify potentially violent youth

· Teach youth self accountability

· Improve adult child communication

Program Vision/Purpose:

Adolescent gang involvement is a significant problem. The increased use of gang violence by youth to resolve conflicts has raised alarm. Identifying and implementing effective methods for preventing and reducing gang involvement, particularly in adolescents who are at risk for violence is crucial.

At risk youth are characterized by a number of factors: poor school performance both academically and behaviorally, limited family and community support, delinquent behaviors, and influential relationships with anti social peer groups. These at risk youth are also over represented in the juvenile and family courts, foster and residential care, and in mental health programs. Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of many interventions that prevent or reduce gang involvement in at risk youth. A review of these interventions identified some common elements that impact effective outcomes and result in change or reduced interest in gang affiliation.

Weekend workshops twice a month include topics such as:

Session Topics Include:

Setting limits Having goals and dreams

Establishing rules Appreciating parents

Modeling positive behavior Handling peer pressure

Using consequences Handling conflict without violence

Building bridges of communication Healthy communication

Addressing substance abuse issues Reaching out to others

Gang Intervention

Program Timing:

Gang intervention course consists of a seven week program. All participants will meet one Saturday out of the month, upon completion each participant will be placed with a mentor for another 4 weeks. Once a youth has completed he/she will be awarded a certificate of completion.

Our program also offers training workshops that are 4 hours. These trainings are completely interactive with exercises and work books. These trainings are offered to professionals working with youth.