| While youth gangs are nothing new -- they've been | | | | Keep Your Kids Away From GangsSince most kids |
| traced back to the early 19th century -- the | | | | who join gangs do so because they are looking for a |
| demographic of a youth gang is something that is | | | | social network, for a group to belong to, ensuring that |
| constantly changing. Many people stereotype gang | | | | your child gets plenty of love and support at home and |
| members as urban, inner city males from racial | | | | through positive activities is key in keeping them away |
| minorities, but in fact gangs are a problem in suburbs | | | | from gangs.Such was the case with David Danisa, a |
| as well as cities, for all races and for girls as well as | | | | young man who could have easily fallen prey to gangs |
| boys.There are about 750,000 gang members in the | | | | himself as friends around him joined steadily. Instead, |
| United States, according to estimates by the U.S. | | | | Danisa and friend Jurell Spivey joined school programs |
| Department of Justice, and one-third of them are | | | | and even got involved into keeping younger kids out of |
| under the age of 18. And while it's still true that men | | | | gangs."There's a lot of pressures in high school," says |
| account for the majority of gang members-more than | | | | Danisa. "If you have people who are helping you out in |
| 90 percent are male-gang membership among women | | | | programs, you start having more self-respect. You can |
| is becoming increasingly common.What Exactly is a | | | | fight through the hard stuff." And, to put is simply, after |
| Gang?Every gang has its own requirements and | | | | your day gets filled up with sports, volunteering and |
| characteristics, but the U.S. Department of Justice | | | | other activities, "You don't have time to do anything |
| says that all gangs have one thing in common: "A | | | | bad," Danisa said.Aside from enrolling your kids in |
| group must be involved in a pattern of criminal acts to | | | | community or school youth programs from an early |
| be considered a youth gang."Similarly, the Federal | | | | age, the following tips can also help:* Encourage your |
| Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines a gang as, "A | | | | child to think independently* Take an active interest in |
| criminal enterprise having an organizational structure, | | | | his/her life: Be involved!* Get to know your child's |
| acting as a continuing criminal conspiracy, which | | | | friends and encourage healthy friendships* Teach your |
| employs violence and any other criminal activity to | | | | child coping strategies to deal with hard times* Support |
| sustain the enterprise."Additionally, gangs typically:* | | | | your child with words and actions to instill in them a |
| Develop around racial and ethnic lines* Are typically | | | | sense of self-esteem and personal responsibility* |
| male-dominated with some female members, though | | | | Discourage too much exposure to media influences |
| female gangs are on the increase* Center on a | | | | that glorify drugs, sex, gangs and violence to |
| specific territory* Act as an organization that may be | | | | kidsResources That Can HelpIf you suspect your child, |
| part of a larger group* Display symbols associated | | | | friend or family member is in a gang and in need of |
| with their gang through clothing, tattoos, graffiti, hand | | | | help, there are many resources available. First, |
| signals and languageWhy do Kids Join | | | | according to the Los Angeles' County Sheriff's |
| Gangs?According to a White House fact sheet for | | | | Department:* The member must think and believe that |
| the new youth initiative aimed at protecting America's | | | | they can get out of the gang, and must want to do it.* |
| youth from gangs, an overwhelming number of violent | | | | Reduce the amount of time spent with the gang. It's |
| U.S. criminals like those in gangs grow up in | | | | best to do so gradually, rather than trying to sever all |
| single-mother households with no father around. It's | | | | ties immediately.* Replace gang activities with positive |
| also been shown that kids who are involved with their | | | | activities like sports, the arts, employment, religion, |
| family, school and community are less likely to be | | | | education, volunteering, etc.* Remove gang tattoos and |
| involved in risky behavior like joining a gang.This may | | | | attire and modify language away from gang |
| explain why, generally, kids join gangs to feel like they | | | | communications.* Create a new set of friends and an |
| belong and have a sense of purpose. In fact, kids join | | | | alternative support system, such as boys and girls |
| gangs for many of the same reasons that kids join | | | | clubs.* Help other youths in gangs to create a better |
| any group, like a soccer team or Boy Scouts:* Looking | | | | life away from the gang.Other helpful resources |
| for a sense of self-worth, belonging and commitment* | | | | include:* National Clearinghouse for Families & Youth* |
| Seeking structure and discipline* Companionship* A | | | | Family and Youth Services Bureau* The YMCA* Your |
| need for recognition, higher status and acceptance* | | | | local youth community centerFrom the FREE |
| Excitement and something to doGang | | | | e-newsletter, the Web's #1 most read newsletter with |
| SignsAdditionally, kids may join gangs because of a:* | | | | original articles in all 6 areas of life leading to complete |
| Need for protection* Family tradition* Need for money | | | | wellness. |
| (kids in gangs can earn cash from drug trades)How to | | | | |