What You Can Do
Prevention of youth gang membership is more effective and less costly than supporting members in exiting gangs.
Effective prevention strategies for parents include:
- Building trust by being a good listener
- Acknowledging strengths, talents and accomplishments
- Calmly discussing the long-term consequences of gang life
- Setting limits regarding unacceptable associations and behaviours
Youth-related community events are a great opportunity for youth to have fun and celebrate their achievements in a positive environment.
Teens who think someone they know is involved in a gang should remember that youth gang members sometimes had trouble fitting in with others and poor treatment will make departing from the gang more difficult. Visit our resources for phone numbers and links for more information.
Teachers who observe suspicious behaviour can choose to approach the student to offer alternative support and counseling, can organize meetings with the parents of the students or can request support from a local program.
Parents, teachers and teens can find out more about local programs, initiatives and events for youth on our website, and can take an active approach in youth gang prevention by volunteering to participate in and/or support our research project through a variety of means.
Contact us to find out more.
