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