Description
Created by:
Former Lieutenant Deputy Sheriff George Volpe, Northampton County &
Jennifer Grube, L.C.S.W. Author ~ Coach
Co-Sponsor: The National Association of Social Workers — PA Chapter
PRELUDE: The term “gang” carries with it many meanings and evokes a number of images for people. For some, a gang is a small group of four or five adolescents who loiter on a street corner. For others, the term may identify graffiti artists, drug users, Nazi skinheads, or a group of highly organized youth or adults whose purpose is to make money from drug dealing. A discussion of some of the different characteristics of gangs may contribute to a working definition of gangs. Diverse perceptions and definitions of gangs present particular challenges to communities as they attempt to deal with gang problems in their neighborhoods. Many experts correctly believe that the success or failure of community wide attempts to address gang problems is likely to rest, in part, on how the problems are understood and diagnosed. There is also the difficulty of people attributing criminal behavior to gangs instead of the responsible individuals. “Gang related” has become a favored term to describe much of the crime that exists in many neighborhoods. This, like much of the popular understanding of gangs, is a distortion of fact. So how does one define a gang? Contemporary gangs, variously known as youth or delinquent gangs and street or adult criminal gangs, have become a widespread threat to communities throughout the Nation. Once considered largely an urban phenomenon, gangs have increasingly emerged in smaller communities, presenting a challenge that severely strains local resources. Communities with emerging or existing gang problems must plan, develop, and implement comprehensive, harm-specific responses that include a broad range of community-based components.
No universal strategy works to address all gang problems. The complexity of today’s gangs suggests the need for a comprehensive, multifaceted effort that targets the reasons youth join gangs. Such an effort may involve three programmatic approaches:
❑ Develop strategies to discourage gang membership.
❑ Provide avenues for youth to drop out of gangs.
❑ Empower communities to solve problems associated with gangs through collaboration with law enforcement, parents, schools, youth, businesses, religious and social service organizations, local government officials, and other community groups in a comprehensive, systematic approach. Coalitions are dynamic, single-focused learning and task groups that evolve from the common purposes and needs of diverse organizations and individuals. Through commitment, compromise, and careful planning, they may often be capable of effecting great change in their member organizations and in the communities they serve. (taken in part from the US Bureau of Justice & Assistance)
WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES: To gain an understanding of Gangs. To recognize society signs of gang presence. To discuss how social workers can help communities and individuals deter from gang involvement.
NASW-PA Chapter is a co-sponsor of this workshop. 4 CEU’s are approved – to meet the license requirements. NASW- PA is a pre-approved provider of professional, continuing education for Social Workers (Section 47.36), Marriage and Family Therapist (Section 48.36) and Professional Counselors (Section 49.36).
The PA State Board of Nurses recognizes NASW-PA Chapter as an approved professional, state agency and/or affiliate and recognizes the CE’s associated with their sponsored events/workshops. Nursing Code 21.134 for continuing education sources.
NOTE: CEU Fees charged by the National Association of Social Workers – PA Chapter are included in your registration fee. Workshop information/resources will be sent to participants’ email no later than 9:00 pm the evening prior to the workshop.
