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