Gang & Youth Violence Prevention & Intervention

Gang Prevention Community Task Force

Alexandria City and School departments that are involved in gang suppression, prevention and intervention efforts formed a joint senior policy work group to communicate and coordinate gang related suppression, prevention and intervention activities.

To assist the work of the senior policy work group, Council formed a task force of community representatives that would focus on gang problems and issues. This task force, the Gang Prevention Community Task Force, held its initial meeting on May 18, 2005, and was charged with the following functions and responsibilities:

1. Receive briefings on the status of gang suppression, prevention and intervention programs and activities in the City and, insofar as directly relevant to the City, the status of similar programs and activities in the metropolitan region;
    
2. Assist in informing and educating the Alexandria community about the gang suppression, prevention and intervention programs and activities that are occurring in the City and in the region;
    
3. Assist in identifying programs and activities that will address specific gang-related problems or issues in the City, with a particular emphasis on programs and activities that will prevent individuals from joining gangs and/or that will intervene with individuals who are members of a gang to facilitate their withdrawal from such membership;
    
4. Assist in identifying opportunities to obtain funding for programs and activities that will address such gang-related problems or issues in the City; and
    
5. Assist in identifying state or local laws that should be enacted or amended to enable the City, and possibly other local governments, to better address problems and issues arising from or related to gangs. 

On October 10, 2006, through City Council, the Gang Prevention Community Task Force membership was expanded from 13 members to now 17 members and includes the following:

• Two members of the Alexandria City Council
   
• One member of the Alexandria School Board
   
• The City Manager or his designee
   
• One representative of TC Williams High School
   
• One representative of City Middle Schools
   
• One representative of Alexandria Elementary Schools
   
• One representative of the Private Schools in Alexandria
   
• One representative of a Community-Based Organization with specific outreach to the Latino community
   
• One representative of a Community-Based Organization with specific outreach to the African-American Community
   
• Two representatives of Alexandria youth, At-Large
   
• One representative of the Alexandria Interfaith Council
   
• Two representatives from the City at large
   
• One representative of parents of Alexandria youth
   
• One representative of the business community
   

In November, 2005, Mike Mackey began working as the City’s Gang Prevention & Intervention Coordinator and staffs the efforts of the senior policy work group as well as gang prevention efforts in the Northern Virginia region. Please contact Mike Mackey at 703-746-4496 or 703-746-4144 or email mike.mackey@alexandriava.gov with any questions, or to find out when upcoming meetings are scheduled. You can also check the Boards and Commission calendar.

Alexandria Gang Prevention Community Task Force

PART OF THE: NORTHERN VIRGINIA REGIONAL GANG TASK FORCE

Overarching Goals:
Mission/Goals:

1. Increase youth/family participation in positive activities & supports (decreasing participation in gang or crew related activities);
2. Decrease gang and crew crime and incidents;
3. Increase school attendance and graduation rates

REGIONAL INITIATIVES RELATED TO STRATEGIC PLAN

Regional Partnership continues in full - enforcement and prevention, education, intervention – 17 jurisdictions (since 2003) Northern VA Regional Gang Task Force (www.preventgangsnova.org). 

Intervention Prevention Education: specialized education, assessment and case management for gang prevention or intervention cases.  Program served over 400 youth/families – ages 12 – 21 – 140 referrals from Alexandria City.  Alexandria afforded double the staff it was designed to receive due to overwhelming proactive referrals from multiple community-serving agencies. Refer cases directly to mike.mackey@alexandriava.gov).  

Intervention Prevention Education – Adults: summer 2010 pilot program for adults who are disconnected and who may need “re-entry” into the community. Inquire directly to mike.mackey@alexandriava.gov).  

Public Service Announcement: “Don’t Lose Yourself in a Gang” PSA originally in newspapers, radio, television, and movie theaters. Community use - during trainings/family events –families at event invited to stop at table to view 30 second video – short information blast with complementary hand-outs. Earmark funding set to augment PSA production 09/10. View 

Regional Gang Assessment: Regional Gang Assessment – 1st of its kind in nation - publicly released 10/26/09.

Leisure Time Support: Soccer Tournaments, College Soccer Games, Midnight Basketball, Camp opportunities

Calls: from across the country about Regional Gang Task Force model – e.g. Florida, California, Alaska

Regional Conference – October 28, 2009 (Fairfax County) – keynote speaker, Samuel Logan, author of This is for the Mara Salvatrucha , law enforcement official and a former gang member. 350 participants, 98% of whom would recommend to others.  Follow up will occur in late 2010 specifically targeted for school personnel.

Washington Metro Gang Prevention Network has been created with Council of Governments and partners in DC and Maryland

Tattoo Removal programming through Fairfax County and Prince William/Loudoun

Jobs - Skill and employability initiative with Seaport Foundation – green color apprenticeships set through grant for 09/10.

Special Soccer League for our at-risk youth intended to begin through Virginia Youth Soccer Association

LOCAL ALEXANDRIA INITIATIVES RELATED TO STRATEGIC PLAN

Local Gang Task Force – 17 member group since 2005

Senior Policy Work Group – 13 Department Heads (per Regional MOU)

Subcommittee on Drop-Out Prevention led by Jim Copple, who presented plan to Council in March, 09 – City/Staff Education, Literacy Initiative, Re-Entry and Breaking Down Silos – continuation of this group to include vocational and career education programming.

Youth and Parent Focus – Parent Chaired meeting and has partnered on outreach education; specific youth report

Alexandria Mentoring Partnership – stimulus and earmark funding used to hire Mentoring Coordinator – special partnership expansion with ACPS with goal to match every child with another caring adult.  www.alexandriava.gov/mentoring

Frequent community education – as a follow up to major Summit held in 2006, community education sessions have occurred on an average 1 per week (including proactive training requests through ACPS for staff).  Please contact Mike Mackey for community presentation/training.

Risk Behavior Presentations - collaborative “risk behavior” presentations with Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy and Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria with PTAs, schools and family centers. Please contact Mike Mackey for this training.

Troubleshooting on issues/cases – collaboration on potential gang/crew prevention issues with APD, ARHA and others

Elementary School Intervention program PILOT – normal intervention serves 12 – 21 year olds.  ACPS elementary referrals outside age limit – 16 such referrals - 2009.  Staff will provide case management and education.

Family Learning Centers – a need was identified from multiple sources to increase the Centers’ capacity. 

Logic Model Development - click here for more information