What Can Parents Do To Prevent Gang Involvement?

• Be Aware
  • Know who your children's friends are; learn real names of your children's friends, get to know their families
  • Be a good observer - pay attention to your child's behavior
  • Know about who and what influences your kids
  • Pay attention to the music they listen to, the video games they play, the television and movies they watch
  • Monitor internet activity, including internet social networking activity
  • Monitor cell phone usage, text messaging, and other forms of communication with their friends
  • Know what your children are doing at all times
  • Seek the facts - kids will tell you what you want to hear
  • Learn about gangs and drugs

• Do Not Tolerate Drugs and Violence
  • Do not allow them to wear gang attire
  • Monitor living space for gang paraphernalia, weapons, and drugs
  • Do not allow your children to 'hang out' in the streets or mall
  • Be very suspicious of gang writing, graffiti, or tattoos
  • Encourage anti-gang attitudes at home
  • Set clear limits - follow through with discipline if they break the rules
  • Report all crimes

• Be Pro-Active
  • Become involved with your children and spend quality time with them
  • Strive for good communication between you and your children, talk and listen to them
  • Praise you children for doing well
  • Provide supervised recreational and leisure-time activities for youngsters; encourage your children to participate in positive activities; involve your children in positive group activities
  • Teach your children decision making skills - help them make the right choices
  • Put a high value on education; participate in your child's education-find out what's happening at school
  • Get involved in your community and school affairs
  • Set the example for your kids, they will do what you do
  • Identify with positive role models
  • Believe in your children

• What Is a Gang?
• How Are Gangs Identified?
• Gang Types
• Graffiti
• How Do Gangs Recruit Their Members?
• Common Gang Initiations
• Why Young People Join Gangs?
• How Old Are Gang Members?
• Major Factors That May Contribute To Youth Gang Involvement
• Warning Signs That Your Child May Be Involved with a Gang
• What Are Some School-based Anti-Gang Strategies?
• What Are Some Community Anti-Gang Strategies?
• Common Myths About Gangs
• How Do I Report Gang Activity?