326853
Gun Violence and its impact on Children: School based prevention strategies in Chicago
One way to keep guns out of the hands of youth is to prevent youth gang involvement. Schools, in partnership with municipal and community agencies, police, and health educators, may be able to address this complex challenge through collaboration. School suspension and expulsion do little to effect change and in many cases further alienate students, ultimately leading to dropping out of school.
Methods
Three cohort studies were conducted using a quasi-experimental matched subject design showing consistent positive results in terms of GAIN graduates’ tending to remain in high school at a greater rate compared to other similar gang offenders.
Outcomes
A school based intervention has been aimed at groups of students who engaged in gang-related behavior. Gang Avoidance Initiative Now (GAIN) was developed as an alternative to suspension program in a large metropolitan high school district. The program ran for 10 years with findings indicating that students who completed the program remained in school longer and graduated at a higher rate than those eligible for the program but who had not been enrolled. The program was developed within a larger school and community context that fostered a safe and healthy learning environment. Three years ago, the program was reinstituted at its home site and shows promise in terms of student academic success.
Conclusions
Community partners have been a vital part of the program, including the CeaseFire Cicero team. Over the past 8 years there has been a significant reduction of gang related shootings and homicides in the community.
Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programsDiversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related public policy
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe strategies used in Chicago to keep guns out of the hands of youth through a school based, multiagency program.
Keyword(s): Community-Based Partnership & Collaboration, Youth Violence
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: School and clinical psychologist; nearly forty years of experience in working with youth and their families. Published on school gang prevention and school/community mental health services. Lead writer, consultant, and project director of the first Safe Schools Healthy Students Initiative Grant awarded in Illinois.
Member of the National Association of School Psycholoigstsâ School Safety and Crisis Response Committee; co-author of the PREPaRE Workshop 1, 2nd Ed., Crisis Intervention and Preparedness: Comprehensive School Safety Planning.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.