Gang Task Force
Gang Task Force - Youth Service Worker Training
Next meeting Thursday, March 2, 2006 at 7 a.m.
The OJJDP videoconference is postponed until further notice
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Toward the end of 2004, several community agencies began noticing an upsurge in gang activity and violence. Tragically a local high school student was shot and killed during what appeared to be a gang related incident. Comparable violent gang incidents have continued. Gang violence affects all members of our community. Impact ranges from the senseless violence on the streets to disruptions in our schools to the continuous drain on scarce public resources.
In early 2005, a handful of community groups began meeting in an effort to take proactive measures against the gang violence. Consensus prescribed the creation of a major collaborative effort on the part of the entire community. The Challenge Team was approached to sponsor the effort: the Gang Task Force was born. The Challenge Team Gang Task Force includes representatives from the Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC), YMCA, Mountain View-Whisman School District, Mountain View/Los Altos Union High School District, Mountain View Police Department, Los Altos Police Department, Santa Clara County Probation Department, Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, Mountain View Recreation Department, Mesa de la Cumunidad, Fresh Lifelines for Youth, to mention a few.
The focus of the Gang Task Force is to identify and/or create resources that will inhibit youth from joining gangs and/or assist them in leaving gangs. Because the Task Force is a very diverse group, this concern can be approached from many different angles. Whether addressing individual cases that require intervention or considering the more global issue of gang violence, the Gang Task Force seeks to create long lasting-solutions for all of those concerned.
The Challenge Team Gang Task Force meets periodically. All members of the community are welcome to attend. The date, time and location of these meetings will be listed on the Challenge Team Website.
The next meeting for the Gang Task Force is Thursday, October 6, 2005, at 7:00 AM, in the Police Department Auditorium.
Purpose Statement
The Challenge Team Gang Task Force will develop an integrated approach to addressing gang issues in the Mountain View and Los Altos Community through prevention, intervention and enforcement.
Goals
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Clearly define the structure and leadership of the Task Force |
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Identify all organizations in the community which provide resources to address gang issues |
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Develop a clear understanding of the resources offered |
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Consolidate resources wherever possible to maximize efficiency |
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Explore gang prevention programs offered through D.A.R.E., G.R.E.A.T., and others to determine which will best meet the needs of our community |
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Explore gang intervention programs through the Boys and Girls' Club, YMCA, PAL (Police Activity League) and others to determine which can be supported by our community |
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Determine what other communities are doing to address gang issues |
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Identify programs from other populations that will work in our community |
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Identify and seek funding opportunities to support and prevention and intervention programs |
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Educate members of the community about gang issues |
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Involve community members in prevention and intervention activities designed to combat gang issues |
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Celebrate successful programs that have effectively addressed gang issues |