A Developmental Model of Gang Involvement: Building Strengths from Childhood to Adulthood

• In Event: New Approaches to Understanding Youth Gangs and Gang Members

Abstract

This paper reviews recent research on strengths-based program development for youth at risk of joining gangs and in promoting desistance from active gang involvement. Two formidable challenges which this paper addresses are (1) successfully executing the strengths--building perspective in the face of major obstacles such as the absence of resources in communities, and (2) overcoming barriers to accessing existing resources. To help address these challenges, an age-graded developmental model of gang involvement is presented that integrates risk and protective factors with a continuum of gang prevention, intervention, and suppression programs and strategies.

Author

• James C. (Buddy) Howell, National Gang Center