YOUTH SERVICES > GANG & DRUG TASK FORCE
Co-chairs:
Sherlynn Reid, Violence Prevention Consultant
John Williams,
Director of Oak Park Township Youth Services
Brief History
Gangs, and the crime, drugs and violence that accompany them, have
long ceased to be a problem solely of the inner city. In a vulnerable
position because of the proliferation of gang activity in neighboring
Chicago communities, Oak Park has experienced an emerging gang problem
in past years. A number of violent, gang-related incidents in the
community led officials to formalize the Gang and Drug Task Force
of Oak Park and River Forest in 1995.
The Gang Prevention/Intervention Program was established in 1995
to address the threat of street gangs in Oak Park and neighboring
River Forest and the victimization of both young gang members and
local residents by gang activity and the violence it often produces.
The gang problem was just beginning to emerge when the program started.
While no gangs had claimed Oak Park or River Forest as territory,
several violent incidents had been attributed to gangs, and in August
1995 the community had its first – and so far, only – drive-by
shooting. This incident, which occurred at a junior high school, was
followed by the gang-related beating and subsequent death of a teenager
a few blocks away.
Within a month of August’s violent events – including Oak
Park Township Youth Services (OPTYS); the Village of Oak Park; the
Oak Park and River Forest police departments; the Village of River
Forest; Oak Park Elementary School District 97; Oak Park River Forest
High School District 200; River Forest Elementary School District
90; River Forest Township; Oak Park and River Forest public libraries
and park districts; local social service agencies; the Oak Park Board
of Realtors; and the Chamber of Commerce – held their first intergovernmental
meeting. The Task Force represents 22 local governmental and private
sector institutions and 11 separate local taxing bodies. The agreement
which emerged authorized the pooling of funds by the 11 bodies to
support the hiring, in August 1996, of two full-time interventionists
to work with young people and their families.
Under the Gang Intervention Program, which is led by Oak Park Township
Youth Service (OPTYS), three Youth Interventionists intervene directly
and immediately in the lives of local teens and pre-teens suspected
of gang involvement with the goal of confronting these youth and identifying
alternatives specific to their needs. Using a case management approach,
the Interventionists meet with youth and family members, bringing
a variety of resources to the table that address individual and family
issues, including parenting skills, conflict resolution and substance
abuse treatment. The Interventionists continue to track the youth
and their families through the communities' various support systems,
ensuring coordination of services. These interventions often first
occur as the result of a crisis - a violent incident or situation
in which it becomes apparent that the individual has gang ties or
is at risk of participating in group violence.
Interventionists
The three Interventionists hired for the Gang Prevention/Intervention
Program are trained and supervised by Oak Park Township Youth Services.
Their mission is to intervene directly in the lives of school-age
teens suspected of gang involvement, confront their anti-social behavior,
and identify alternative activities appropriate to their needs. Local
school administrators and police departments refer students they have
identified as being at high risk for joining gangs. Reasons for referral
range from weapons possession and defacing property with gang graffiti
to battery or assault charges stemming from a gang-related confrontation.
Once arrested, individuals are automatically referred to the program
by the police. Additionally, through an arrangement with the Cook
County Juvenile Probation Department, juvenile court judges mandate
participation in the program as a condition of probation.
The Interventionists’ responsibilities fall into three major
areas:
-
Crisis Intervention – The Interventionists have worked
hard to build trusting relationships with teens who are at risk
and often are the first to learn of an impending violent situation,
or of a student who is exhibiting dangerous behaviors such as
fighting or displaying weapons, gang signals or colors. In these
cases, the staff intervenes directly with the participants or
calls in a crisis team. Program leaders report that this approach
– with face-to-face meetings involving the teens, their families
and community representatives – has averted dozens of potentially
violent incidents in the last year alone. The Interventionists
also respond to school officials needing assistance with crises
related to gangs and school violence, providing outreach and counseling.
-
Identification of Pertinent Issues – The Interventionists
meet with targeted young people and their family members, and
bring in professional counselors when needed, to identify issues
that have triggered anti-social behavior. These can include a
variety of core problems such as alienation from school, drug
use within the family, and lack of parental supervision.
-
Identification of Appropriate Services – The Interventionists
work with the community’s extensive network of social service
agencies to identify the most appropriate services to meet the
needs of the targeted youth and his or her entire family. They
then bring together the resources required to address individual
and family needs including parenting skills, conflict resolution,
job training and substance abuse counseling. Finally, they continue
to track the youth and their families through the communities’
various support systems, thereby ensuring coordination of services.
Impact
Local officials have seen a reduction in the number of gang-related
incidents reported to the police since the program’s inception
and credit the interventionists’ work with the at-risk teens
referred to them. In 1995, there were 14 gang-related incidents, including
the drive-by shooting. In both 1996 and 1997, there were two incidents,
and through 1998 there has been just one. To date, the Interventionists
have handled more than 100 cases, nearly all of which involve several
family members in addition to the youth, and up to 18 community agencies,
organizations, schools or volunteers.
The original intergovernmental agreement creating the Intervention/Prevention
Program covered a two-year period. It was renewed in 1998 with the
addition of a third Interventionist, one with expertise in substance
abuse - as it relates to youth violence. To supplement its local support,
the program was recently awarded funds by the Illinois Violence Prevention
Authority, Illinois Department of Human Services, and Illinois Criminal
Justice Authority.
For More Information
For more information on the Gang and Drug Task Force and/or to be
added to the Task Force's mailing list please call us at 708-445-2727
or via e-mail at youth@optownship.org
Adapted from:
U.S. Mayor, Best Practices: Oak Park's Gang
Prevention/Intervention Program Demonstrates its Effectiveness, p.
20, March 8, 1999
