Perspectives
Gang Prevention and Intervention
My observation at the secondary school sites is that programs are in place that act as gang-prevention/intervention: community student coordinators, youth service specialists (YSS), truancy prevention coordinators, resource officers, and intervention coordinators.
Community student coordinators (also known as bilingual coordinators, student/community relations) are at each high school and work directly with EL students, interface with families, attend IEP meetings and provide additional accountability and direction for the students. Parent Project was initiated by these coordinators and provides an evening program, ten weeks in length, which educates and trains parents. The Parent Project has several goals: to prevent (or stop) children from using alcohol, other drugs and tobacco; to stop parent-child arguments; to improve children’s grades and school attendance; and to recognize and prevent gang involvement. Last year, 450 SBSD parents graduated from these classes. This program provides stability for families and students while keeping the focus on the importance of education.
YSS has prevention programs with Friday Night Live clubs and mentorship programs. There are also intervention programs such as reconnecting youth small group sessions as well as one-on-one assistance sessions (there are approximately 200 counseling sessions per semester on campus).
Truancy prevention coordinators on campus work with students and families to keep individuals in class and connected to their studies. Approximately 90% of our truant students are deterred from the habitual truancy level of 36 unexcused class absences.
Resource officers (from SB County Sheriff and SB Police) are on campus getting to know the students, monitoring problem areas on and off campus, and assisting administration when needed. Their positive presence on campus acts as a deterrent to prohibited activities and provides immediate correction.
Intervention coordinators work with students on discipline programs. They help to keep the students connected to their academics by keeping the students on campus and busy with school tasks and classroom assignments.
Assistant principals are responsible for campus discipline, counselors provide guidance and growth, and campus security specialists enhance safety.
These programs, working in a coordinated effort have a measurable impact on each secondary campus. The function of these programs may differ at each site because of the needs of the campus community and the site funding. These activities could be enhanced with a time of collaboration on each campus and district-wide meetings to share best practices and address adaptations to deal with any new needs.
Charlotte Ware