Gang Intervention

Fundamentally, The Phoenix Curriculum is a gang prevention program. This means that the program is designed to reduce the risk that youth will join a gang. For the most part, it is not designed to intervene with students who are already in gangs — this is the function of our gang intervention program. See intervention vs. prevention for more details on this distinction.

Nonetheless, there is some overlap between prevention and intervention. To fill this need, we offer focused intervention materials for use in conjunction with prevention programs. The Intervention Curriculum provides elementary, middle, and high schools with classroom and counseling-based curricula, designed for the highest risk students.

Alternative School Core Curriculum Resource

A Promising Program from the National Gang Center!
The Phoenix/New Freedom 100 Hour Curriculum, a comprehensive anti-delinquency resource designed for high school programs targeted to high-risk students, has been granted a Promising Program status by National Gang Center/OJJDP/Bureau of Justice Assistance (Department of Justice) [link].

Model program includes 100 one-hour lessons organized into five 20-lesson modules. Shorter and tailored versions are available. Curriculum includes CBT and MI, and focuses on key risk and protective factors. Comprehensive gang intervention element available to support this model. For Grades 10, 11, and 12 we recommend a 25 or 50 hour version of our Phoenix/New Freedom 100 hour curriculum. For more information on this exciting new program, please contact us.

For Use With The Phoenix Curriculum

Part of our comprehensive program, specific gang intervention resources are used with The Phoenix Curriculum's Core Program. Usually, these are used to supplent the prevention program for higher-risk students at higher grade levels (e.g., middle school, high school, and alternative schools).

The gang intervention curriculum provides elementary, middle, and high schools with classroom and counseling-based curricula, designed for the higher risk students, and targeting the highest risk factors while promoting protective factors. It provides multiple school-based antigang strategies, with 100-150 hours of materials at each level. It addresses areas such as gang activity, bullying, peer pressure, substance abuse, anger, aggression, and violence. Gender-specific antigang strategies for gang intervention, gang prevention, and gang resistance, with selected gang program materials in Spanish. Several videos and accompanying workbooks supplement the school gang curriculum. Counselors' gang program’ resources include tools for overcoming resistance and guiding the process of individual change.

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Anger, Aggression, and Violence

The program options available through our Anger, Aggression, and Violence program include individual lessons, games and other interactive resources, and a range of helpful client workbooks. These materials guide clients to identify symptoms of anger — as they build up, and then deal with their feelings more appropriately. Initial activities relate to development of areas of emotional intelligence and then address critical interpersonal communication skills, conflict resolution, and anti-violence skills. Several workbooks focus specifically on aggression and violence in the context of gang activity. Skills-based lessons include detailed lesson plans, worksheets, activity cards, behaviorally-stated objectives and skills mastery checklists.

Workbook options: Anger • Understanding yourself #1 & #2 • Living a non-violent life #1 & #2 • "What’s wrong with holding in my anger?" • "What’s wrong with being tough-minded?" • Avoiding problems with authority • Problem Solving • Coping skills: techniques for use when you are at greatest risk • Coping skills: techniques for handling uncomfortable feelings and thoughts • Thought stopping, etc. • Breathing/Relaxation skills • Creative visualization and relaxation • Safety Nets • Red Flags

Availability: Anger • Understanding yourself #1 & #2 • Living a non-violent life #1 & #2 • "What’s wrong with holding in my anger?" • "What’s wrong with being tough-minded?" • Avoiding problems with authority • Problem Solving • Coping skills: techniques for use when you are at greatest risk • Coping skills: techniques for handling uncomfortable feelings and thoughts • Thought stopping, etc. • Breathing/Relaxation skills • Creative visualization and relaxation • Safety Nets • Red Flags

Sometimes these materials are employed in a life skills program or as part of an intensive violence prevention curriculum.

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Diversion and Drug Court

Gang intervention resources are becoming more helpful in drug court, diversion, and station house adjustment programs. Successful diversion and drug court programs have used The Phoenix Curriculum and gang intervention resources to address both juvenile male and juvenile female populations. Drug court and diversion programs can be tailored to address specific program and community needs, including workbooks, videos, and resources in both English and Spanish.

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Dual Diagnosis and Substance Abuse Treatment

Intensive gang intervention programs can also address critical underlying behavioral health, substance abuse, and dual diagnosis issues. Unless addressed, these issues can represent continuing high risk factors for criminal and gang activity. Within the framework of a comprehensive MET gang program addressing clients who also have mental health issues, such DSM-IV diagnoses and issues such as chemical dependency, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, anxiety, and depression can be addressed systematically. Our dual diagnosis resources are appropriate for adults and juvenile gang members with behavioral health and substance abuse issues.

Treatment Planning Areas: Anger • Anxiety • Abandonment & Neglect • Codependency • Depression • Grief/loss • Conduct issues • PTSD/Trauma • Domestic violence • Aggression and Violence • Self-efficacy: coping skills for specific needs • Low self-esteem • Feeling Hurt • Handling difficult feelings • Sleep Disorders • Aggression and Violence • Gang involvment • Eating Disorders • Compulsive Gambling • Body image and self-image • Special Losses • Self-injury

Additional tools: Counselor's Manual • Motivational Interviewing Manual Security Staff Manual • Helping Treatment Work

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Gang Issues

A series of gang intervention and gang prevention workbooks that address needs and risk factors underling joining a gang, gang involvement, leaving a gang, and the gang "mind set." Participants identify their personal risk factors and develop action plans to address these issues.

Introductory program resources: What am I doing here? • You have options • Gangs • Violence at home • Problems at home • Living a non-violent life • Let's talk about feelings • What's your story? • "My first time," and "History of use" • Coat of arms • Reasons to change • "What went wrong?" • Stress and trauma • Problem backpack

Gang Intervention Program Workbooks: What was on your mind? (gang mindset) • Who wants to be at risk? • What do you need? (needs and gangs) • Living a non-violent life #1 & #2 • Understanding yourself #1 & #2 • For young women—reducing your risk • Getting away from the gang • Program activities • What do you think? • What's wrong with being tough-minded? • What's wrong with holding in my anger? • Shame and low self-esteem • Gang intervention resources • Are you an "excitement junkie"? • The Anger game • Anti-violence skills • Communication/social skills

Criminal Thinking Program Resources: Thinking about right and wrong • "Downers": "stinking thinking" and low self-esteem • "Stinking thinking" and other people (controlling, anger, and dishonesty) • "Stinking thinking" and people in recovery • Stinking thinking and gang activity • Criminal Values

Vocational Program Resources: Personal Preparation Program • Vocational Lessons • Job Values

Coping Skills and Self-Efficacy: Coping skills: techniques for use when you are at greatest risk • Coping skills for emergencies • Basic Coping Skills • Coping skills, set 2: establishing a safer environment • Coping skills: techniques for handling uncomfortable feelings and thoughts • Basic Coping Skills • Coping skills: techniques for making long-term changes • Your highest risks • Review of post-release plans • Coping skills self-report card • Handling The Tough Times

Supplementary Program Activities: Life issues: Dealing with crises • Life issues: Taking the initiative • Life issues: Joy and humor • Making good use of your leisure time

Returning Home Resources for Gang Intervention: Your first few days • Dealing with people in new ways • Dealing with discomfort • Facing your responsibilities • If you lapse • Making positive steps to take control of your life • Avoiding the negative • Practice in handling difficult situations • Avoiding problems with authority • Avoiding trouble (when you are with others) • Handling Tough Situations • Safety Nets • Red flags • Getting close to getting out • How are you doing? • Problem Solving 1-2-3 • Making long-term changes • Identifying and addressing your highest risks • Self-efficacy and problem solving • Key elements of change

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