By offering these information sessions, we hope to not only prevent any more of our youth from joining gangs, but also to stem the growth of these organizations. The following are questions that staff members are commonly asked at these training sessions. I am worried about my kid getting involved in gangs. There are many indicators of gang activity, such as a change in type of clothes, tattoos and changes in activities and attitudes. However, the best way to find out if your child is involved in a gang is by asking.
Many children become involved in gangs to find a sense of family or belonging.
Having a strong, open relationship with your child can be one of the best ways to prevent gang involvement. Some indicators of gang membership may include pagers, bandanas, truancy, poor school performance, unexplained income, or frequent contact with the police. Children in gangs may wear clothing that is dominated by one color, or altered on one side of the body. Gang graffiti may also turn up on a child's shoes, notebooks, backpacks or jewelry. Just one of these warning signs may not mean anything, but if there is a consistent pattern, parents and teachers should be concerned.