Section 4 Prevent Youth Violence, Drug Use, and Gangs Action 11 Demand Individual Responsibility Action 12. Strengthen Families Action 13. Enhance School Safety Action 14.
Many forces threaten to pull our children into violence, drugs, and gangs.
On a daily basis, children in Maryland can be tempted by the availability of drugs, recruited by adults and peers who are involved in crime, exposed to cultural and family messages that glorify violence and irresponsible sexual activity and bombarded by advertisements that suggest that their worth is measured by the possession of trendy products. Most kids want to be involved and to make a difference. Let 's figure out what we can do to give them the opportunity to make a positive contribution, to take care of an elderly person, to make a difference in their community, to rebuild something. Both now and in years to come, the safety of our families, schools and communities depends on what we do to encourage and protect our children. Our Strategy for making communities safe focuses not only on preventing and punishing delinquent behavior, but also on helping children to develop the core values and skills they need to become responsible citizens.