Gangs and Abuse
Gang: A group of persons working to unlawful or antisocial ends; especially: a band of antisocial adolescents.
Drug/Alcohol Abuse: Excessive use of a drug; use of a drug without medical justification. Verbal Abuse: Language that condemns or vilifies usually unjustly, intemperately, and angrily. Physical Abuse: A type of abuse which involves contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, pain, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm. Verbal Abuse: Language that condemns or vilifies usually unjustly, intemperately, and angrily. Sexual Abuse: A form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another to a behavior that is psychologically harmful. Mental Abuse: The attempt by one person to dominate another by means of guilt, manipulation, intimidation, or any other type of nonphysical coercion. *All definitions taken from Merriam-Webster dictionary, www.livestrong.com, and http://www.examiner.com/article/the-10-types-of-domestic-violence Photo taken from www.keepschoolssafe.org
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Photo taken from provoketive.com
Photo taken from drugfreehomes.org
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How to Reach Out
1. Watch out for warning signs
2. Create a safe, welcoming environment.
3. Encourage extracurricular activities
4. Increase awareness.
5. Teach children safe, appropriate ways to handle their emotions and problems.
- Know the warning signs of abuse, gang involvement, and drug or alcohol use. If you see any of these warning signs, reach out to the student/child and get them help as soon as you can.
2. Create a safe, welcoming environment.
- Students often turn to things like substance abuse or gangs because they do not feel welcome or like they belong. Try to create an environment for children where they feel comfortable and like they belong.
- This type of environment will also make them feel more comfortable talking about any abuse they may be suffering.
3. Encourage extracurricular activities
- Keeping students busy is one of the best ways to discourage behavior such as drug use or gang involvement. Encourage your child or students to get involved in an after school activity that they enjoy and are good at!
4. Increase awareness.
- Make sure that students know the consequences of substance abuse and gang involvement, and make sure that they know that there are other places they can turn before using one of these things as an outlet.
5. Teach children safe, appropriate ways to handle their emotions and problems.
- Teach your children or students that they do not need to turn to gangs or substance abuse to feel better. Give them positive ways to deal with their problems, such as writing, participating in a hobby or sport, or simply talking things out.
Other Resources
Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.
2007 N. 3rd Street Harrisburg, PA 17102 Phone: 717-514-6965 http://www.yapinc.org/ For Gang Prevention/Intervention Services email one of the following: [email protected] [email protected] |
Berks County Council on Chemical Abuse
601 Penn Street Suite 600 Reading, PA 19601 Phone: 610-376-8669 [email protected] |
Prevent Child Abuse Pennsylvania
American Academy of Pediatrics, PA Chapter 1400 N. Providence Road, Ste. 3007 Media, Pennsylvania 19063 Phone: 484-446-3033 Fax: 484-446-3255 Email:[email protected] |