Gang activity has become of particular concern over the last
few years especially with the reports of incidents of gunfire in parts of the
city of Everett. While there has been an 81% decrease in drive by shootings
this year, shooting incidents remain a major concern.
The City of Everett and the Everett Police Department have
been trying to grapple with this problem. Recently, the Everett Police Department announced
a three-pronged plan to intervene and prevent gang involvement:
·
First, they will develop a resource guide that
can be distributed to citizens that will provide a comprehensive list of
intervention and prevention services.
·
Second, implementation of a Positive
Intervention Outreach Team (PIVOT). This will be a multi-disciplinary review
team who will identity individual youths, and their families, who are at a high
risk of youth and gang violence. The team will develop an individualized action
plan to offer to the individual to stay out of gangs.
·
Third, develop and enact a Pathways for
Adolescent Youth (PAY) program. PAY will provide community role models and
positive reinforcement for youth who are at high risk of youth and gang
violence. Support will be for youth and their entire family. PAY will provide
positive mentorship and enrollment in the Strengthening Families Program.
The plan takes a multi-disciplinary approach to try to
positively modify the behavior of at-risk youth who are susceptible to gang
activity. The plan recognizes that no one discipline will be successful in
preventing gang activity and that several government and community-based
organizations will have to work together to be successful to help reduce gang
activity one kid at a time.
Everett Police Department:
Strengthening Families Program:
The Herald:
