SnohomishTimes.com

2nd Annual Gang Awareness event

Friday, September 06, 2019
2nd Annual Gang Awareness event

EVERETT – Community members are invited to join Mayor Cassie Franklin and Everett Police for the 2nd annual International Gang Awareness Day symposium on Monday, Sept. 16, from 6:30-8 p.m. at Explorer Middle School (9600 Sharon Dr.). Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from Mayor Franklin and members of the department about the City’s work to reduce youth, gun and gang violence, and how the community can get involved.

In 2017, Mayor Franklin identified the increased youth, gang-related and firearm-related crimes as a top public safety priority and issued a directive to focus the City’s work on prevention and intervention of gang involvement among Everett’s youth population.

“Our City has worked to build partnerships within the community, both with local partners and our youth,” said Mayor Franklin. “We want to continue creating healthy pathways for our young people to reduce their involvement in violence.”

City and Everett Police staff have worked with community stakeholders and a community advisory group on recommendations and solutions. Through their work, the teams recognized the need for: a comprehensive resource list, a better framework for connecting youth and their families with existing services, and a community-driven program that rewards youth for positive behavior.

In coordination with local partners, the City has worked to implement a three-part approach to identifying and working with at-risk youth and their families, to connect them with local resources:

Resource Guide: A comprehensive list of the available prevention and intervention services within Snohomish County is being developed. The list will include all types of human services (public and private), provider information, and population groups designed for needed services.
Positive Intervention Outreach Team (PIVOT) for Youth: A multi-discipline review team identifies individual youth who are at high risk of gang violence. The team categorizes specific needs, challenges and opportunities then creates an action plan for the family.
Pathways for Adolescent Youth (PAY) Program: This program works to provide community mentors and positive reinforcement to youth who are at high risk for gang violence. Participants receive incentives and recognition for positive behavior as a replacement for “rewards” and the lure of gang life.
For a second year, the City wants to communicate and educate residents about gangs and their associated community impact, as well as the steps that are being taken to address them. Families are invited to the second annual International Gang Awareness Day Symposium to learn and ask questions.