Please support one of the evidence-based and very effective practices in preventing youth from joining a gang: MENTORING!

January is National Mentoring Month and the National Criminal Justice Service has put out a special bulletin full of information and resources for mentoring. The full bulletin can be accessed at the following link https://www.ncjrs.gov/eBlast/mentoring_12jan.htm. For more information about mentoring locally, visit www.handsoncentralcal.org to search for mentoring organizations and learn about mentoring opportunitites in Fresno County.

Happy Mentoring!

10 THINGS TO DO IN JANUARY

• 1. Become a mentor in your community.
• 2. Learn more about mentoring.
• 3. Partner with a mentoring organization.
• 4. Join "I Am a Mentor" Day.
• 5. Think about the mentors in your life and post a tribute to them online.
• 6. Read the latest research and find resources on mentoring.
• 7. Serve your community on MLK Day of Service by deciding to become a mentor.
• 8. Make a donation to a mentoring organization in your community.
• 9. Go to YouTube on Thank Your Mentor Day™ (January 26) and make the National Mentoring Month videos the most popular of the day.
• 10. Explore ways to help children succeed academically through mentoring.

By Ryan Lillis rlillis@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee 

In another sign that officials are shifting the way they go after the region's gangs, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said Tuesday his gang task force will turn much of its focus toward prevention and intervention tactics.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/21/4136658/hed-here.html#storylink=cpy

Copyright 2011 The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Since 1982 Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) has been bringing victims and offenders together in safe mediation or family group conference settings to permit the offender to take responsibility for his or her actions, to make things as right as possible with the victim, and to be clear about future intentions. VORP follows up to ensure that agreements are kept. Find out more at www.vorp.org

Become a VORP Mediator - next training is January 13 and 14, 2012 visit www.vorp.org/training for more information or to sign up/

Get the VORP e-newsletter - just enter your email address on the VORP website!

Posting this because the state budget will have major affects on ALL of the risk and protective factors that allow gangs to grow and thrive in our communities.

The Department of Finance has decided to release the trigger cut report early. The Governor will hold a 12:00 Noon press conference today with the Director of Finance to announce which triggers will be pulled.

Below is a link to an article from The Sacramento Bee with the details on the tiered trigger mechanism.

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/12/4116082/californias-financial-forecast.html#ixzz1gRIiVnlS

Local youth that have worked to create a social media and marketing campaign for gang prevention are featured in the Reedley Exponent Newspaper.

If the link does not work, you can also download a copy of the article here - ReedleyExp Article 10-26-11.pdf (60.64 kb)

you view the PSA at any of the following locations below and you can find the social media campaign on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mylifemychoicefresno

http://www.youtube.com/user/JSA559?feature=pvchclk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyaVYvr59QM (includes English and Spanish version)

The National Gang Intelligence Center issued its 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment (NGTA) : 

• Since 2009, gang membership has increased by over 40 percent. 
• There are 1,400,000 active gang members in the United States. 
• There are more than 33,000 gangs in the United States. 
• Gang membership increased most significantly in the Northeast and Southeast regions, although the West and Great Lakes boast the highest number of gang members. 
• Gangs are responsible for an average of 48 percent of violent crime in most jurisdictions and up to 90% in several others, according to the NGIC analysis. 
• Gang-related crime and violence is escalating as they employ violence and intimidation to control their territories and illicit operations. 
• Gang members are migrating from urban areas to suburban and rural communities to recruit new members, expand their drug territories, form new alliances and collaborate with rival gangs. Local neighborhood, hybrid and female gang membership is on the rise. 

View the entire report at http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/2011-national-gang-threat-assessment/2011-national-gang-threat-assessment/

In fiscal year (FY) 2011, the Office Of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) awarded $393,479,099 million in grants in support of its mission to prevent and respond to juvenile delinquency and child victimization, including nearly $287 million in discretionary funding. Information about these awards is available by following the web link below.

http://www.ojjdp.gov/funding/fy11awards.html