About
In a unique partnership unlike any other, Choose Gang Free Advocates are employed by UPD and work in partnership with our School Districts and other youth agencies to serve the at-risk and gang involved youth of our Salt Lake County communities.
Choose Gang Free is a multi-faceted gang prevention and intervention strategy that includes:
· Public service prevention campaign
· Evidence based, juvenile prevention and intervention programming
· Advocate Mentoring & Life skills
· School and program-based prevention programming
· Community education-Teachers, Juvenile Court, JJS, DCFS, Youth Services, Refugee centers, Communities and much more
· Parenting classes
· Free educational materials
Choose Gang Free follows the “What works Principles” and Best Practices of OJJDP ,and believes in Maslow's Hierarchy of needs.
Choose Gang Free uses an evidence-based curriculum to work with at-risk and gang involved youth of different levels to reduce Anti-Social Attitudes, Anti-Social Behaviors, and Association with anti-social peers. We work to increase Pro-social opportunities and protective factors. As we navigate youth through our program, they are connected to wrap around services through the school districts, and/or partnering programs, receive an evidence-based curriculum for gang prevention/ intervention as well as Life Skills (Botvin) and Mentoring from our highly trained advocates.
Choose Gang Free is a multi-faceted gang prevention and intervention strategy that includes:
· Public service prevention campaign
· Evidence based, juvenile prevention and intervention programming
· Advocate Mentoring & Life skills
· School and program-based prevention programming
· Community education-Teachers, Juvenile Court, JJS, DCFS, Youth Services, Refugee centers, Communities and much more
· Parenting classes
· Free educational materials
Choose Gang Free follows the “What works Principles” and Best Practices of OJJDP ,and believes in Maslow's Hierarchy of needs.
Choose Gang Free uses an evidence-based curriculum to work with at-risk and gang involved youth of different levels to reduce Anti-Social Attitudes, Anti-Social Behaviors, and Association with anti-social peers. We work to increase Pro-social opportunities and protective factors. As we navigate youth through our program, they are connected to wrap around services through the school districts, and/or partnering programs, receive an evidence-based curriculum for gang prevention/ intervention as well as Life Skills (Botvin) and Mentoring from our highly trained advocates.
Choose Gang Free is owned by the Salt Lake Area Gang Project and has full license and copyrights to the program and program materials.
MISSION STATEMENT
CHOOSE GANG FREE will promote change through opportunity,
education, and collaboration, and restore hope by empowering youth
and families to choose a gang free lifestyle.
education, and collaboration, and restore hope by empowering youth
and families to choose a gang free lifestyle.
Program Goals
· Reduce Anti-social Attitudes
· Reduce Anti-social Behaviors
· Reduce Association with Anti-Social Peers
· Increase Pro-Social Opportunities and Protective Factors
· Reduce Anti-social Behaviors
· Reduce Association with Anti-Social Peers
· Increase Pro-Social Opportunities and Protective Factors
Choose Gang Free on COVID-19
Right now, I think it is safe to say we are all struggling and trying to find ways to cope with the unprecedented and difficult times.
Choose Gang Free and our Advocates want to express how much we sympathize with youth and families across the Salt Lake Valley . We recognize how hard and uncertain these times may feel and how turbulent your life may seem at this moment, we understand the hardships some students/youths and families may be experiencing right now and, we want you to know that you are not alone.
Our Choose Gang Free Advocates are here with you every step of the way, each advocate is dedicated to working with all of the students/youths on their caseloads and will continue to reach out to every student to ensure they have guidance and connection to their school work, a platform to still do curriculum with their advocate and any services they may be need. Advocates are keeping in contact with School Admin and we will continue to work with our wonderful school districts to make sure we can connect students/youth and families in anyway we possibly can, this goes for our community referred youth as well. If you find yourself in need please do not hesitate to reach out for help, even if we ourselves cant help you, we will help connect you to the proper services. We can and will get through this together.
-Choose Gang Free
We are currently serving the following district below, if your students or youth is within these districts and you need school information please follow the link to their websites.
Choose Gang Free and our Advocates want to express how much we sympathize with youth and families across the Salt Lake Valley . We recognize how hard and uncertain these times may feel and how turbulent your life may seem at this moment, we understand the hardships some students/youths and families may be experiencing right now and, we want you to know that you are not alone.
Our Choose Gang Free Advocates are here with you every step of the way, each advocate is dedicated to working with all of the students/youths on their caseloads and will continue to reach out to every student to ensure they have guidance and connection to their school work, a platform to still do curriculum with their advocate and any services they may be need. Advocates are keeping in contact with School Admin and we will continue to work with our wonderful school districts to make sure we can connect students/youth and families in anyway we possibly can, this goes for our community referred youth as well. If you find yourself in need please do not hesitate to reach out for help, even if we ourselves cant help you, we will help connect you to the proper services. We can and will get through this together.
-Choose Gang Free
We are currently serving the following district below, if your students or youth is within these districts and you need school information please follow the link to their websites.
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WHAT THEY ARE SAYING...
Our Advocate has been a great asset to Midvale Middle. She can relate to students which is helpful in building positive relationships. She is always willing and available to help anytime there is a need for extra support. It has been great having her here to support our at risk students. Having a person that respects, relates, and has empathy for this population of students has made this school year more effective!"
-Support staff at participating Middle School
Before CHOOSE GANG FREE I was in a gang. Because of this program it made me realize how bad it is to be in a gang and how it sometimes was a life or death situation. I wanna thank this program for helping me quit the gang life. Because of CHOOSE GANG FREE I quit the gang." - CGF Client - (8th Grade)
The CHOOSE GANG FREE Program has helped me choose better routes to take and I've started to stay more out of drama and fights. Also I've been paying more attention to classes than other things." - CGF Client - (8th Grade)
CHOOSE GANG FREE has helped me stay out of trouble for sure. I stopped messing with the wrong people. And I've been trying harder in school, getting my grades up and working on my attendance." - CGF Client - (8th Grade)
I am so happy to have a Choose Gang Free Advocate at our school. She is an amazing advocate and role model for our students."
-Support Staff at Participating CGF School
The CHOOSE GANG FREE Program helped me get through a lot. Especially knowing someone has my back. Also CHOOSE GANG FREE makes me feel like I ain't the only one going through these kinds of things. The program has helped me a lot." - CGF Client - (7th Grade)
Our Advocate plays a crucial role in our school! The way he connects with students and their families is incredible. His efforts produce positive outcomes for all involved! It's amazing to see the positive changes students make because of their time and work with him."
- Teacher at Participating Jr. High
My CHOOSE GANG FREE advocate helped me out of a gang by talking to me about the consequences. I learned how to control myself better. CHOOSE GANG FREE is good because it helps kids out of gangs." - CGF Client - (8th Grade)
I thought about joining a gang many times and thinking about all the stuff we talked about in the CHOOSE GANG FREE program has helped me choose to not join a gang." - CGF Client - (7th Grade)
Our Advocate is terrific. She works hard to be proactive and build strong relationships with parents."
- Administrator at CGF participating Jr. High
The CHOOSE GANG FREE program helped me with thinking about the consequences that were gonna happen if I did the stuff I was about to do." - CGF Client (7th Grade)
CHOOSE GANG FREE taught me how to avoid the dangers in things so my life doesn't twist and fall apart." - CGF Client - (7th Grade)
CHOOSE GANG FREE is a great program. This program has helped me a lot throughout the year. I have learned to ignore drama, gangs, and the negative things in life. I have better grades now and I don't fight as much as I used to. Before the program I used to skip class a lot and I used to let other people's rude comments get the best of me. Now I just let it go because I am in school to learn not fight or skip class. For example, I used to do things whenever I want without thinking. Now I think then do the right thing. I want to say thank you to my advocate and I am thankful we have this program." - CGF Client (8th Grade)
Our Advocate has worked extremely hard this year, and developed very strong relationships with our students at our school. She has really invested herself in our community and found ways to work with many students who struggle, and are high risk."
- Administrator at CGF Participating School
Through CHOOSE GANG FREE I learned how I can control myself and my actions on what I do so I can have a better future when I grow up."
- CGF Client - (8th Grade)
What helped me most in the CHOOSE GANG FREE program were the lessons that my advocate teaches. The lessons help me be a better person. My advocate has our backs at any time." - CGF Client (8th Grade)
CHOOSE GANG FREE has helped me pay more attention in class and do more work and actually try to get my grade up. Instead of trying to start fights I stay away from the drama. CHOOSE GANG FREE helps more than you think it would and it shows how bad it really is to do the things gangs do. What I've learned so far is that getting an education and staying in school is better than drinking, smoking, stealing and trying to be involved in gang activity." - CGF Client - (8th Grade)
The CHOOSE GANG FREE program has helped me with do not do something without thought stopping and thinking about it before doing it. The CHOOSE GANG FREE program is the best cause it helps people get out of their gang stuff and drugs. CHOOSE GANG FREE is the best!"
-CGF Client (8th Grade
Our Advocate has been a great addition and support for our school! She does an amazing job!"
- Support Staff at Participating CGF Jr. High
CHOOSE GANG FREE helps keep me in check. It keeps me out of trouble. Having an advocate in my school gives me a place to go for a lot of different things. CHOOSE GANG FREE also stops kids from joining gangs, doing things gang related, or doing bad things or illegal things, like rob, kill, and sell drugs. Advocates give us someone we can talk to when we feel stressed out or when we just want to chill and hang out. The CHOOSE GANG FREE program helps kids very helpfully." - CGF Client (8th Grade)
CURRENTLY SERVING
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ADOVCATES
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SCHOOLS
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YOUTHS LIVES IMPACTED
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