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HCWs can help stem gang violence, says group

Emergency Management Alert, August 7, 2006

HCWs can help stem gang violence, says group

If you've ever treated gang members in your facility, you know that many of them are teens. You also know that violence can spread into the ED. The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center has put out a special call to HCWs to help protect teens from gangs in healthcare settings.

"Healthcare professionals can play a key role in gang violence prevention by educating parents, screening adolescents for gang involvement (and making appropriate referrals), developing protocols for treating injured gang members, and participating in larger community efforts to combat gang violence," says a statement from the organization's Web site. Typical of the tips offered for dealing with the problem:

Healthcare professionals should be aware of the types of gang activity occurring in their communities. Adolescent screening should take place in the context of understanding the local gang patterns. Screening should focus on high-risk behaviors such as drug and alcohol use, access to handguns, self-esteem issues, school delinquency, and sibling involvement in a gang. Screening questions might include:

• Do you feel safe in your neighborhood/school?
• What would you do if you needed protection?
• Do you have access to a handgun?
• What is the significance of your tattoo/your style of clothing?
• Do you have friends or siblings who are involved in a gang?

Developed by the CDC with other federal partners, the resource center offers professionals, parents, and youth other media designed to further discussion of gangs, nonviolent conflict resolution, bullying, teen suicide, and violence committed by and against young people. Resources include fact sheets, best-practice documents, funding and conference announcements, statistics, research bulletins, surveillance reports, and program profiles.

The site also has a daily news section with items about violence-related legislation and antiviolence programs.

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