GANGS IN SUFFOLK COUNTY

Riverhead is not unique to the growing number of gangs. According to District Attorney Thomas Spota, Gang membership is growing at an alarming rate and has crossed all socioeconomic boundaries. Based on the 2005 TAP survey administered to 8th, 10th and 12th graders in Riverhead high school and middle school, only 8% acknowledged belonging to a gang yet 37.4% worried about gang activity.

According to SCPD statistics, there are over 4,000 known gang members and associates in Suffolk County, and the major gangs on Long Island – Bloods, Crips, MS-13, Legion of Doom and Latin Kings – are constantly recruiting new members.

COUNCIL FOR UNITY - A PRO-ACTIVE STEP AGAINST GANGS

Riverhead Central School District is the first school district on Long Island to take a pro-active approach to provide our youth with the tools and support to make healthy choices regarding gang involvement and violence. Currently there are 73 students participating in an elective credit bearing Council For Unity class in the high school and approximately another 20 in an after school club. There are an additional 140 students who have been inducted into the National Council For Unity in the past 3 years. The middle school offers an after school club with approximately 20 students and an additional 35 students who were inducted last year. The Pulaski Street School has 65 sixth grade students participating in a chapter with an additional 60 that were inducted last year.

Council For Unity is a 32 year old organization that began as a result to racial violence and is based on the concept of FUSE (family, unity, self-esteem, and empowerment). This might not be the cure all program but the success has caught the attention of the District Attorneys office who funds the high school program. As a result of the Council For Unity there has been a decrease of violence in the school and student self reported increase in class attendance and tolerance to others as well as increase in grades. The students in the Council For Unity have made several community presentations including a recent presentation to the Riverhead Anti-Bias Task Force.

A Council For Unity Patent/Community Chapter has been created and they meet monthly at the Riverhead Library. The Riverhead Correctional Facility has established a chapter and the Riverhead Police Department was inducted this past year as the first Law Enforcement organization to be a chapter.

PRESENTATIONS ON GANGS

In addition to the Council For Unity, Riverhead Central School District has been pro-active in providing annual presentations on gangs and the effects of gang violence both in the high school and middle school.

SECOND STEP PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

At the elementary level as well as the Pulaski Street School teachers have been trained and have implemented the Second Step Program. This program created by Committee For Children is recognized by the United States Department of Education as a model program. This program teaches the concept of empathy, self esteem, decision making and anger management. Family Service League, Alternatives and CAP also provide the sister program to Second Step, Steps To Respect that addresses bullying.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS IN RIVERHEAD

They say it takes a village to raise a child and with the recent creation of a Town Youth Bureau as well as a Communities That Cares Coalition Riverhead Central School District is working collaboratively to address community issues.

There is still an underserved group that needs to be addressed and they are the unemployed and uneducated youth within our community. We as a school district and community need to look at ways to provide these young people with the tools to be productive members of our community. When this happens they will no longer feel alienated and will not look to gangs to find acceptance and family.