The Alternative:
Gang Suppression Project
The Alternative: Gang Suppression Project
Youth ages 14-18
Miami-Dade County
Reduce youth gang affiliation through prevention and intervention strategies
The Alternative provides services to urban youth 14-18 years old who are experiencing peer-pressure to conform to a life of violence and delinquency by offering group and one-on-one mentoring, life-skills training, technical skills to gain employment and emotional management training.
We do a risk assessment of the youth and tailor effective interventions to temper the allure of gang affiliation. We help youth see the big picture and get them excited about their future by providing them a safe place to feel good about themselves, belong to a greater purpose and positive alternatives to what they might be experiencing.
We help youth identify interests by using evidence-based skills assessments and other effective tools that help young people focus on their future.
Our prevention program services are delivered during after-school hours and weekends. Our intervention program participants are given access to our One-Stop Resource Youth Community Center. Youth receive college and career counseling, helpful training, and care coordination services. Trainings cover a variety of topics including financial literacy, conflict resolution and job skills development.
Eligible youth are those at-risk of aggressive behavior and/or exhibiting behavioral issues, youth on probation, and gang members returning to the community after confinement. GA understands that and provides an environment that builds youth up and supports them in learning new skills that lead to healthier lives.
GA has many activities that empower youth, including after-school programming on weekdays and meetings on weekends. The after-school program focuses on preventing drug use, delinquency, anti-social behavior, drop-out prevention and dealing with family issues. Youth also have access to GA’s Registered Apprenticeship Program in construction, receiving on-the-job training while being paid fair wages.
Two additional aspects of The Alternative are the Multi-Agency Community Task Force and the Multi-Disciplinary Implementation Team, which both meet on a regular basis. The Alternative promotes positive values and teaches skills to help youth transition to productive adult lives. No youth deserves to be left behind.
Funded by the Office of Juvenile justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).