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Violence Prevention

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Overview

Homicide is the leading cause of death among young people in Los Angeles. Every day, many youth in the area must cope with an environment rife with gang activity. In response, the Division of Adolescent Medicine launched a comprehensive, multiagency gang prevention program in 1996. In 2008, the Division was awarded a grant from the Mayor’s Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD). The primary goal of this initiative is to reduce gang-related crime and membership in gangs. Children's Hospital Los Angeles is the lead agency serving the Cypress Park/Northeast Los Angeles GRYD zone, which includes Cypress Park, Glassell Park, and Highland Park through Avenue 50/Figueroa.

Key Program Offerings

  • Intensive case management
  • Individual and family counseling
  • Mentoring
  • Structure groups, including Project AIM
  • Academic assistance and tutoring
  • Community mobilization and parent leadership
  • Parenting classes
  • Educational, cultural and recreational activities
  • Sports, including boxing lessons

Afterschool activities and structured groups are offered throughout the year on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at Rio de Los Angeles State Park, located at 1900 San Fernando Road. Parenting classes and parent leadership workshops are provided at the Cypress Park Family Source Center and at other sites in the community, including schools and churches.

For general information, call 323-361-2463. For referrals, call Sandra Lopez at 323-361-7512.

Eligibility

Eligible participants must be between the ages of 10 to 15 and live, go to school or spend most of their time in the GRYD zone. They also must exhibit four or more of the following risk factors:
  • Gang-affiliated friends or family members
  • Commitment to known gang members
  • Weak parental supervision
  • Early childhood aggression (e.g. physical or verbal fights)
  • Delinquent behaviors (e.g. truancy, selling drugs, tagging)
  • Negative life events (e.g. death of a family member, witnessing homicide, being placed in foster care)