Children’s Aid Society Gang Awareness Prevention Program (GAPP) began in 2008 in partnership with Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) and the PSN Taskforce of the Eastern District of Michigan. Together, we implemented the Comprehensive Anti-Gang initiative within the Northwest and Eastern Target areas within the City of Detroit.

GAPP activity focus is toward goals to reduce the occurrence of violent gang–related incidents in the identified target areas, employing evidence-based approaches to assist former gang members and youth acquire the skills and opportunities needed to avoid criminal behaviors, and reducing recidivism rates for gang-involved individuals returning to the targeted communities.

GAPP provides Direct Prevention and Intervention services, which provides alternatives to gang involvement for youth who are gang-involved or at high risk for gang involvement; Outreach to identify and engage high-risk youth; Social Work and Case Management for high-risk youth and their families; Prevention through education, awareness and community mobilization and School-Based intervention/parental empowerment.