Gang membership and student behavior: nursing's involvement with prevention, intervention, and suppression

Gangs are alive, and growing stronger each day, as they infiltrate all socioeconomic levels of most towns, cities, and metropolitan areas. This is the first of two articles in this issue discussing students and gang membership and a school nurse's involvement with gang prevention, intervention, and suppression. It is also about a large metropolitan school district's proactive approach to gang prevention, which includes a meaningful partnership involving the family, community, and school. The program is a comprehensive developmental guidance program to promote pro-social behaviors, equip students with refusal skills, and encourage problem-solving strategies that enable students to avoid engaging in high-risk activities.