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The Gang Diversion Team is the combined effort of law enforcement, community partners, and mentors to produce a useful intervention plan for at-risk youths and gang members. The focus is to develop positive plans to assist at-risk youth whose behavior may lead to crimes that negatively impact the community. After reviewing a client's history, the GDT is able to direct them to programs such as drug rehabilitation, tutoring, and self-esteem classes. Each program is carefully integrated into the client's daily life in an effort to steer them away from a destructive lifestyle. The goal is to identify and deal with the root cause of each client's problem and come to a positive resolution.
An important contributing partner to the GDT program is the University of California, Irvine's School of Social Ecology Field Study program. The students within the field study program act as mentors for the clients. As mentors, the students provide emotional, academic, and social support to clients. By having mentors, the teens are able to look up to positive role models who fuel a desire for a brighter future. Mentors also provide tutoring services to the teens to improve grades and place an emphasis on academic excellence and higher learning. The interns are highly motivated and proactive in their efforts.
On Saturday, April 12th, 2014, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Gang Diversion Team, in collaboration with UCI, hosted an incentive outing to interested youths at the UCI campus. The youths were able to have a full and productive day of activities to expose them to college life. The day started with motivational speeches from various members of UCI faculty and Los Angeles County Sheriff Department representatives. The UCI faculty included distinguished Criminology Professors John D. Dombrink and Donna C. Schuele. The Sheriff Department representatives included Chief Michael Rothans, Commander Robert Esson, Captain Eddie Rivero, and Deputy Fredrick Noya. The speeches aimed to boost the teens' belief in themselves and motivate them to strive for higher learning, no matter what type of socioeconomic background. The youths were also taken on a tour of the UCI campus which included an interactive presentation of a car racing lab, a walkthrough of a "Celebrate UCI" festival, and were given engaging information that highlighted the campus and student life by college students. The day ended with an exciting game of baseball, where the youths watched the UCI compete against CSUN while they interacted with college students from various student organizations. The youths thoroughly enjoyed the rewarding day and inquired about future outings.
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