Project BUILD DURHAM’S GANG PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAM

About Project BUILD

Implemented in 2009 Jointly funded by Durham County and the City of

Durham, plus state and federal grant funding Utilizes an evidence-based model

(OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model) Program was evaluated in 2012 by Michaux Parker,

Ph.D., and was found to reduce criminal attitudes and behavior of participants

Project BUILD - Target Population

Youth & young adults, ages 12-22 Gang-involved or at high risk of gang involvement

School failure Chronic behavior problems Court involved Gang-involved or incarcerated parents/family members Mental health*

140+ clients served during FY 2014-15

Current Project BUILD Client Profile*

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Current Active Clients: 94Average Age: 16

Race/Ethnic Breakdown: 86% African American12% Hispanic/Latino1% Caucasian83% Male / 17% Female

• 64% of Project BUILD Clients are active gang members or regularly associate with gang members

• 12% of Project BUILD participants are former gang members

• 23% are at high risk of gang involvement • 4% referred for school violence/weapon issues

*Data calculated as of 12/9/15

Referral Sources:• Department of Juvenile Justice - 35%• Parent/Guardian – 13%• Law enforcement agency – 12%• Educational agency – 12%• Self – 10%• Mental Health Agency – 6%• Existing client – 3%

• 62% of participants have been or are involved in the juvenile or adult court

• 8% are currently in jail• 37% have a mental health diagnosis

Project BUILD Program StructurePrevention Age 12-14

Partners:DPS

DPD/DCSOAlliance/mental health

JCPC Agencies

Activities:Pro-Social Activities

Mentoring by Outreach Workers

Wrap-around case management

Coordination of servicesIEP/behavioral

Goals:Increased school attendanceDecreased behavioral issues

Improved school performance

Increased interpersonal skills and competency

Warm connect to less intensive services

Intervention Ages 14-22

Partners:DPS

DPD/DCSONCDPS

District Attorney’s OfficeAlliance/mental healthAlternative Education

Local Businesses

Activities:Wrap-around case management/care

coordinationMentoring by Outreach

WorkersEducational advocacy and

engagementEmployment assistance

Group Activities

Goals:School engagement

Improved school performanceEmployment

Reduction in offendingTransition to less intensive

servicesEnsure community safety

Reentry Ages 14-22

Partners:DPS

DPD/DCSO/JailNCDPS

District Attorney’s OfficeAlliance/mental healthAlternative education

Local Businesses

Activities:In-facility visits & contacts

Exit planningSupport and care

coordination by Outreach Workers

Educational advocacy and engagement

Employment assistanceIncrease Support Network

Goals:School engagement

Improved school performanceEmployment

Reduction in offendingTransition to less intensive

servicesEnsure Community Safety

Education assistance

Outreach Support

Employment

assistance

Service coordination

Basic needs*

Prosocial Activities

Project BUILD Wrap Around Services

Clients & Families

Connection to Basic Needs• Health care/mental

health• Dental care• Housing assistance• Clothing closet• Christmas program• Transportation assistance• Other necessary services

Outreach Support• Trusting relationship• Assistance with daily

activities • Problem-solving• Behavioral coaching• Mediation• Modeling prosocial

behavior

Prosocial Activities• Weekly groups• CBT Groups• Interest groups• Summer camp• Winter camp• Civic engagement• Special events

Employment assistance• Individual career

counseling• Job search assistance

and coaching• DWORK classes• Pre-employment

preparation classes

Service coordination• Bi-monthly service

coordination meetings • Individualized

intervention planning for all clients

Education assistance• Reconnecting with

school• IEP/504 Plan support• Coordination with

educational providers

Project BUILD Client Services

51% of Project BUILD clients receive services 6 months or longer

Average length of stay per client: 262 days

Average contacts per client 2.7 contacts per week

Data as of 4/1/15

School-based outreach 6 hours per week on-site at targeted schools Provides school administrators with an alternative to

suspension Behavior management for clients at school Respond to gang issues on-campus

REASON > > > Address school-to-prison pipeline for gang/court-involved youth in Durham

Summer/Winter Camp

6 hours per day, 3 days per week during school breaksFood/nutrition classesPhysical recreationOutdoor recreation (kayaking, ropes course, swimming, hiking,

camping)College campus tours

Costs are kept low by preparing lunches & partnering with other local agencies (i.e. Parks & Recreation)

REASON > > > Provides staff members with a high level of quality time to build relationships with clients; provides youth who are frequently unsupervised with opportunities to engage in positive activities

Durham Work Opportunity & Readiness for Career (DWORC)

Project BUILD has provided three 35-hour pre-employment training classes for PB and other program participants, serving 36 youth & young adults between the ages of 14-21 (June 2014 and Feb 2015).

Emphasis on job seeking skills, succeeding on the job, and entrepreneurship

Participating businesses/organizations have included C21 Museum Hotel, Chick Fil A, Credit Suisse, Duke Medical Center, Chirba Chirba, In-R-Food, Bull City Forward, Roobrik, Evolvemint, NCCU, Durham County HR, CJRC, Durham Public Schools, Becoming Project, LIFE Skills Foundation, Mills Consulting, and Youth Empowered Solutions

Youth presenting business plans to local entrepreneurs

Clothes Closet & Christmas Adoption Program

REASON > > > Many PB participants lack basic essentials such as clothing, shoes, and winter coats. This poses an educational, employment, and social barrier

Project BUILD obtains donations from local faith-based and social organizations to maintain a clothing closet that youth can access when needed.

Project BUILD partnered with faith-based and social organizations during 2015 to provide Christmas essentials and books to 65 youth/young adults and siblings/children

Participating organizations include Duke Student Affairs and Community & Regional Affairs employees, Durham County employees, Pi Beta Sigma fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, Durham Police Department Crisis Intervention Team, Durham County Sheriff’s Office, Summit Church, St. Joseph AME Church, City of Durham Parks & Recreation employees, Suede Salon, and the The Regulator Bookstore

Jail Referrals

During 2015-16, Project BUILD has created a partnership with the Durham County Jail and the Durham Literacy Center to provide case management follow-up to young inmates (ages 16-22) post-release from the jail.

We anticipate that we will serve approximately 20-30 inmates annually. We are currently making regular visits with 12 incarcerated individuals to conduct post-release planning and build relationships that will increase their odds of success post-release during the critical reentry phase.

Peer Support Specialists

Will be implemented during 2016 using funding from a small DMACF grant. 4 older participants who have remained gang-free for at least a year will be hired

to provide coaching and support to younger youth in the program. These peer support specialists will help with planning and supporting group activities, developing training programs, and providing one-on-one support.

Partnering with DCO Emergency Management to provide leadership training (at no cost)

Each will receive one-on-one guidance and mentorship from a Project BUILD staff member

Will provide these young adults with higher level work experience and a career path into youth intervention work

Complexities of Gang Intervention Work

SEPTEMBERClient B

engaged in services

OCTOBERClient B arrested

for 4 felonies, booked into DCJ

OCT-JANClient B in

jailPB visits &

plans releasestrategy

JANUARYClient B released & reengaged

JANUARYClient B rearrested 3 days after release

JANUARYClient B released & reengaged

FEBRUARYClient B enrolled in school & completing community service hours MARCH

Client B attending school & 75% finished withCS hours

JUNEClient B attending School 95% and working

FEBClient B rearrested

UPDATE: Jan, 2016 – Client B crime free for

11 months

FY 2014-15 Program Outcomes

During FY 2014-15, Project BUILD served 142 clients. Of those clients, 99 are currently or were previously on juvenile or

adult probation or both During FY 2014-15:

25 participants successfully completed probation 15 participants were reenrolled in school 23 participants became gainfully employed 27 participants completed pre-employment training 14 participants were connected to an alternative to suspension 5 participants graduated from high school

Number of Clients Served, 2011-2015

The number of clients served by Project BUILD increased by 125% between FY 12/13 and FY 14/15 as a result of increased funding and productivity

Employment Outcomes

Between January, 2015 – June 30, 2015 48 Project BUILD participants were assisted with 130 job

applications Those 130 job applications resulted in 48 interviews Those 48 interviews resulted in 23 job offers for

participants

Service Outputs FY 2014-15

During FY 2014-15, Project personnel made almost 6,000 contacts with or on behalf of program participants.

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Jul-14 Aug-14 Sep-14 Oct-14 Nov-14 Dec-14 Jan-15 Feb-15 Mar-15 Apr-15 May-15 Jun-15

Outcomes July 1, 2015 – November 30, 2015

Between July 1, 2015 – November, 2015 Project BUILD has served 119 clients between July 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015.

This number includes 67 existing clients and 52 new admissions 11 Project BUILD clients have been placed in jobs 23 Project BUILD clients have been assisted with enrolling in school, participating in

an alternative to suspension, or have been connected to educational support services such as tutoring.

4 clients have been connected to medical care 4 clients have been assisted with completing court-ordered community service hours 1 client was connected to housing (2 times) 22 youth participated in 19 days of Summer Camp (6 hours per day) 12 youth participated in MBK event (November, 2015) 5 youth participated in Kids Vote Candidate Forum (October, 2015)

OutputsJuly 1, 2015 – November 30, 2015

July August September October November

275 237

494445 448

521 516

701 702 659

Project BUILD Contacts with Clients

2014 2015

Between July 1 – November 30, the program made 3,100 contacts with or on behalf of clients

Project BUILDwww.projectbuild.orgtwitter: @projectbuildncphone: 919.560-0537

Michelle Young – Director - myoung@dconc.gov