A Trauma Informed Perspective on Youth Gang Involvement: CAMFT CEs

In this training, participants will gain a basic understanding of trauma as well as the basic principles of Trauma Informed Care. We will discuss how trauma, including historical, intergenerational, and individual levels of trauma, plays a role for youth in becoming involved in gangs/gang activity. Participants will also explore ways to conceptualize and apply trauma informed care principles and interventions to this population while delivering supportive services, such as mental health or social services. While exploring ways to understand gang involvement through a trauma informed perspective, other important aspects related to gangs will also be reviewed, such as typical characteristics of gangs, the psychosocial and individual risk factors to becoming gang involved, motivation for joining gangs, and ways to build resiliency for youth that have become gang involved as well as their families.