Be Aware 
Wise About Gangs
Do gangs give a sense of belonging or protection?
What are gangs made of?
A Gang is a group of criminals who work together to commit crimes, or a group of people, especially young people, who usually go around together and often deliberately cause trouble.
In Gang Land
For teens, being in a gang gives them a sense of belonging and a false sense of protection. Being with people who walk, talk and behave alike, makes them feel needed and important. Getting into gangs may seem easy, but getting out is a lot more complicated. Rituals, punishment, betrayal and often broken promises are the stuff that gangs are made of.
Most gangs use a façade of seemingly harmless activities or venues for their true dealings. Gang “activities” can range from drug dealing and consumption to selling illegal DVDs, petty theft, trying to look tough, or collecting a few dollars of protection money from those who show fear to hand it over to the so called “leaders”.
A lot of gangs use the traditional lion dance troupes, game arcades, Karaoke lounges and billiard salons as a front for their gang operations. Far from being glamorous, the truth is a lot less pretty in these gangs.
Dads Can be StreetWISE about Gangs
Adapted from the brochure, Gangs, Not Glam, produced in conjunction with The 2003 Streetwise Run. Download the brochure to read more.
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Resources:
1. Beyond Social Services, Website: www.beyond.org.sg Tel: 6375 2940
2. Children At-Risk Empowerment Association, Website: www.care.sg
3. Enhanced Step-Up Programme, Website: www.mcys.gov.sg/enhancedstepup/
4. National Committee on Youth Guidance and Rehabilitation, Website: www.nygr.org.sg
5. The New Charis Mission, Website: www.thenewcharismission.org.sg
6. Youth Guidance, Website: www.ygos.org.sg
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When dealing with delinquency, look beyond the behaviour. The action of at-risk teens can be highly distressing for dads, but it is really an indication of a deeper need and a cry for help that teens struggle to express. Do not give up, help find their niche in life.
Quick Reads Youth at-risk should be the concern of society at large. However, as a concerned dad, the issue could be a personal and even heart wrenching one for you. Here, The Dads for Life Resource Team has put together a table that suggests the behaviour to look out for, how to differentiate it from teenage angst, and ways to reach out. In the attempt to illustrate the importance of engaging at-risk youth; so that they do not walk into the path of delinquency, we have focused on school- and community-based services.
Are you prepared to deal with drug abuse? Do you know what to look out for in your teenager? Your role as a dad is to be wise about drugs. Drug abuse is the overuse of a substance or the consumption of it without proper medical prescription. Drug abuse is dangerous because most drugs are addictive and potentially lethal. This article aims to help parents understand the risk factors that make youth more vulnerable to delinquent behaviour, how to help them and what are the legal implications once a youth enters the legal system. Legal provisions including the Beyond Parental Control Act to deal with at-risk behaviour are covered.
Dads do not need to struggle in the dark about how to engage teenagers to talk about the the dangers of gangs. Using the acronym WISE, dads can take a step-by-step approach to focus on identifying the true nature of the problem and head towards taking action. Help your child fight cyber addiction. Look beyond the behaviour. Understand what your child really needs and is seeking for in his compulsive cyber preoccupation. Know how to identify the signs of cyber addiction. And, find out how to help him recover.
A teenager shares about his struggles growing up in a broken family, his father’s incarceration, his own admission into a juvenile rehabilitation facility, and his current journey towards rehabilitation and reconciliation. Have a thought or insight? Read more and talk on this Theme here! |
About the Author: The Dads for Life Resource Team comprises local content writers and experts, including psychologists, counsellors, educators and social service professionals, dedicated to developing useful resources for dads.
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