Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD)
Bresee is the primary service provider for the City of Los Angeles’ Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) program that reaches more than 100 youth each year. As a gang-prevention provider, Bresee offers the following services for youth aged 10-15:
Assessment
The Los Angeles Police Department, local schools, nonprofit organizations, and family members can refer youth to Bresee for an initial assessment to determine whether they are at serious risk for gang participation.
Family Coaching
Families who enroll in the GRYD program commit to a minimum of six months of intensive coaching sessions with a case manager. During this time, family members identify problem behaviors and set goals to improve communication between different generations in the family.
Youth Coaching
Youth participate in monthly one-on-one sessions with a Youth Advocate. These sessions allow youth to develop interpersonal communication skills, build a relationship with a caring adult, and reinforce goals set during family coaching sessions.
Group Activities
Because some of the key risk factors for gang participation include anti-social behavior and negative peer influence, it is critical to provide youth with a positive peer group and a sense of belonging comparable to what they might seek through gang participation. Activities include enrichment workshops, periodic field trips, including camping, museum visits, and other opportunities to expose youth to new environments. In 2018, a girls’ empowerment workshop series was launched.
Summer Night Lights
Bresee’s GRYD team provides activities at Normandie Park on Friday evenings throughout the summer months designed to encourage families to spend active time together outdoors.
