Little Village Project Summary

As a future social worker I realize that there are several approaches to social work such as macro, mezzo and micro. Each of these approaches affects the communities and systems of care social workers provide. As I read the article titled “The Little Village Project: A Community Approach to the Gang Problem”. I begin understand how each approach of social work affects the community.
This article focuses on the problems of gang violence and its effects on a Chicago community. To begin the process to combat this negative effect, the community sought out and worked with several national organizations that interacted with other federal organizations and community organizations to form a new and innovative program titled the Little Village

The two major gangs that exist in the Little Village community are the Latin Kings and the Two-Six. From 1989 to 1992, members from these gangs accounted for 75 percent of all gang-motivated homicides, aggravated batteries, and aggravated assaults in Little Village. (Irving A. Spergel, 1997) The Latin Kings were the more violent and criminal group, while the Two-Six engaged more in property offenses (Irving A. Spergel, 1997). Gang members were ages 17 to 24 were primarily targeted for services because they accounted for a large percent of serious gang violence. The program later began to target youth ages 12 to 27 (Irving A. Spergel, 1997). The article explains that the traditional treatment modalities were not working at this time because these treatments were not effective for planning and dealing with the problems of people who are living in poverty and segregated

These strategies involved include community mobilization. Local citizens and the involved organizations are in a collaborative effort to work as a team to understand gang structures and provide social intervention. Social intervention this program was design to reach out to youths/gang members who are unable to connect with legitimate social institutions. Provision of social opportunities because youths/gang members have different issues in there live and need different things. Older gang members need to secure a legitimate job and need training and education to do so. Also younger youths who are at risk of becoming gang members may likewise need alternative schools or family counseling. The program should provide individualized services for each youth based on his or her needs (Irving A. Spergel, 1997). Suppression this strategy consists of surveillance, arrest, probation, and imprisonment to reduce violent behavior, but also involves greater communication between the agency service providers and control providers.
Collaboration of organizations and development of local agencies is where all parties’ involved need to work closely with one another. GVRP assigned former gang members working as community youth workers; they needed to be given as much respect as police officers in the program. Each group can provide important information