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3. Working with Youth Gangs: An RGC Approach
- Hong Kong University Press, HKU
- Chapter
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3_ WorkingwithYouthGangs: AnRGCApproach* Francis Wing-lin Lee Youth gang s ar e usually o f a neighbourhoo d basi s (Cartwright , 1975 ; Cooper, 1967 ; Klein, 1971 ; Lo, 1992; Spergel, 1995) . They are identifie d as having "anti-social" , "delinquent" , "violent " an d "at-risk" nature s (Cartwright, 1975 ; Feldman, 1985 ; Goldstein an d Huff , 1993 ; Klein, 1971, Le e et al., 1996/9 7 Spergel , 1965) . They exis t wel l before detac h workers intend t o intervene in their dail y activities. Most youth gang s have alread y develope d int o certai n grou p stage s an d detac h worker s have t o spen d som e tim e t o explor e an d understand tha t stag e befor e they can intervene. Also, most o f these groups will stil l exis t afte r th e workers en d their service s with them . All the characteristics o f yout h gangs sho w tha t workin g wit h thes e group s demand s th e use of som e unique methods . In fac t ther e i s literatur e introducin g th e genera l principle s an d methods fo r workin g wit h unattache d yout h group s an d stree t gang s (Collins and Hoggarth, 1977 ; Editorial Committee on Outreach Journal , 1985; Feldman, 1985 ; Goetschius andTash, 1967 ; Klein, 1971; Lee, 1994 ; Lo, 1992; MacDonald, 1980 ; Morse, 1965 ; Spergel, 1965 & 1995). There are also accounts of different interventio n method s for different group s of youn g peopl e a t ris k an d juvenil e delinquent s (Case y an d Cantor , 1983; Cooper, 1967 ; Fashimpar an d Harris, 1987 ; Goetschius an d Huff, 1993; Li , 1990 ; Marks, 1977 ; Pawlak an d Vassil , 1980 ; Pollio, 1995 ; Smith et . al. , 1972 ; Witt an d Crompton , 1996) . However , al l thi s literature i s eithe r to o genera l i n suggestin g som e basi c workin g *Thi sarticlehasbeenslightlyrevisedfromthearticle"WorkingwithNatura lGroups ofYouth-at-risk:AnRGCApproach"i nVol.12(3)oftheGROUPWORKJourna land thatpermissio nha sbeenobtaine dfro mth eJournaltoreproducethearticle. 16FRANCIS WING-LINLEE principles or too specific in deliberating special theories. There is a need to develo p a n approac h tha t ca n b e commonl y adopte d fo r providin g some concret e guideline s fo r workin g with yout h gangs . This stud y aim s t o investigat e th e working methods an d commo n approaches that outreaching (OR) social workers (detach youth workers) employ i n workin g wit h yout h gang s i n Hon g Kong . By analysing th e findings, factor s tha t ar e significant fo r effectiv e interventio n i n yout h gangs ar e identified . Furthermore , a n RG C Approach , whic h ma y provide som e guideline s fo r interventio n i n yout h gangs , is proposed . OutreachingSocia lWor kServic e Outreaching Socia l Wor k Servic e i n Hon g Kong , ru n b y som e non governmental organizations but funded by the government, commence d in lat e 1979 . Thi s i s a kin d o f yout h servic e tha t provide s guidanc e services to the street youth who are detached from conventiona l socia l systems (e.g . family an d school) , an d han g aroun d i n group s i n publi c premises suc h a s stree t corners , parks , footbal l fields , vide o gam e centres, billiar d room s an d fas t foo d shops . These youn g people , wh o usually have Triad backgrounds and are referred t o as youth gangs, have created much public nuisance (e.g . vandalising, bullying eac h other) i n the loca l communities , an d have been assesse d t o be in need o f socia l work service . Lu k (2002 ) ha s identifie d th e existenc e o f fou r type s o f youth gangs: gangs in public housing estates, gangs in schools, gangs in commercial areas , an d gang...