Gang Prevention in Schools

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Theories of Gang Involvement.- Chapter 3: Lack of Family Consistency: Relating Attachment Theory with Gang Involvement.- Chapter 4: "Brotherhood, Sisterhood, Unity:" Gangs as Replacement Family.- Chapter 5: "No Other Option": The Role of Social Environment.- Chapter 6: "Death, Jail, or a Turnaround:" Making the Decision to Disengage.- Chapter 7: Case Illustrations.- Chapter 8: Risk Factors and Protective Factors.- Chapter 9: Warning Signs of Gang Involvement.- Chapter 10: Building a Safe Haven.- Chapter 11: A Piece About Trauma-Informed Practice.- Chapter 12: School Prevention Programs.- Chapter 13: Being the Change: Making a Difference.

Katherine De Vito, DSW, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) working as a school social worker providing mental health counseling to students, crisis intervention, conflict mediation, and case management to special education students, as well as collaborating with families, teachers, administration, law enforcement, and community organizations. She also works in private practice. Prior to becoming a school social worker, Dr. De Vito worked in the nonprofit sector providing individual and group counseling both in schools and in an agency setting with adults, children, and their families. She received her Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) from Rutgers University School of Social Work in New Jersey. In her time there, she published two articles: De Vito, K. (2017). Schools fall short: Lack of continuum of care in public schools. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 23(4), 4-19; and De Vito, K. (2020) Seeking a secure base: Gangs as attachment figures. Qualitative Social Work, 19(4), 754-769. Dr. De Vito  also earned a Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) degree from Columbia University School of Social Work in New York City as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers College and the School of Communication, Information, and Library Studies, with a dual major in Psychology and Journalism/Mass Media. She has interned at various magazines and newspapers where she published numerous articles. Dr. De Vito also worked on the editorial staff in the children's department of several book publishing houses.  She loves being able to touch the lives of her students and clients in a positive way every day. Gang prevention is a passion for her. Helping to make a difference in the lives of students and clients is both an honor and a privilege. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, especially her parents, husband, and two children, Dylan and Emma.