Mahoning County Juvenile Court Judge Theresa Dellick is taking a proactive approach to gang problem.

Mahoning County Juvenile Court Judge Theresa Dellick is taking a proactive approach to gang problem.

More than one in three middle school students report gangs in their schools, according to a 2010 study conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Taking a proactive approach to preventing young people in her community from becoming involved in gangs, Mahoning County Juvenile Court Judge Theresa Dellick has put together a collaborative project with four area schools that has received approval of a three-year, $600,000 federal grant.

“While the court continues to work with local law enforcement to curtail gang activity, we recognize that by forming a partnership with our local Educational Services Center we can intercede early with youth who are at risk to join gangs and curtail the spread of gang activity in our community,” Judge Dellick said.

Mahoning County is one of only four juvenile courts in the country selected to receive the grant from the U.S Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs.

The program will incorporate gender-specific, evidence-based anti-gang programming and target moderate- to high-risk students at the Mahoning County High School. A court facilitator will provide evidence-based low- to moderate-risk gender-specific anti-gang programming to students in Austintown, Boardman, and Struthers high schools. The grant provides funding for the court’s mediation and restitution program, and training for school resource officers, law enforcement, mental and behavioral health specialists, and court staff to support the initiative.

The court will gauge the effectiveness of the programming by tracking graduation rates, suspension and expulsion referrals to the court from the schools, and gang-related delinquent activity.