Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD)

WHAT IS GRYD?

Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa’s Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) was established in 2007 as part of an intensive effort to foster youth development and reduce the influence of street gangs in the lives of youth. In every identified community with a high level of gang crime, GRYD seeks to establish safe and clearly identified places where youth and their families can receive unconditional support, services and counseling.

The GRYD Program offers gang prevention, gang intervention, and re-entry services as a whole. However, Barrio Action solely provides gang prevention services for the North Hollenbeck area that includes Ramona Gardens, Lincoln Heights, and El Sereno. Linkages to other GRYD programs are available.

Intensive case management
Individual and family counseling
Mentoring
Structure groups
Academic assistance and tutoring
Community mobilization and parent leadership
Parenting classes
Educational, cultural and recreational activities

GRYD PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

For GRYD program eligibility, youth must be between the ages of 10-15 and demonstrate their eligibility by completing the Youth Screening Eligibility Tool (YSET). The YSET is a tool that identifies youth most at risk of gang joining. The YSET is administered by trained personnel and asks youth questions about personal characteristics, participation in organized activities, peers, life events and delinquent behavior. YSET results must show that there are at least 4 out of 9 risk factors present to determine that they are eligible to be a GRYD program participant. Youth must either live, or go to school in the GRYD zone.

For more information regarding the GRYD Program, please contact Yvette Letelier at (323) 221-0779 ext. 309.