How to Use This Tool

The Strategic Planning Tool was developed to assist in assessing a community’s gang problem and planning strategies to deal with it. Although originally created for cities participating in the OJJDP Gang Reduction Program, the tool can be used by any community.

The four interrelated components of the tool are described below. They can be used separately or in sequence, depending upon the user’s needs. The “Planning and Implementation,” “Risk Factors,” and “Program Matrix” components provide information for any community, but the “Community Resource Inventory” component is site-specific. In other words, the user creates a password-protected database containing available local resources. If, after reading the description below and the instructions and “test driving” the tool, you would like to customize the Community Resources component for use in your community, please contact the National Youth Gang Center at nygc@iir.com. Staff will assist you in opening an account and customizing the tool for your use.

(1)     Community Resource Inventory

Allows the user to “inventory” and record information about community organizations, programs, services, and activities that could be incorporated into a collaborative, comprehensive approach to gangs. A community resource inventory is an essential first step in problem assessment. Templates are provided to guide the collection and manual recording of this information. The information can subsequently be entered into a searchable database. Once the database is populated, the user can produce a matrix that answers the questions, “What does our community have in place?” and “What do we need that is missing?”

(2)     Planning and Implementation

Having answered the questions above, a second function of the tool permits the user to access a database containing descriptions of numerous gang prevention, intervention, and suppression programs, strategies, and activities, as well as juvenile delinquency prevention and intervention programs. Programs in the database were reviewed using several criteria and designated as “effective” or “promising.” The user is offered hundreds of options, cross-referenced by age of the intended target population and linked to risk factors in five domains. These programs, strategies, and practices can be selected to fill “gaps” in coverage.

(3)     Risk Factors

The tool also contains a description of research-based risk factors for delinquency by age (developmental) periods, and risk factors that are correlated to gang behavior are annotated. Empirical indicators and data sources are shown for community-level measurement of risk factor prevalence.

(4) Program Matrix

All programs in the database are listed alphabetically in the program matrix. This matrix also allows users to view the age range of clients served by each program in the database. Users are able to examine a description of each of the programs by clicking on the program name. In addition, users are able to form a continuum of promising and effective programs (by age range of clients served) by clicking on the box adjacent to each program’s title, scrolling to the bottom of the program matrix, and then selecting the option labeled “Update Matrix.” This option moves the selected programs to the top of the matrix listing, allowing the user to view the selected programs in an array.

To use the Community Resource Inventory portion of the tool:

This section of the tool has several features to assist in strategic planning.

1. Data entry and storage: Communities conducting inventories of resources can enter the information in a secure database. Entry screens are provided for four types of resources:
   1. Community Programs
   2. Financial Resources
   3. Human Resources
   4. Infrastructure (schools, churches, hospitals, etc.)
2. Database searches: Once entered, data may be searched to locate suitable resources.
3. Program matrix: Drawing from records in the database, this feature produces a matrix of all available programs, cross-tabulated by age and type of program (prevention, intervention, or suppression). The matrix can show, at a glance, gaps in program coverage.

To enter data:

1. From the home page, click on the “Community Resource Inventory” tab.
2. Click on “Enter.”
3. Log in by selecting the site name, entering the site password, and clicking “Login.” Passwords are different for each site and may be obtained from the Project Coordinator. (NOTE: For demonstration and training purposes, dummy data has been entered into a Community Resource Inventory database that is accessible to any user. In the “Site” field, select “Testington, FL.” Then enter the password “testing123” and click “Login”).
4. There are four entry screens, depending upon the type of information you are entering:
   1. Community Program Inventory item
   2. Financial Resource Inventory item
   3. Human Resource Inventory item
   4. Infrastructure Survey item
5. Select the appropriate form and click on “Add a New Record.”
6. Complete the fields of the appropriate data entry form with available information.
7. When you have entered all the data, click on the button labeled variously “Add (Community Program/Financial/Human/Infrastructure) Resource.” (Partial records may be created, then reopened and edited when additional information has been obtained.)
8. Continue with next record.

To edit records:

1. From the home page, click on the “Community Resource Inventory” tab.
2. Click on “Enter.”
3. Log in by entering the site name and password and clicking on “Login.”
4. Go to the appropriate type resource (Program/Financial/Human/Infrastructure) and using either the drop-down menu (arrow) or clicking on “Browse Records,” select the individual record you want to edit.
5. Click on “Edit.”
6. Make the necessary edits/additions to the record and click the “Update” button at the bottom of the form.

To view records:

1. From the home page, click on the “Community Resource Inventory” tab.
2. Click on “Enter.”
3. Log in by entering the site name and password and clicking on “Login.”
4. Go to the appropriate drop-down menu (arrow) to select a record; then click on “View.” You can also click on “Browse Records” and click on the highlighted name of the individual record to view it in its entirety.

To view program matrix:

1. From the home page, click on the “Community Resource Inventory” tab.
2. Click on “Enter.”
3. Log in by entering the site name and password and clicking on “Login.”
4. Click on “View Programs as Matrix.” This produces a matrix of all programs that have been entered and stored in the database. The matrix is cross-tabulated by age groups and type of program.
5. To view the record for any program in the matrix, click on the name of the program.

To delete records:

1. From the home page, click on the “Community Resource Inventory” tab.
2. Click on “Enter.”
3. Log in by entering the site name and password and clicking on “Login.”
4. Go to the appropriate drop-down menu (arrow) to select a record; then click on “Delete.” You can also click on “Browse Records” and click on the “Delete” button for the individual record you want to delete.

To use the Planning and Implementation portion of the tool:

1. Select “Planning and Implementation.”
2. Select one or more target age groups.
3. The default setting is “Programs.” You will see a listing of programs that are appropriate for the age group(s) you have selected. The programs are color-coded by type; i.e., Prevention (Green), Intervention (Blue), Suppression (Red), and Comprehensive (Black).
4. Click on the name of the program to display summary information about the program. The program description, intended ages, and targeted risk factors are displayed, as well as contacts for additional information.
5. Strategies and Best Practices can be accessed in the same way; i.e., by selecting one or more age groups and then clicking on the “Strategies” or “Best Practices” tabs.
6. The user can thus navigate through Programs, Strategies, and Best Practices, choosing those that seem to be appropriate to fill gaps in coverage.

To use the Risk Factors section of the tool:

This section of the tool allows the user to select programs that target specific risk factors.

1. On the home page, click on the “Risk Factors” tab.
2. Next, select one of the age groups; e.g., 6-11.
3. A list of risk factors will be displayed for that age group. Risk factors are in red and are grouped by domain. You can scroll down to display all the domains and risk factors. Note: Some age groups do not have risk factors for each domain.
4. Next to the risk factor is a “+” symbol. Clicking on that displays indicators of risk factors (in blue) and sources of prevalence data (in green).
5. You can click on the “associated programs” button to display the names of programs in which an association can be drawn with that risk factor. Note: Not every risk factor has an associated program. Some have numerous associated programs.
6. Clicking on the program name displays the program summary information page.