The #CO-OPP Program is Helping Youth Meet Goals

The City of Tacoma’s Gang Reduction Project offers youth who are or are at-risk of becoming gang involved an opportunity to receive mentoring, support and job skill development.

According a recent program assessment, which was completed by an independent consultant, 75 percent of the enrolled youth met their education goals, 55 percent of enrolled youth who were on probation had successful completion and nearly 75 percent met their employment goals.

“The main goal for this project is to decrease a youth’s level of gang activity, and in that we have seen some really great progress,” said Melissa Cordeiro, Tacoma Gang Reduction Project Coordinator. “We’ve got about 65 percent of our enrolled youth actually self-reporting that they have reduced their gang activity in the city of Tacoma.”

In the last year, 25 youth participants graduated from the program, which typically takes nine months to two years to complete.

The #CO-OPP program was established in 2013 as one piece in the City’s comprehensive gang reduction strategy. During the past two years more than 125 youth, ages 10 to 24, have been referred for services.

The program accepts youth who live, work or participates in activities in Tacoma. The Gang Reduction Project encourages parents, teachers and community members to make a referral if they have a youth that could benefit from the program.

For more information about the program or the Tacoma Gang Reduction Project, go to cityoftacoma.org/TacomaGangProject.