TTRAPP is a united, multi-community alliance committed to eliminating those conditions which foster delinquency and gang development while promoting conditions which will ensure a healthy community environment for all youth and their families. TTRAPP is a comprehensive community project carefully structured to include a full range of interrelated program components. The TTRAPP initial target area includes: Burnham, Calumet City, Dixmoor, Dolton, Harvey, Phoenix, Riverdale and South Holland. Recently defined 3 year objectives include provisions for program expansion to ultimately reach all of Thornton Township.

• Speakers Bureau

The Speakers Bureau is a pool of regionally trained speakers who give tailor-made presentations. Topics which can be covered are basic gang information, identification and awareness of gang programs, at-risk factors for youth, and available networking resources.

• Volunteers

TTRAPP has a growing and active volunteer structure working in all facets of the project. Volunteers, with widely varied interests and experiences, are given training and opportunities to be involved as best fits the individual.

● Mentoring

TTRAPP has developed a mentoring component, Friends In Deed, to support the various aspects of the overall project. Involvement from existing mentoring programs and groups is encouraged as well as participation through the training and volunteer opportunities in the Youth Committee/TTRAPP structure. Adult volunteers are needed to share experience, knowledge, and caring with youth who are working to build a positive view and relationship with the community. Mentors are critical to youth in many ways, including: developing an optimistic and expanded view of their world, generating viable career incentives, and enriching the quality of their personal relationships. Mentors can be trained in communication skills, referral and outreach work, and will have access to assistance and information through the Youth Committee/TTRAPP office. Coordination, workshop opportunities, and support will be provided throughout the mentoring period.

● Crisis Intervention/Suppression

• BRIDGES

The purpose of BRIDGES is to make a positive intervention in the lives of teenagers, and their families, who have been identified as having at least minimal gang involvement. BRIDGES can be effectively implemented as a school-based or court-based program. Through a series of twelve small group sessions, parents of program youth are provided the necessary information and support they need to help their child succeed in a positive non-gang related lifestyle.

• Conflict Intervention Network

The purpose of Conflict Intervention Network training is to bring together key elements of the community that can identify and address predictable incidents that will, if not resolved, become the sparks which ignite much greater problems. By identifying conflict patterns, conflict forecasting is made possible, allowing agencies to design appropriate responses before a situation is allowed to become out of control.

The components of a Conflict Intervention Network will vary, depending on the size of the problem, sophistication of the network and whether it is permanent or ad-hoc in nature. A Conflict Intervention Network can be developed for various major community events, such as carnivals, festivals, concerts, school dances, sporting events, etc., or it can be designed to serve a broader, full-time purpose, functioning on an on-going basis throughout the community.