Communities should begin by analyzing the types of gangs affecting their neighborhoods: Criminal (which have close relationships with adult criminals); Conflict (which fight to gain social status and protect their perceptions of honor and principle); and Retreatist (which exist on society’s fringes, exhibit heavy drug use and withdraw from social interaction). Next, they should conduct a needs survey, gathering data from at least seven separate groups: (1) former gang members; (2) at-risk and gang-involved youth themselves; (3) parents of youth currently involved in gangs; (4) parents of youth not involved in gangs; (5) service providers such as police, guidance counselors, employment trainers, school nurses and teachers; (6) youth agencies such as Boys and Girls clubs; and (7) local religious organizations. Finally, they should review the literature on gangs. Bibliography