Things to do when you've decided to leave the youth gang
by Rob Gallardo, Operation No Gangs Gang Prevention/Intervention Specialist

Take the change day by day. Be patient with yourself.

1. Stay indoors more
2. Don't leave the house unaccompanied; especially in first days, limit your outings, recognize those locations which represent the greatest danger level for you.
3. Have your parents or older siblings answer all phone calls so that they can tell callers you don't want to talk to that you are not available
4. Make a deliberate attempt to dress unlike your former gang member associates so that there is clear break from appearing like them. This may include a new dress style, not wearing certain colors or clothing brands, and having hair grow or be styled differently. Wearing this type of clothing while at home and not in public will help you to get used to your new look a look at faster and easier.
5. Spend more time with my family.
6. Start hanging out with friends who do not have anything to do with gang affiliation
7. Surround yourself with positive and successful people who believe in you.
8. Start regularly attending a church of you or your family's choice. Get involved in church youth activities. Develop a strong relationship with God. Talk to God throughout the day letting Him know of your hopes, dreams, hurts, fears, plans and asking Him to help you through all of these. He created you and is interested in every aspect of your life, including your interest in becoming a new you.
9. Keep busy with a hobby, talent or a job/chore(s). Feed your mind with positive literature, music and communication.
10. If you have a cell phone, you may wish to change your mobile phone number and ensure that you give that number out carefully.
11. In cases where the danger level is particularly high, you and your parents may consider home schooling, changing schools (considering a charter school, for example), or enrolling in a program like Job Corps where students can reside on-premises. Develop a plan with the assistance of an education professional.
12. A change to a new location can be a good thing when danger level is very high but the move must include assurance that gang involvement at the new location will not continue. Many former gang members find that their old mad-dogging or territorial ways cause them to continue gang-banging activity anew. Just because a person changes their clothing style, their plan and their location does not assure that the "gangster mentality" has also disappeared. That mentality of not liking being stared at, territoriality and not backing down from encounters will cause an individual to return to the gangster way, if not monitored or checked by responsible others.
13. If mad-dogged or approached by others who ask about gang affiliation the best practice is to ignore or make light of the encounter by not stopping to engage in conversation. Don�t appear flustered or bothered. Keep moving along with the others who are accompanying you. If you can, move to an area where there are groups of people. Remove yourself from the premises as soon as you can.
14. With the help of responsible others develop plans for your ongoing education and career and start working toward these.