Preventing female gang involvement: Development of the Joint-Interest Core and Balance Model of Mother/Daughter Leisure Functioning

Female gang membership is increasing in the United States. Prevention and treatment interventions are needed to help protect girls from gang membership. Research suggests that the mother/daughter relationship can provide a protective resource for girls at higher risk for gang involvement. Discussion of female gang activity, its causes, and parent/child relationship of female gang members is included. This paper develops a theoretical model based on collective efficacy (CE), family resilience, and the Core and Balance Model of Family Leisure Functioning, which serves as a guideline for developing preventative and treatment interventions for girls at-risk.