Deconstructing Gang Culture in African American Adolescents:

Communal Insights and Interventions

Event Date: May 18, 2023

Event Speaker: Darius Campinha-Bacote, PsyD, HSP

About the Presenter:

Darius Campinha-Bacote, PsyD, HSP – is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Dallas County Juvenile Detention Center, where he is a functional family therapist and program supervisor for the Functional Family Therapy program. In this role, he works with youth and their families who come from underprivileged backgrounds. Dr. Darius Campinha-Bacote received his BA in Psychology, double minoring in Social Work and Women’s Studies from the University of Dayton, and both his master’s and doctorate from Wright State University School of Professional Psychology (SOPP). He is credentialed as a Health Service Psychologist (HSP), as well as a certified trauma therapist in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Dr. Darius Campinha-Bacote has served as the Cultural and Linguistic Competency Coordinator for a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant in which he partnered with youth and adults to coordinate culturally competent policies designed to ensure culturally specific interventions for transitional-aged youth from diverse ethnic and cultural background.

Course Description:

This course will present core concepts as to why African American adolescents appear to be more prevalent in gangs, and this training will focus not only in identifying these reasons but will also focus on insights from a communal perspective. In addition, the course will offer interventions geared toward African American youth who may be at a higher risk for gang involvement.