Not My Kid. Something said by may parents until they realize it was their child is handcuffed and behind bars after being involved in gang violence...and by then it's too late.
But city officials and concerned parents want to help put an end to that by starting a new "Gang Resistance Education and Training Program to work with the Mayor's citywide Violence Prevention Task Force.

Darryl Moss of Springfield's Task Force says, "We can't do all the work we can in the schools and through the police department and the mayors office but if we're not partnering with the parents of these young people then we're not really doing our job."

The program will help give parents tools to combat problems they may encounter with their kids. This way they become the first line of defense.

Natasha George, a Springfield parent, saus "Right there last week on Saturday two people got shot next door to my home but I'm not running away I'm there I'm being supportive, I knew the young people and I loved them and it wasn't even intended for them but we have to be a part of the community."

The program also help parents identify gang related activity, signs, language because often times parents don't realize when their kids are having a tough time and caught up in gang activity.

"The hats that young people wear the athletic hats and what the letters actually indicate, the drawings on the hats and the T-Shirts and what they indicate and what they stand for," says Moss.

Because often times city officials find that parents turn a blind eye to their childs problem and have no idea until it's too late.

"You don't have to go out there and walk the streets I think a lot of times parents feel like they have to go out there and be a big part of this demonstration, no, it starts at home," says George.