( CNN ) -- Through English-language propaganda and a vibrant social media presence , ISIS is actively encouraging young Americans to join its cause to take up arms in Syria and Iraq . Some Americans have joined the militant group , according to officials . Intelligence officials fear the number will grow higher since ISIS has been successful with recruitment in some European countries . Americans need to wake up to the frightening reality of this threat taking root in our communities . While President Barack Obama searches for a strategy to confront ISIS in Syria and Iraq , federal , state and local governmental organizations ( including law enforcement agencies ) and communities are already working together to confront the problem with this group now calling itself the Islamic State . The situation of young people acquiring radicalized beliefs without yet committing crimes is worrisome . The question is : How do we prevent violent ideologies from taking hold of people in the first place , and how to intervene and dissuade them from crossing the line towards actual violence ? Colorado teen pleads guilty in plan to join ISIS . The term used to describe this effort is `` countering violent extremism , '' or CVE . Similar to community-oriented policing methods , CVE focuses on engagement and partnership with communities . CVE stems from the White House 's national security strategy and has the active support of multiple federal agencies , but it is highly dependent on cities , counties and states to devise solutions . Consider what is happening in Los Angeles . In 2008 , the Los Angeles Police Department established a Liaison Section of its Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau . Its mission is `` to improve the quality of life and public safety within diverse communities by building mutual partnerships and trust through coordination and collaboration of all department entities , government stakeholders , public/private/faith-based organizations , nongovernmental organizations with local communities . '' For example , the LAPD began holding a quarterly Muslim Forum . Each forum is held in a mosque and hosts about two dozen representatives from Muslim organizations throughout the greater Los Angeles area where they join for dialogues . Police officers and Muslim-American community advocates in Los Angeles believe that the program has been successful . They report that the LAPD has been able to engage multiple , key organizations and leaders in the communities and to form partnerships that build trust , challenge misinformation , educate people , promote transparency , defuse conflicts , open communication channels and solve daily problems . Community advocates said they are being regarded as part of the solution , not part of the problem . Deputy Chief Michael Downing , the commanding officer of the Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau , stipulates that law enforcement-community partnerships are essential to the objective of `` making the environment hostile to violent extremism . '' One of the department 's key partners is the Muslim Public Affairs Council ( MPAC ) , whose director , Salam al-Marayati , believes that law enforcement and community leaders must play distinct roles in the collaborative fight against violent extremism . He sees prevention as primarily the responsibility of communities , and many community members readily agree . MPAC is rolling out `` Safe Spaces , '' an innovative community-led CVE initiative in mosques across the United States . Safe Spaces aims to increase Muslim-American communities ' resilience against violent extremism through community-led prevention and intervention activities . Safe Spaces works in part through getting families and communities to talk together about difficult topics . It tells parents about the threats of recruitment and radicalization to violence . According to its facilitator 's guide , `` We 're not sharing this story to scare you ; only to highlight the serious need for communities to build healthy and safe spaces . '' The initiative teaches helpful strategies to increase parental involvement and supportive adult mentorship for youth . Another key component of Safe Spaces is helping communities form `` crisis inquiry teams '' that can identify individuals believed to be at risk of engaging in violent beliefs and help them turn away from that path . Communities learn that if those efforts fail , and the risk of violent behavior becomes real , then they are obligated to notify law enforcement . Across the United States , new strategies are being developed . In Montgomery Country , Maryland , the effort is not being led by the police but rather through a public-private partnership involving the faith-based community and law enforcement . In Dearborn , Michigan , initiatives aim to promote public safety without singling out terrorism or any one ethnic community . What most efforts have in common is establishing innovative public-private partnerships that increase mutual trust , build capacities , strengthen resilience and then develop and evaluate community-delivered prevention and intervention activities . Opinion : When Americans leave for jihad . Most communities do n't have such experiences , so there is a need for expanding training and technical assistance that draws on community policing practices and on the lessons learned from implementing programs such as Safe Spaces . With the growing threat of recruitment to ISIS , the U.S. government needs to build on the successes in these and other cities , as well learn from the successes of countries such as Australia , Canada and Britain . We have to figure out how to increase knowledge of CVE strategies ; how to accelerate implementation efforts throughout the United States ; and how to measure the relative effectiveness of different CVE initiatives .
ISIS is encouraging Americans to join its cause to take up arms in Syria and Iraq . Stevan Weine : We must find ways to prevent this threat from taking root in our communities . He says the key is to stop young people from acquiring radicalized beliefs . Weine : Communities in the U.S. are partnering with Muslim groups to promote public safety .