.The goal will be to increase community participation in Block Watchers On Patrol, Block Watch programs, and attendance at law enforcement committee meetings. These efforts will be done under the auspices of the law enforcement committee through resident assistance and subsequent Police Department training.

The Neighborhood Policing Unit of the South Mountain Precinct will lead a multi-dimensional approach to address drug sales, drug houses, and absentee landlord issues which have been identified as primary concerns by the Weed and Seed Resident Advisory Committee.

COMMUNITY POLICING
The mission statement of the Phoenix Police Department is to "provide community oriented law enforcement designed to protect life and property, maintain order, while assuring fair and equal treatment for all." In an effort to facilitate the community policing philosophy, each precinct in the City now has a Neighborhood Policing Unit. This unit is staffed and structured in a manner that allows for complete service delivery to the public. Neighborhood officers will implement a proactive community policing strategy that includes traditional law enforcement, community mobilization, civil law enforcement, and educational training.

One aspect of this strategy includes an increase in uniformed patrols by officers. The presence of officers in patrol cars, on bicycles, and on foot will foster positive relationships between the police and public. These relationships will allow officers to better understand neighborhood problems and will assist with police efforts to engage community members in Weed and Seed activities which could include graffiti removal, Block Watchers on Patrol, law enforcement committee meetings, and referrals to prevention/intervention/treatment programs.

Crime prevention efforts targeting school-aged youth will include the "Wake Up" Program. This program teaches alternatives to violence, gangs, and drugs while promoting positive decision making and building self-esteem. Additionally, other crime prevention programs through community requests will be conducted as needed. These include but are not limited to self protection classes, Officer Friendly, and Bike Safety courses.

Increased police visibility and development of cooperative relationships between police, community/business partners, and school-aged youth will help to solve neighborhood crimes and assist the public in preventing problems from reoccurring.

NEIGHBORHOOD RESTORATION
The Capitol Mall/Oakland University Park site?s neighborhood restoration efforts will focus on improving the physical and social conditions of the neighborhood. This strategy will include efforts of nonprofit agencies and the City of Phoenix to improve home security, provide residents with education opportunities, and removal of blight and neighborhood preservation code violations from neighborhood properties.

Residential security issues will be addressed through a home security program. This program includes the installation of security devices to reduce burglaries and robberies committed against the neighborhood's most vulnerable neighbors. The Community Housing Partnership Inc., a local nonprofit agency, will be contracted to deliver and install security doors, deadbolt locks, lighting, and window bars at a minimum of fifty owner-occupied homes within the Weed and Seed neighborhood boundaries.

The Downtown Neighborhood Learning Center (DNLC) will provide community residents the opportunity to participate in monthly training programs with topics that include conflict resolution, landlord/tenant issues, parent/child relations, Mexican consul, affordable housing, buying a house, keeping the neighborhood clean, crime/safety and community empowerment. Neighborhood residents and the Resident Advisory Committee will provide input to the DNLC to ensure program topics address resident needs. Additionally, the DNLC will continue to provide adult basic education, GED, English language, computer skills, pre-employment, and child care services for residents of the Capitol Mall/Oakland University Park neighborhood.

The City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department currently has a Neighborhood Preservation Inspector assigned to investigate complaints about problem properties that fail to meet minimum standards or cause health and environmental hazards in the neighborhood. The inspector will be available to meet with residents and discuss problem properties and provide individual and community training on neighborhood preservation ordinances. The City's Home Maintenance Training Program and Home Improvement Loan Program (HILP) will be made available to Capitol Mall/Oakland University Park residents.

Residents of the selected neighborhood will have the opportunity to learn about the Weed and Seed programs and services via newsletters, flyers, and direct mail. The Capitol Mall Association, Story Preservation Association, and Oakland/University Park Associations each produce neighborhood newsletters and have established distribution channels that will be used to disseminate Weed and Seed information. Information about Weed and Seed programs and service providers will also be available at the neighborhood Safe Haven locations.

Additional methods of promoting the Weed and Seed Program include booths and displays at city-wide events. The annual Neighborhoods That Work Program and Enterprise Community Fair attract thousands of City residents. These events provide an opportunity to promote the Weed and Seed Program to both residents and non-residents of the Weed and Seed site.

A combination of non-profit agencies and the City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department working together to improve home security, provide resident education and enforcement of neighborhood preservation ordinances to improve the physical and social conditions of the neighborhood.

PREVENTION/INTERVENTION/TREATMENT
A collaborative program will implement core principles that are needed to create and develop capable, mature and responsible residents. Along with increased recreation opportunities, the Resident Advisory Committee identified community empowerment and job asset-building for at-risk youth and adults as Special Emphasis Initiatives to be included with the site's prevention/intervention/treatment strategy.

University Park, a City of Phoenix recreation facility located within the selected neighborhood, offers individuals and families positive recreation experiences as healthy alternatives to gangs, drugs and violence. Recreation staff will collaborate with neighborhood residents to enhance structured recreation programs offered at this facility. Extended park hours and weekend programs will provide opportunities for residents to recreate and promote positive social interactions. University Park is scheduled for major renovations of the swimming pool and recreation center in late 1998. During the renovation, some recreation activities may be scheduled at the University Park Museum which is the primary Safe Haven site for this neighborhood.

The University of Arizona, Maricopa County Cooperative Extension, through 4-H Youth and Community Development Programming, will provide leadership and materials to develop an organic community garden. Key components of successful prevention and intervention programs will be incorporated into the community garden which will benefit youth and adults of the selected neighborhood. There are four main components of this program: 1) community involvement and neighborhood beautification; 2) youth management of the garden; 3) youth job preparation and placement; and 4) providing a safe and educational environment within the selected neighborhood.

Residents of the Weed and Seed site will coordinate a resident empowerment initiative which will unite the efforts of law enforcement agencies, City departments and nonprofit organizations to reduce crime and drug activities while creating a safer neighborhood. This resident-driven program will compliment law enforcement efforts through the gathering and dissemination of property ownership and criminal records for the purpose of monitoring and executing civil proceedings. This program will parallel and augment the criminal abatement cases pursued by the Phoenix Police Department and will provide support needed to submit problem properties for court abatement proceedings.

The Valley of the Sun YMCA will implement a Future Leaders Project that will provide 28 neighborhood youth, ages 13-17, with job training and weekend employment opportunities. The program is designed to accomplish three objectives: 1) introduce teens to the structure, etiquette and expectations of the work environment, 2) nurture an appreciation for the neighborhood, and 3) raise the future aspirations of participating youth. Participating youth will receive pre-employment training, employment certification, and will also participate in the program's educational component.

Coordinated efforts between residents, police, social service providers, recreation, and non-profits will be working together to develop capable, mature and responsible community members.

SPECIAL INITIATIVES- SAFE HAVEN(S)

The Resident Advisory Committee has identified The University Park Museum as the neighborhood's primary Safe Haven location. This historic facility, built in the 1920's, will serve as a highly visible multi-service center where a variety of youth and adult services will be coordinated. After some internal renovation, this location will be the community office site for the Weed and Seed Program Coordinator and will provide space for recreation programs, community classes, and neighborhood meetings.

Three additional locations, the Church on Fillmore, Capitol School, and the Armory, will serve as satellite Safe Haven sites. These three locations are currently providing a variety of services to the selected neighborhood and all provide free space for neighborhood association and community meetings. The Armory is also the site of a satellite neighborhood police station.


Visit the Official Government Weed and Seed Program website by clicking HERE

Return to the Drug Cost budget by clicking HERE