U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

810 Seventh Street NW.

Washington, DC 20531

Alberto R. Gonzales

Attorney General

Regina B. Schofield

Assistant Attorney General

Nelson Hernandez

Director, Community Capacity Development Office

Office of Justice Programs

Partnerships for Safer Communities

www.ojp.usdoj.gov

Community Capacity Development Office

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ccdo

For grant and funding information, contact

U.S. Department of Justice Response Center

1–800–421–6770

NCJ 210242

August 2005

s

i

Contents

Introduction v

Chapter 1. Weed and Seed

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Goals and Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Four Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Fundamental Principles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Developing the Strategy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Chapter 2. Organizing the Steering Committee

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Diverse Representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Role of the U.S.Attorney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Implementation Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Role of the Grant Recipient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Chapter 3. Selecting Sites for Weed and Seed Implementation

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Geography of the Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Population of the Site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Master Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Indicators of Community Potential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Community Selection Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Chapter 4. Assessing Resources and Needs

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Assets and Needs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Implementation Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Implementation Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Chapter 5. Planning for Weed and Seed

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Implementation Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Chapter 6. Managing Weed and Seed

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Sustaining Positive and Permanent Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Implementation Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Implementation Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
ii

Chapter 7. Community Mobilization

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Implementation Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Chapter 8. Law Enforcement

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Implementation Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Implementation Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Chapter 9. Community Policing

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Implementation Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Implementation Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Chapter 10. Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Implementation Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Implementation Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Chapter 11. Neighborhood Restoration

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Implementation Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Implementation Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Chapter 12. Evaluation

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Vision  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Implementation Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Implementation Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Appendix

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

How To Obtain Technical Assistance From CCDO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Implementation Manual Glossary of Terms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Safe Haven Sample Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Sample Format for Site Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

The Weed and Seed Strategy and Community­Oriented Policing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
iii

Exhibits

Exhibit 2–1.

Exhibit 2–2.

Exhibit 2–3.

Exhibit 2–4.

Exhibit 4–1.

Exhibit 4–2.

Exhibit 4–3.

Exhibit 5–1.

Exhibit 5–2.

Exhibit 5–3.

Exhibit 6–1.

Exhibit 6–2.

Exhibit 6–3.

Exhibit 7–1.

Exhibit 8–1.

Exhibit 8–2.

Exhibit 8–3.

Exhibit 9–1.

Exhibit 9–2.

Exhibit 10–1.

Exhibit 12–1.

Exhibit 12–2.

Inventory of Agency Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Weed and Seed Strategic Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Weed and Seed Strategy Development Tool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Weed and Seed Steering Committee Survey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Inventory of Possible Resource Providers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Data “Wish List”—Crime Mapping Research Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Sample Resource Directory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Identifying Critical Priorities and Their Corresponding Components . . . . . . . . . . 40

How Can We Develop Goals To Address Our Critical Priorities? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Additional Estimates of Contributed Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Weed and Seed Management Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Program Coordinator Position Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Site Supervisor Position Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Community Empowerment and Participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Local Drug Enforcement Tactics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Local Prosecution Tactics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Joint Task Force Implementation Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Ways To Communicate Information to Residents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Sample Implementation Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Safe Haven Sample Organizational Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Program Outcome Measurement Model. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Monthly Participant Attendance Form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
v

Introduction

This manual is intended to be an easy­to­read guide for communities attempting to implement a Weed

and Seed strategy. It must be provided to each new site that is Officially Recognized or funded by the

Community Capacity Development Office (CCDO). This manual is not intended to mandate that everything it discusses must be included in every Weed and Seed site. Rather, it offers the ideal toward

which sites should strive.

This manual is a tool that has been updated by the CCDO Technical Assistance Division to offer direction and support to your efforts. Use it to enhance your efforts as you initiate new activities.
1

Chapter 1. Weed and Seed

Overview

Violent crime in many American communities

remains unacceptably high despite the significant accomplishments in crime reduction that

have been made through several new initiatives

of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Weed

and Seed is an outstanding example of one of

these innovative approaches to crime reduction. 

In 1991, DOJ established Operation Weed and

Seed as a community­based, multiagency

approach to addressing violent crime, gang

activity, drug use, and drug trafficking in communities that were hardest hit by violence and

eroding social and economic stability. Weed and

Seed is designed to reduce the impact of violent

crime on communities; provide prevention,

intervention, and treatment services for substance abuse and other social problems; and

revitalize communities through improved

housing and economic development.

Weed and Seed is a comprehensive strategy—

not simply a program—to assist communities

in bringing people and resources together to

prevent and control crime and improve the overall quality of life. The Weed and Seed strategy

stresses collaboration, coordination, and community participation. This approach gives

communities experiencing high crime and social

and economic decay a comprehensive structure,

critical planning tools, and access to a national

network focused on crime prevention, citizen

safety, and neighborhood revitalization. The initiative allows communities using the Weed and

Seed strategy to develop and undertake efforts

tailored uniquely to the issues, needs, and concerns of each neighborhood. 

Operation Weed and Seed began in three pilot

sites in 1991; since that time, it has spread

quickly to designated high­crime areas throughout the nation. By early 2005, more than 300

communities had become Weed and Seed sites. 

Weed and Seed is managed and administered

at the national level through the Community

Capacity Development Office (CCDO), a program

office within DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs.

CCDO provides various services, technical assistance, training programs, and resources to support local Weed and Seed strategies. CCDO

developed this manual to assist new and existing Weed and Seed sites with creating and

implementing Weed and Seed strategies.

Contact CCDO directly at 202–616–1152 for

additional information on any of the issues

discussed in this manual. 

Vision 

The Weed and Seed strategy is based on a twopronged approach: 

1. Law enforcement agencies and criminal justice officials cooperate with local residents

to “weed out” criminal activity in the designated area. 

2. Social service providers and economic revitalization efforts are introduced to “seed”

the area, ensuring long­term positive change

and a higher quality of life for residents. 

The Weed and Seed strategy recognizes the

importance of coordinating federal, state, local,

and tribal offices; law enforcement agencies;

and criminal justice initiatives with social service providers and private­sector and community

efforts to maximize the impact of existing 
2

programs and resources and identify and fill in

gaps in services.

It also recognizes the importance of community

participation. Community residents must be

centrally involved and empowered to assist in

solving problems in their neighborhoods. In

addition, the private sector is a pivotal partner

in the Weed and Seed strategy. 

Goals and Objectives 

The purpose of Weed and Seed is to reduce

violent and drug­related crime in designated

high­crime communities throughout the nation.

A comprehensive approach is used to reduce

and prevent crime and improve residents’ overall

quality of life. As a result, law­abiding citizens

are able to live, work, and raise their families

in a safer and more prosperous environment. 

The primary objectives at each Weed and Seed

site are to— 

� Develop a comprehensive community­based

strategy to control and prevent violent crime,

gang activity, drug trafficking, and drugrelated crime.

� Coordinate existing and new government and

private­sector initiatives, criminal justice

efforts, and human services and concentrate

those resources in designated neighborhoods

to maximize their impact. 

� Mobilize community residents to assist law

enforcement in identifying and removing violent offenders and drug traffickers from their

neighborhoods, assist human service agencies in identifying and responding to social

service needs, and participate more fully in

community planning and decisionmaking

processes. 

Four Components 

The Weed and Seed strategy is a multilevel

strategic plan that includes four basic

components.

Law Enforcement 

The law enforcement component is designed to

weed out crime and violence, particularly violent

crime, gang activity, drug trafficking, and drugrelated crime. Efforts are directed mainly at

identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting the

most serious and visible criminals in the designated area. Reducing both crime and citizen fear

returns hope to residents living in distressed

neighborhoods and sets the stage for community

revitalization. 

In most Weed and Seed sites, crime suppression

activities are undertaken by joint task forces that

represent a collaboration of law enforcement

agencies from all levels of government, including

tribal governments, and benefit from the various

resources each agency brings to the effort.

Suppression activities include repeat­offender

programs, gun abatement, targeted patrols,

intensified drug investigations, and targeted

prosecutions. Other law enforcement tactics

involve various aspects of the criminal justice

system, such as community courts, victimwitness protection and services, and offender

reentry programs. 

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
3

Community Policing 

Community policing supports intensive law

enforcement operations and serves as a bridge

to the seeding components of Weed and Seed.

Community policing embraces two key concepts:

community engagement and problem solving.

Under this model of policing, officers establish

an ongoing dialog with community residents to

solve crime problems through a systematic

process that addresses the underlying causes

of crime. Community policing strategies foster

a sense of responsibility within the community

for solving crime problems, focus on increasing

police visibility, and develop cooperative relationships between police officers and residents.

Examples of community policing activities

include foot and bicycle patrols, police ministations, victim referrals to support services,

nuisance abatement programs, and police athletic leagues. 

Community mobilization is also important in

community policing activities. Programs that

encourage community participation and help

prevent crime include neighborhood watches,

citizen marches and rallies, prayer services, 

drug­free zones, and graffiti removal. Chapter 7

provides more detail on community mobilization.

Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment 

The prevention, intervention, and treatment

component of the Weed and Seed strategy

focuses on neighborhood efforts to enhance

protective factors while reducing risks, thus

promoting wholesome behavior that can lead to

good health, well­being, and personal success.

� Risk factors such as economic deprivation,

family management problems, and early

academic failure increase the likelihood that

a child will develop health and behavior

problems in adolescence. 

� Protective factors such as positive individual

characteristics, bonding, healthy beliefs, and

clear standards set by parents and society

reduce the impact of risk factors on children. 

The prevention, intervention, and treatment

component concentrates an array of human

services on the designated community to create

an environment in which crime and violence

cannot thrive. Links among law enforcement and

social service agencies, the private sector, and

the community must be strengthened to improve

the overall quality of services to residents. 

Safe Havens are important elements of the prevention, intervention, and treatment component.

They provide a mechanism for organizing and

delivering an array of youth­ and adult­oriented

services in a multiservice setting such as a

school or community center. All Weed and Seed

sites are encouraged to have at least one Safe

Haven. Activities conducted in Safe Haven programs include community­based services such

as childcare, after­school programs, tutoring,

recreation, parenting courses, drug prevention

programs, substance abuse treatment, mental

health services, family counseling, and medical

care. 

Neighborhood Restoration 

The fourth component of Weed and Seed focuses on improving and revitalizing the economic

and social conditions of the designated communities through neighborhood restoration

strategies. Expanding the economic vitality of

a community helps to keep crime and disorder

from thriving. As with the other Weed and Seed

components, neighborhood restoration can be

achieved only by coordinating federal, state,

local, tribal, and private­sector resources.

Strategies focus on economic development,

employment opportunities for residents, and

improvements to the housing stock and physical

environment of the neighborhood.

Weed and Seed
4

� Coordination. The number of government

agencies and community organizations that

provide services to citizens is breathtaking.

Stakeholders are probably not aware of the

many service providers in the area, the goals

and objectives of each organization, and

whether there are overlapping and duplicative services. Weed and Seed helps bring

together the officials who represent these

organizations and assists in coordinating

their activities. This enables the Weed and

Seed Steering Committee1 to concentrate

resources in designated neighborhoods,

better match services with community needs,

eliminate overlap and duplication, and get

the maximum benefit from existing services

and programs. Both vertical coordination

(across disciplines such as law enforcement,

social services, and economic development)

and horizontal coordination (across levels of

government) are critical to the Weed and

Seed strategy.

� Community mobilization. Communities

empowered to solve their own problems

function more effectively than communities

that depend on services provided by outsiders. This is true for property owners who

take better care of homes than renters and

for workers who own part of the company

and are more committed than those who

simply collect a paycheck. Therefore, it follows that initiatives that empower communities to help themselves, involve residents in

decisionmaking processes, and encourage

broad citizen involvement will be more effective than those that simply provide services

to clients.

� Leveraging resources. CCDO disseminates

funding to local sites in support of their

Weed and Seed strategies. These funds are

1 When working with Indian tribes, the Weed and Seed Steering Committee will have numerous members and may increase to

beyond 25 to 30 members. Tribal representatives from the tribe’s governing body, law enforcement, court, social services, and

other tribal entities will be involved.

Fundamental Principles 

Four fundamental principles set Weed and Seed

apart from traditional approaches and are key

to the success of the strategy at the community

level. 

� Collaboration. Government departments at

the federal, state, local, and tribal levels;

social service agencies; community organizations; the private sector; and residents play

important roles in community safety. Each

has a responsibility to the community and a

stake in its future. Weed and Seed requires

communities to establish a collaborative

process to capitalize on the full potential that

the systematic interaction of stakeholders can

provide. Collaboration leads to permanent

channels of communication among stakeholders, partnerships among organizations

with similar goals, and a strategic approach

to effective crime prevention and restoration.

Furthermore, such efforts encourage innovation, help build broad support for the Weed

and Seed strategy, and bring about significant pressure that may lead to the acquisition of additional resources.

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
5

limited, however, and they support Weed

and Seed activities nationwide. This level of

funding cannot provide the entire amount of

resources required to transform and revitalize

a neighborhood that is experiencing high

crime and social and economic decay.

Therefore, the Weed and Seed strategy is

an opportunity for communities to leverage

available resources (e.g., funding and organizational structures) that will enable them to

tap into additional funding streams and

receive in­kind resources from federal, state,

local, and tribal agencies; foundations; corporations; and other organizations. Weed

and Seed sites are well placed to capitalize

on numerous funding sources in both the

public and private sectors. In fact, they are

expected to leverage all available resources

to fully fund their strategies for law enforcement, crime prevention, and neighborhood

revitalization. 

Developing the Strategy 

The process for developing a Weed and Seed

strategy requires a significant commitment from

the community to engage in strategic planning,

collaborate with key stakeholders, and coordinate programs and services. Strategic planning

involves a specific process that will help the

community identify a future vision, manage

change, and create the best possible future for

residents. The end result of the process is a

multiyear detailed plan for community action

and change.

The basic characteristics of the strategic planning process are— 

� A focused process that concentrates on

selected issues.

� Explicit consideration of resource availability. 

� Assessment of community problems and

needs. 

� An action orientation, with a strong emphasis on practical results.

� An emphasis on innovative approaches to

problem solving.

Users of this manual should remember that

working through the planning steps is not a

neat, consecutive process. Work on more than

one step typically occurs simultaneously. For

example, selection of the Steering Committee

may proceed while a community survey is

administered in the designated Weed and Seed

area. The information in this manual should be

viewed in terms of each community’s context,

character, and environment. 

There are five basic planning stages involved

in developing the Weed and Seed strategy.

Although the strategic plans vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, the planning stages are

common across all Weed and Seed sites:

Stage 1: Organize and convene a Weed and

Seed Steering Committee.

Stage 2: Select or confirm the designated

area.

Stage 3: Conduct a community needs assessment of the area.

Stage 4: Select priorities for addressing community problems and unmet needs.

Stage 5: Identify goals, objectives, and major

tasks.

Stage 6: Develop an implementation plan.

Weed and Seed
7

Chapter 2. Organizing the Steering

Committee

Overview

This chapter is designed to assist with organizing a Steering Committee that will meet the

needs of the community and maximize the

chance that the site’s strategy will succeed.

A step­by­step process for organizing the

Steering Committee is presented, starting with

a well­functioning and successful Steering

Committee. The extent to which these steps are

implemented will depend on the environment in

which the site is operating. Circumstances will

vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction; each site

will need to take the path most suitable for it.

Weed and Seed is a collaborative effort among

organizations and individuals who care about

the designated community. This collaboration is

reflected in the Steering Committee, which provides a structure for building a commitment to

Weed and Seed, identifying areas of greatest

community need, coordinating programs and

services for local residents, and ensuring that

everyone involved is working toward the same

goals.

Diverse Representation 

The membership of the Steering Committee

should be diverse, reflecting all segments of the

community. Individuals from four key stakeholder groups must be included: the U.S.

Attorney’s Office, residents of the designated

Weed and Seed area, city or county government,

and local law enforcement. Additional committee

members may include representatives of the

district attorney and public defender offices;

federal, state, and tribal law enforcement

agencies; social service agencies; housing

organizations; park and recreation departments;

employment agencies; schools; nonprofit and

community organizations; faith­based institutions; foundations; and small businesses and

corporations. 

Community participation, a key principle of

Weed and Seed, is reflected in the composition

of the Steering Committee. The residents who

serve on the Steering Committee play an important role in decisionmaking. They are grassroots

representatives, unlike government employees

and elected officials who may serve in official

capacities.

Steering Committee members bring several

qualities and skills to the Weed and Seed effort,

including leadership, guidance, vision, direction,

and management. Members also serve in positions of authority within the organizations they

represent (e.g., managers in government agencies, community or tribal leaders, nonprofit

directors). This level of authority enables them

to commit and deliver resources that are

required to effect real change in the designated

area. These resources may be in the form of

financial resources, staff support, volunteer

help, and in­kind services. 

The Steering Committee is the highest governing

authority within the organizational structure of

the Weed and Seed initiative. Other parts of the

structure include subcommittees for the various

component areas and stakeholders from local

programs that complement and expand the

site’s mission, goals, and objectives. A coordinator and additional staff will be necessary to

support the work. 
8

Initially, the Steering Committee meets at least

monthly to develop a vision for the designated

area, oversee development of the site’s strategy,

and establish a structural framework for operation. Hiring a full­time coordinator and adopting

policies and procedures are among other important responsibilities for the Steering Committee

in the first year.

As the process moves to implementing the strategy, the Steering Committee begins to focus on

key areas of operational responsibility such as

coordinating subcommittee activities, approving

changes to the strategic plan, monitoring

progress on goals and objectives, and providing

leadership and advocacy for the Weed and Seed

strategy. The day­to­day operational issues and

concerns are addressed by the subcommittees

within the four component areas: law enforcement; community policing; prevention, intervention, and treatment; and neighborhood

restoration. 

U.S. Attorneys play a central role in Weed and

Seed—particularly in the organization of the

Steering Committee. This involvement stems

from their leadership role in coordinating

federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement

efforts; their role within their districts as the

local representative for the U.S. Department of

Justice; and their involvement in community

issues and affairs.

Role of the U.S.Attorney 

U.S. Attorneys are involved in several ways in

the early planning stages of Weed and Seed.

First, the U.S. Attorney should meet with community leaders to discuss Weed and Seed,

explain its strengths, and gain a commitment to

the concept. Second, the U.S. Attorney can help

create a core group of local officials to start the

planning process, approve selection of the designated Weed and Seed area, and identify

potential Steering Committee members. Third,

he or she must be a member of the Steering

Committee. 

A Weed and Seed initiative can be established in

various ways. In some cases, local officials such

as the mayor, tribal president, police chief, and

city/tribal council members may start the

process. In other cases, community leaders may

want to bring Weed and Seed to a distressed

neighborhood with particular needs. Regardless

of how the process is initiated, discussions at

the local level should include the U.S. Attorney,

who can contact CCDO and take the first steps

to organize the Steering Committee locally. 

Implementation Process 

Step 1: Meet With Local Officials and

Community Leaders To Determine

Their Commitment to Weed and Seed 

It is vital to get support upfront from key local

officials such as the mayor, tribal president,

police chief, city/tribal council members, county

executive, and the district attorney. The U.S.

Attorney is in a good position to meet with these

officials and hold initial discussions about Weed

and Seed. The results of these discussions are

important because they establish the direction,

character, and framework for the entire initiative. The interest and support of neighborhood

residents also must be gained. It is their

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
9

community, and they will be there after others

have moved on to other projects. The following

important issues must be emphasized: 

� Weed and Seed requires coordinated efforts

to revitalize high­crime and economically

deprived communities. The locality should be

willing to commit publicly to promoting the

success of this complex undertaking. 

� Selection of a specific community may mean

that funds will be diverted from other sections of the area. Consequently, the mayor or

other top official must set priorities for the

allocation of resources according to the level

of the problems identified throughout the

area—a process that has political risks.

� Weed and Seed requires coordination among

federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement efforts. An atmosphere of cooperation

and trust among these groups must exist if

the initiative is going to operate successfully. 

� The city or Indian tribe must be willing to

redirect or redeploy existing resources to

assist law enforcement and restoration

efforts in the designated community. This will

require city or tribal departments to evaluate

current plans, examine available resources,

and revise operations. 

� Community policing must be implemented in

the designated area. Weed and Seed may

augment current community policing efforts. 

� Successful coordination and management of

the Weed and Seed strategy require continuing staff resources. 

Role of the Grant Recipient 

There are several models for managing these

resources and administering grants. Weed and

Seed can be administered by the local government or Indian tribe (as defined in 42 U.S.C. §

450b(e)), the local police department, or a local

nonprofit agency. Whichever model is chosen,

the person in charge (e.g., the mayor, tribal

president/tribal council, police chief, nonprofit

executive) must commit the resources of a staff

person who is able to coordinate the activities

of multiple agencies and who understands the

processes associated with community restoration. If Weed and Seed funding is obtained, a

portion of those funds can be used to support

this staff person. 

In all cases, the entity that administers the funding must understand its role as the fiscal agent

for the Weed and Seed Steering Committee—not

as the decisionmaking body. 

These initial discussions should result in general

agreement about the program’s overall scope,

the extent of the locality’s commitment of

resources, and the general membership and

timing of the Steering Committee’s formation.

These and similar issues must be addressed

in this initial stage of organizing the Steering

Committee. The preliminary discussions should

lead to agreements that frame the context,

scope, foundation, and timelines on which the

Weed and Seed strategy is implemented. 

Step 2: Create a Core Group of

Individuals To Provide Leadership 

A core group of local officials and community

representatives can be assembled to begin the

planning process for Weed and Seed. This

group most often will evolve into the Steering

Committee, adding members as needs are identified. Involving too many individuals in the initial Weed and Seed planning may slow down

the work process instead of assisting it; therefore, it may be advisable to begin with a small

group and expand. However, the people involved

at each step should be selected for their skills

and ability to complete a specific task rather

than for the prestige of their position. 

Organizing the Steering Committee
10

Once again, the U.S. Attorney is uniquely positioned to form such a group and provide the

leadership to accomplish its tasks. The U.S.

Attorney may initially convene the core group.

Each participant should agree to help develop

and implement the Weed and Seed strategy and

should be considered a founder of and future

participant in the business of the Steering

Committee. 

The core group should hold public meetings and

attend meetings of existing community organizations in the designated neighborhood to fully

explain Weed and Seed and attain grassroots

support. This is best accomplished by including

key community residents at the start of the

planning process. Without their support, Weed

and Seed will not succeed. 

It is also the responsibility of the Steering Committee to conduct an initial needs assessment

of the designated site to gather data on which

to base the development of the strategy. This

process will provide a common starting point

for the newly formed Steering Committee.

Step 3: Select the Stakeholder

Organizations and Individuals To

Participate on the Steering Committee 

Steering Committee representatives should be

able to provide resources that do not require

funding. As stated earlier, representatives should

be high­level managers so that decisions and

commitments can be made at Steering Committee meetings. This qualification raises the

issue of attendance at meetings. Representatives

should commit to attending Steering Committee

meetings—not sending alternates (alternates

can impede decisionmaking). These two issues

mean that the need to have executive­level officials (e.g., mayor, tribal president, police chief,

school superintendent) on the Steering Committee must be balanced with the need to have

active members (e.g., residents and representatives of community­based organizations, tribal

councils, and mid­level managers with direct

authority over the designated area) who will

attend meetings regularly and be knowledgeable

about the designated area. This is a local decision that must be settled in the beginning of the

Weed and Seed site operation. 

Committee size 

Size is also a local decision. Some Weed and

Seed sites have a Steering Committee with 18

members; some have as many as 30. A total of

20–25 members is typical for a well­functioning

Steering Committee. Although the committee

must be inclusive, this requirement must be

balanced with the fact that having a larger

group may result in poor attendance at meetings

and the inability to make decisions. Additional

individuals can be included in planning and

decisionmaking through the subcommittee

structure.

Resident representatives 

No set number of residents is required for the

Steering Committee. However, citizen participation is a key premise of Weed and Seed, and

residents must feel they have a voice on the

Steering Committee and a substantial role in

decisionmaking. Representation on the Steering Committee is one of the primary means for

residents to be involved in policymaking and

decisionmaking. 

Another consideration is that residents serving

on the Steering Committee should be grassroots

representatives and not individuals serving in

official capacities (e.g., government employees,

tribal council members, legislators). If a resident

who is serving in an official capacity is included,

that individual should be identified as a representative of the organization for which he or she

works rather than as a resident representative. 

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
11

Chairperson 

The chairperson of the Steering Committee

should be an effective, well­respected community leader. Some sites have cochairs: one from

the U.S. Attorney’s Office and one from the

community. The exact arrangement is a local

decision and should respond to the community’s

needs and wishes. The most important considerations are the leadership qualities of the individuals and their levels of commitment. The

chair and cochair should be individuals who

can effectively lead, inspire, and motivate everyone involved. 

Step 4: Determine the Roles

and Responsibilities of the

Steering Committee 

The core group should develop at least a rough

sketch of the roles and responsibilities of the

Steering Committee. This information will be

important during the selection process and

when asking the selected individuals to serve

on the Steering Committee. Once the Steering

Committee is formed, members should revisit

and finalize roles and responsibilities. 

It should be clear from the outset that Steering

Committee members are responsible for more than

strategic planning, policy, and management—

they must ensure that the organization they represent commits resources to the Weed and Seed

effort. These commitments may take the form of

an agency reprogramming staff to provide services

in the designated area or a community organization providing resident volunteers for Safe

Haven activities. Whatever the commitments,

they should be formally identified in a written

memorandum of agreement so that each committee member is aware of them and followthrough can be monitored. 

The initial responsibilities of Steering Committee

members should differ from their permanent 

responsibilities during implementation of local

strategies, programs, and activities. In the beginning, the committee will oversee development

of the Weed and Seed strategy, focusing on

vision development, needs assessment, goal

setting, and the creation of subcommittees and

workgroups.

Once the Weed and Seed strategy is developed

and implementation is underway, the roles and

responsibilities of the Steering Committee will

focus on policy, management, and advocacy.

More specifically, the roles and responsibilities

should include— 

� Oversight and management of goals and

objectives.

� Guidance on and resolution of implementation issues.

� Coordination of subcommittee activities. 

� Development and integration of weeding and

seeding policies.

� Approval of changes to the strategic plan.

� Approval of grant applications and

adjustments.

� Approval of the hiring and management of

the coordinator and other staff.

Organizing the Steering Committee
12

� Monitoring of progress on the evaluation and

the effectiveness of the Weed and Seed

strategy. 

� Provision of leadership and advocacy for the

Weed and Seed strategy. 

Step 5: Develop Decisionmaking

Processes To Govern the Weed

and Seed Initiative 

Steering Committee members should define the

decisionmaking processes that will enable them

to govern Weed and Seed effectively. The committee should develop a set of written policies

and procedures to address questions, such as

how often will the Steering Committee meet?

How will meeting agendas be established? Will

decisions be made through consensus or majority rule? How and when will voting occur? In

addition, policies and procedures will require

regular updates and modification. 

Step 6: Determine Initial Tasks 

of the Steering Committee 

The first major task of the Steering Committee is

to develop and oversee the Weed and Seed strategy. The committee must undergo a systematic

process for developing a multiyear strategic plan

(which should cover at least 3–5 years). This

process requires the Steering Committee to

develop a future vision of the community, conduct an indepth needs assessment, establish

priorities, develop goals and objectives, and

create an implementation plan. 

These are large responsibilities, which make it

clear that Steering Committee members must be

well informed about local issues and must also

exhibit strong support and commitment for

Weed and Seed.

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
13

Exhibit 2–1. Inventory of Agency Support

Weed and Seed City: ____________________________ For Quarter Ending: ___________________________

Key to Agency Type:

HA–Housing Authority BE–Board of Education

IT–Indian Tribe HO–Hospital

SS–Government Social Services Department NP–Miscellaneous Nonprofit

HD–Government Health Department BS–Business

PD–Police Department OT–Other: Please Specify

CT–Court/Juvenile Justice

Agency

Support Provided (check all that apply)

Representatives on

Type Repositioned On­Call Accept Advisory Committee/

Full Name of Agency (see key) Staff Staff Referrals Steering Committee

Organizing the Steering Committee
Community Capacity Development Office:Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
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15

Exhibit 2–3.Weed and Seed Strategy Development Tool 

Definitions

Here are some definitions that can help Weed and Seed Steering Committees in formulating strategies for the

Official Recognition (OR) application:

1. A strategy is a pattern of purposes, policies, programs, decisions, actions, and resource allocations that

defines what an organization is, what it does, and why it does it.

2. Critical issues are areas of fundamental change affecting the Weed and Seed Steering Committee’s

mandates, programs or services, management, and structure.

Instructions

Based on the information collected from the community needs assessment component of the OR application,

you should be able to take the general list of critical priorities identified by the community and incorporate them

into strategic issues to be addressed by Weed and Seed.A strategic issue should be one in which Weed and

Seed’s partners can collectively do something that results in a positive outcome. Once you identify some critical

priorities that may correspond to law enforcement; community policing; prevention, intervention, and treatment;

and neighborhood restoration, you need to ask yourselves,

� Why is this an issue?

� How is it related to Weed and Seed’s mission, mandates, programs and services, internal strengths and weaknesses, or external opportunities or threats?

� What are the consequences for not addressing this issue?

What Are the Critical Priorities Affecting the Community?

Remember, they must correspond to the issues/needs identified in the community needs assessment section

of the OR applications.

1. 6.

2. 7.

3. 8.

4. 9.

5. 10.

Opportunity/Challenge Identification Exercise

Given the critical priorities/issues identified by the Steering Committee, address each of these priorities/issues by

responding to the following questions as a team. Please have someone from your team record your answers.

Also note that the last question is extremely important, as you must work to formulate a goal in addressing

this issue. This worksheet must be completed for each priority/issue identified under each of the

four components.

What is the critical priority or issue? Record it here.

� How does this issue relate to Weed and Seed’s mission, internal strengths and weaknesses, or external

opportunities and threats?

(continued)

Organizing the Steering Committee
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Exhibit 2–3.Weed and Seed Strategy Development Tool 

(continued)

� Strengths—What are Weed and Seed’s current strengths in responding to this issue? Consider the contributions

of each partner.

� Weaknesses—What are Weed and Seed’s current weaknesses in responding to this issue? Consider the contributions of each partner and the quality of the relationships.

� Opportunities—What are some opportunities that Weed and Seed can pursue in addressing this issue? What

are some programs or services currently being offered by the partners?

� Threats—What are some threats that Weed and Seed should be aware of in responding to this issue?

� What are the consequences of not addressing this issue?

� What should be our goal in addressing this issue? What do you want to change/improve in the 

community?

Strategy/Implementation Plan Development Exercise

In order to develop strategies for each of the four components of Weed and Seed, this exercise is designed to

help you collectively address key factors in implementing these strategies.These factors draw from the previous

exercise and include identifying the issues and working through the various steps in formulating goals, action

steps, and timelines associated with the implementation of the overall strategies.

Please work in a team to address the following questions:

� What is the issue? Record from previous exercise.

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
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Exhibit 2–3.Weed and Seed Strategy Development Tool 

(continued)

� What goals were identified to be achieved in addressing this issue? Record from previous exercise.

� What are practical solutions we might pursue to address this issue and achieve our goal? Is there an organization that is currently offering a solution that could be leveraged?

� What are some barriers to realizing these practical solutions? No organization responding to issue? Lack of financial resources? No expertise represented on the Steering Committee?

� What major initiatives or actions might we propose to achieve these practical solutions directly or indirectly

through overcoming these barriers?

� How much time will be required to completely implement this strategy?

� Who will be the lead for this strategy and what partners will also be involved in the implementation of this

strategy?

� How will you measure the success of the strategy?

Organizing the Steering Committee
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18

Exhibit 2–4.Weed and Seed Steering Committee Survey

1. What role/position do you have within the Steering Committee?___________________________________

2. How long have you been in this role/position?

❒ Less than 1 month ❒ 6 months–1 year ❒ 1–2 years      ❒ 2+ years

3. What do you believe are your primary responsibilities as a Steering Committee member?

4. What positions do you hold outside of the Steering Committee?

5. Do you have a firm understanding of Weed and Seed? ❒ Yes ❒ No

6. What personal strengths do you bring to the Weed and Seed Steering Committee?

7. What strengths does your organization bring to the Steering Committee? 

8. What are some of the weaknesses you feel that you bring to the Steering Committee?

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
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19

Exhibit 2–4.Weed and Seed Steering Committee Survey 

(continued)

9. Given your understanding of the Steering Committee’s purpose and responsibility, how would you complete 

the following sentence?  The Steering Committee should

Start:

Continue:

Stop:

10. In general, what issues do you think the Steering Committee needs to address immediately?

11. What should the Steering Committee strive to achieve during scheduled meetings?

12. Are there any issues that are nonnegotiable (not open for discussion)?

Organizing the Steering Committee
21

Chapter 3. Selecting Sites for Weed and

Seed Implementation

Overview

This chapter focuses on the process of selecting

and designating a community as a Weed and

Seed site. The designation of a community is a

critical element in defining the future success of

the initiative’s implementation. Several components of the selection process should also be

carefully considered early in the development

phase of the site. 

Some basic steps should be considered in the

beginning phase of the community selection

process. The focus of Weed and Seed is to assist

neighborhoods or tribal communities that are

experiencing criminal activity as well as economic and social challenges. The ability to

clearly identify these economic, social, and

criminal justice challenges will also contribute to

the development of the overall strategies used to

address these challenges. The information collected and analyzed during this phase will play an

important role in the development of communityspecific strategies for implementation.

Geography of the Site 

Weed and Seed sites range from a few square

blocks to several miles. There is no hard­andfast rule about the geographic size of a site. A

site’s selection should be based instead on its

local needs and resources and should be made

by those who are familiar with the area and

committed to positive change. Site selection

should include representatives from multiple

sources—not just local government and law

enforcement, but also local residents.

Population of the Site 

The population in Weed and Seed sites ranges

from 3,000 to 50,000, with urban areas having

larger numbers mostly where the population is

denser. A population range from 10,000 to

20,000 may be most common; however, successful sites have had both small and large

numbers of residents. Other variables that have

a profound impact on the functioning of a Weed

and Seed site also should be included in the site

selection process.

In addition to the objective analysis of geography and population, numerous important data

should be included in discussions about designating an area for Weed and Seed. By collecting

and analyzing these data, the Steering

Committee will be able to make the best decision about the site designation. The following

list explains some of the data that will be useful

in this phase of development.

Crime Data 

The local police department can provide the

Steering Committee with dependable crime statistics and other information on the types and

frequency of crimes committed in the area.

These data will also permit analysis and comparison with prior years and with other parts of

the local jurisdiction. Comparison data for the

surrounding city, county, or other designated

area will be required. Crime data are a vital

component in determining the needs of the

community relative to Weed and Seed. The data

accessed should focus on the removal of chronic

and violent street criminals from the designated
22

high­crime area. The data should consist primarily of crime suppression activities designed

to identify, apprehend, and incapacitate violent

street crime.

School Data 

Schools can provide information on the number

of school­age children in the designated area.

The schools can also provide vital information

about dropout rates, truancy, violence, and the

number of students eligible for subsidized meals.

Creating a positive relationship with the schools

can provide collateral benefits to the Weed and

Seed strategy such as developing programs for

youth and perhaps even establishing a Safe

Haven in a school building.

Social Service Data 

Information on welfare, public housing, and

other forms of public assistance should be used

to select the designated community. The Census

Bureau documents most of this information, as

do various agencies within the city, county, tribal or other locality. If the area to be considered

extends into the county’s or another area’s

jurisdiction, that jurisdiction may have additional data. Connecting with county or other jurisdictional officials may also help bring resources

to the Weed and Seed effort. 

Census Tract Data 

All cities are divided into census tracts. Although

most people do not know what tracts make up

their community, this information is easy to find.

The data collected by census tracts are useful

because they contain important information

about the area’s demographics (facts and statistics by category) related to Weed and Seed.

The census tracts, however, will not necessarily

conform to community­defined boundaries. In

fact, it is not uncommon for the tracts to be

larger than the potential site. If the site is dramatically different from the census tract boundaries, it will be necessary to extrapolate the data

for the Weed and Seed site. 

Resident Input Data 

Data gathered from residents, local businesses,

and other community leaders will help to complete the information­gathering phase about the

points of concern in the designated area. The

people who live and work in the community will

have firsthand knowledge of problems that are

not always reflected in the objective data available from external sources. This information can

add an entirely different and vital perspective.

Master Plan 

Although the ultimate goal with Weed and Seed

is to develop a local strategy that can be effectively implemented, this strategy will not be the

first planning tool developed for the community.

The Steering Committee should obtain a copy of

the jurisdiction’s master plan to find out what

the jurisdiction’s officials have drafted. Although

there may be a small charge for a copy, this

plan is important because it identifies the activities to be accomplished over a period of time. To

the extent that the plan includes detailed activities for the potential site area, it is important to

know what these plans are and how residents

and other stakeholders will be affected. 

Knowing the plans for specific areas can assist

the Steering Committee in setting the sights for

those communities that are slated to receive

resources. These plans are helpful in understanding how the jurisdiction proposes to

address a particular section’s problems and justifies why one area is selected over another. This

can help the Weed and Seed effort to leverage

Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs)

and other federal and nonfederal funding. In

addition, it is recommended that activities be

coordinated with the local planning office in

developing the Weed and Seed strategy.

Selection of a Weed and Seed site entails the

collection and analysis of information that highlights community conditions—not only the

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
23

stress and problems of a community, but also

the level of readiness among its leaders and the

willingness of stakeholders to commit the

necessary resources to make a positive and

long­lasting change in the neighborhood. It is

as important to select a community that has

signs of potential as it is to identify one that has

challenges.

Indicators of Community

Potential 

Although numerous signs can indicate that a

community is experiencing undue stress, they

can also reveal its potential. Sometimes, the

signs are not immediately visible. It may be necessary to identify and investigate them and to

review the available data to help determine the

area’s potential. Some examples of “community

potential” include the following.

Economic Potential 

The designated area must have a distinct potential for economic revitalization. If commercial

opportunities (shops, stores, or businesses) do

not exist in the community, economic resources

will be drained from it. Economic and community development on many Indian reservations,

tribal communities, and Alaska Native villages

may focus on development of enabling laws for

business transaction. In partnering with Indian

tribes, basic questions may alert the Weed and

Seed committee to excellent opportunities to

build a life­long partnership between neighboring jurisdictions and develop other opportunities

to raise the quality of life in the area.

Community Organizations 

Community­based organizations and faithbased groups are a vital part of the lifeblood

of the seeding initiatives in a community.

Effective Weed and Seed strategies require

the involvement of and collaboration with

community organizations. Even the best conceived programs cannot function effectively

without resident and community organization

involvement. 

Resident Capacity 

Residents are the lifelines of communities.

Traditional economic development efforts often

limit the role and significance of residents;

however, successful Weed and Seed strategies

require resident involvement. Communities in

which residents have already begun to organize

themselves through neighborhood associations,

resident councils, or other organized bodies are

indicating a basic understanding of the residents’ role as stakeholders in the revitalization

of their community. Many residents have experience or expertise in one of the four components

of Weed and Seed (law enforcement; community

policing; prevention, intervention, and treatment; and neighborhood restoration) that will be

a valuable resource. 

Selection of the designated area is one of the

early steps in determining whether residents are

interested in and supportive of Weed and Seed.

The ability to mobilize residents to participate

at different levels of the Weed and Seed process

can set the direction of the initiative and help

determine the success of a local strategy. 

Selecting Sites for Weed and Seed Implementation
24

Through an investigative process, additional

resources will be discovered that can be leveraged and stakeholders will be found who have

a particular expertise that was not widely

known. The possibilities are unlimited, but they

often must be “discovered” even for people who

are familiar with the area selected for Weed and

Seed. 

Community Selection

Committee 

A subcommittee of the Steering Committee may

be assembled for the task of selecting the designated area. The key to success in this step is

to include people who have useful knowledge

as well as those who will be affected by the

selection. This group should include residents,

businesses, law enforcement representatives, tribal or community organizations, and the U.S.

Attorney’s Office. Other members can be added if

they are deemed important to the process.

The data needed by this selection committee can

be found in a variety of places. Usually the committee will need only to access it from agencies

that have already done the work of identifying

and collecting it. The police department, the

city or other jurisdiction planning department,

the tribal council, the public schools, the local

United Way chapter, the chamber of commerce,

the public library, and the public housing

authority are all good resources for this information.2 A local college or university can also

be a useful repository of information and may

be able to offer assistance in reviewing and

analyzing the material. 

Multiple advantages are gained from the site

selection process. This process will not only

ensure that the Steering Committee has the

information it needs to develop the strategy, it

will also provide some important contacts for

collaboration and coordination in the community. The goal is to identify a site that has the

greatest chance of success and one that has a

clearly identified need for Weed and Seed. 

2 Gathering data from Indian tribes requires a formal letter of request to the tribal president or chief that outlines the request for

data, how the data will be used, and how the data will benefit or disadvantage the tribe, and asks for a designated contact to follow up the request for information. Assistance to interpret tribal data is available through CCDO’s Indian country technical assistance experts.

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
25

Chapter 4. Assessing Resources and Needs

Overview 

This chapter focuses on useful steps for conducting an assessment of the designated community. A neighborhood assessment, which is at

the heart of the planning process for the Weed

and Seed strategy, is used to identify the

resources within the community. It also provides

an ideal forum to broaden the engagement of

residents by soliciting their ideas, concerns, and

priorities relative to their vision for the community. This chapter is critical for both new and

existing sites because conditions in communities

change and revisions to current strategies will

be necessary from time to time. 

Assets and Needs 

After selecting the site for Weed and Seed, the

Steering Committee must oversee a comprehensive community assessment that focuses on

identifying both assets and needs. Examples of

community assets cover a wide range of services

and physical structures; they include a list of

resident­led organizations, an inventory of

housing stock, identification of social service

programs, and a description of the business

community and government satellite offices. In

fact, an asset can be any resource that is making or has the potential to make a positive

impact on the community. A key benefit in conducting an assessment is to ensure that Steering

Committee members are operating from a common base of information about the conditions of

and activities in the area. It also serves as a

baseline of information for helping to reallocate

critical resources. 

Although several assessment models exist in

community development literature, each Weed

and Seed site has the ability to develop some

creative tools that will help in gathering critical

information for analysis. Not everyone on the

Steering Committee is expected to become a

researcher or an analyst; however, everyone is

expected to have some role in identifying, collecting, and analyzing the information to provide

a clear picture of the conditions to be addressed.

A community assessment that involves residents

and other area stakeholders who may not have

worked together before provides a strong bridgebuilding tool. 

Historically, community assessments focused on

data collected from the census or other government sources and on the problems affecting an

area. These reports often created a perception

that no viable resources existed within a distressed community. However, all communities

have some assets. Although the number of

assets in a distressed area may be fewer than

those in other areas, these assets do exist, and

it is important to identify them before planning

the local strategy. 

Some assets that may be recognized by community residents do not appear on official lists or

reports. An example of an asset might be a

group of former gang members now helping

young children to avoid involvement with gangs.

Traditional assessment processes would probably not identify this group as an asset, which is

why resident input during the design of the

assessment process is vital. Senior residents

who know the neighborhood’s history are
26

another asset a traditional assessment might

miss. Seniors are an important asset because

they can contribute ideas about resources. In

addition, their input is essential when developing goals for the community policing component

of the Weed and Seed strategy. 

Although the importance of site selection cannot

be overemphasized, community assessment is

also of great importance. The selection of a

neighborhood should be considered a major

investment in its people and physical structures.

A main consideration in any investment is the

return on investment: what will be realized as

a result of the investment. The same thinking

should apply to the assessment process.

However, in some communities, not all of the

required entities will be present. In tribal communities, for example, businesses may not exist

on the reservation. Alternative efforts may be

necessary, such as development of the legal

and environmental infrastructures.

One of the challenges in forming a new Weed

and Seed site is finding the time to conduct a

thorough community assessment. It may be

prudent to use previously prepared reports

secured from other organizations. Often, the

city, county, township, and/or tribal government

or community groups have conducted some

type of community assessment for other 

purposes. Recognizing the time constraints of

Steering Committee members, it may be advisable to use an assessment conducted within the

past 2 years as a basis for the Weed and Seed

instrument and to determine which areas need

additional analysis to complete the overall Weed

and Seed community assessment. 

The following steps can provide a guide for

conducting a community assessment. 

Implementation Process 

Step 1: Assemble the Team To Conduct

the Assessment 

Once the decision has been made to use a previously conducted assessment or begin anew, it

is time to assemble the assessment team. An

effective strategy in conducting the community

assessment is to involve residents, both young

and old, in the data collection process. This mix

of team members ensures diversity in the information collected. It may also be the first time

many residents have been engaged in a process

that seeks their ideas and concerns in helping to

build a strong and viable community. This level

of participation will serve as a foundation for

Weed and Seed as the overall strategies unfold

in the community.

The Steering Committee may decide to operate

as the assessment team or may think it wiser to

create a team of individuals that would include

representatives from the Steering Committee and

other groups or residents who may ultimately

serve on one of the subcommittees. It may also

be useful to seek expertise from a local educational institution to help provide the framework

for the assessment process.

Step 2: Determine the Type of

Information To Be Collected 

Before beginning to collect data, determine what

type of information is needed and how it will be

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
27

used. The purpose of an assessment process is

to identify both the community issues and the

resources available to resolve them. Not everyone will agree on the needs and resources; it is

therefore important that the assessment process

use several methods to gather information and

that it collect both primary and secondary data. 

Primary data typically involve information collected from one­on­one interviews, focus

groups, surveys, and forums. Secondary data

include information that has already been published in some form, such as reports, studies,

and census information. The secondary data can

be obtained from sources such as city, tribal, or

other jurisdictional agencies, local libraries, and

local and tribal colleges and universities. Much

of this information may also exist on the

Internet. 

One recommended way of gathering primary

data is to convene community meetings to

formally introduce the Weed and Seed concept

and provide an overview of the importance of

the community assessment. Surveys can be

distributed during these sessions. If there are

non­English­speaking individuals in the community, disseminate the survey in two or more

languages to secure maximum participation. 

It is important for residents to understand that

the community assessment is their opportunity

to offer their ideas, concerns, and recommendations for the community. As residents recognize

that the Weed and Seed strategy is designed to

include them, they will be more open to sharing

and contributing to the overall process.

Step 3: Take Inventory of the

Neighborhood 

Understanding the characteristics of the selected

site is necessary to provide a picture of the

community, including the qualities and unique

elements that distinguish the designated Weed

and Seed site from other parts of the city or

other jurisdiction. This information is an important element in developing a strategy for the

Weed and Seed site.

After taking inventory of the various characteristics that make up a community, it is time to

assess both the public and private facilities and

resources found in the community and what

roles they can play in the implementation of

Weed and Seed strategies. The objective is to

ascertain to what extent resources exist in the

community and how well these resources have

served the residents. 

Public­sector and/or tribal resources and 

facilities 

There are public­sector resources that serve all

communities. The degree to which these services extend into a locality can have a significant

impact on the lives of the residents. The following key resources should be considered in terms

of their impact on the designated site. 

Transportation. Critical questions are what

type of public transportation system exists in

the designated site and how accessible it is for

residents.

Public safety, fire, schools, and social services.

One of the key elements of Weed and Seed is the

involvement of public safety officials. Most communities have either a police precinct, public

safety substation, or firehouse. Schools such as

community or tribal colleges and universities

can offer services related to evaluations. In

addition, other social service offices can be

located in communities to increase residents’

access to them. 

Employment skills and resources 

From an employer’s perspective, it is vital to

know what skills residents possess. Knowing

the skills base of the designated Weed and Seed

Assessing Resources and Needs
28

community is critical to determining whether

alternative restoration strategies should be

implemented to attract new businesses. 

Community­serving institutions 

Public, tribal, and private institutions play vital

roles in every community. If several institutions

have been identified through secondary data, try

to understand how residents perceive these

resources and whether they are accessible to

residents.

Health and recreation resources 

Healthy communities begin with healthy residents. Hospitals and other health­related facilities were once considered separate from the

community, but they are now seen as critical

anchors to communities. 

Crime and disorder 

Although the types of data or information collected thus far are assets or resources that can

positively affect a community, it is also necessary to document community needs and problems. Any criminal activity occurring in the

designated area is an important element in the

community’s needs category. This information

will be useful to the Steering Committee as it

develops a crime and asset map for further

analysis and strategy development. 

The police department maintains the bulk of the

information related to criminal activity. In fact,

police calls for service generally provide a picture of order or disorder in a locality along with

data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports.

Step 4: Develop a Crime and Asset Map 

The information gathered can be incorporated

into a crime and asset mapping process, which

enables a community to locate the geographic

boundaries of a jurisdiction and plot resources

and threats. Results include identifying current

and potential criminal hotspots; opportunities

for business development; potential Safe

Havens; economic zones; and important buildings such as schools, hospitals, social service

agencies, and public and Indian housing

developments.

For those Weed and Seed sites that do not yet

have a crime mapping capability, the strategy

may assist them in developing a crime mapping

initiative. Partnering with agencies, courts,

schools, and others enables the designated

site to obtain current data sets and to train

interested individuals.

Using the complete inventory of assets, the

Steering Committee can set priorities based on

the critical challenges facing the community.

Although some of these challenges may not be

addressed in the Weed and Seed strategy, they

should be recorded because other entities,

including the city or other governing jurisdiction,

may be able to address them while the Weed

and Seed strategy is being executed. 

Step 5: Identify Existing Resources and

Develop New Ones 

Once Steering Committee members identify gaps

in resources, they can begin to formulate plans

for bringing existing resources into the community and for developing new ones tailored to

meet its needs. The first step in bringing in

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
29

existing resources is to develop an inventory

of all resource providers and identify their type

and availability. The list of providers should

begin with the agencies and organizations that

are represented on the Weed and Seed Steering

Committee. Organizations that serve the community but are located outside the boundaries

of the designated area also should be added to

the list. 

Begin with current resource providers and

explore the potential for obtaining additional

services from them. Members of the Steering

Committee can use their contacts to increase the

participation of these organizations as well as to

identify new ones willing to provide additional

resources to the community. From the weeding

perspective, the creation of the task force will

help identify and bring new resources to the

table. From the seeding perspective, citywide support a community strategy. This combination

organizations or Indian Tribes might consider of organizations represented and resources

establishing an office in the community. pledged can be leveraged to generate additional

resources. 

Step 6: Document Resources 

Although all organizations may not have representatives on the Steering Committee, many

are willing to pledge certain resources to

When seeking monetary support from area

financial institutions, private business owners,

or foundations, these organizations will need

Exhibit 4–1. Inventory of Possible Resource Providers

Organization/

Entity

Resource 

Provided

Type of 

Organization

Member of 

Steering 

Committee?

Yes/No Comments

Assessing Resources and Needs
30

to know what resources have already been

leveraged and the gap they will be filling to

complete the overall strategy requirements. 

Implementation Issues 

An assessment of the resources and needs of a

community may seem to be a daunting task, but

the information this assessment collects will be

worth the time and trouble. It will allow the

Steering Committee to move forward better prepared to implement the strategy and develop

plans for the site. The assessment should also

be seen as an ongoing data­gathering process.

No community remains static. Elements that will

affect the strategy are constantly changing. 

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
31

Exhibit 4–2. Data “Wish List”—Crime Mapping 

Research Center

This is a list of potential data that may be available for your area.This is not a complete inventory of data that

you may want to collect. Instead, use it as a framework. Place a check by those data layers that you would like

to obtain and add additional ones. Fill in whether they are currently available in digital form, who/which agency is

a potential source, and how often data are updated. Many of these data are often available from other government agencies, such as county/city engineering, the planning department, the tax office, the department of social

services, among many others. Check with as many of these as possible so that you avoid recreating datasets that

already exist. From this worksheet, you can determine what your data needs are.This can be used as the first

step in creating complete data specifications and documentation for each data layer. Remember the data layers

and the attributes associated with them determine what your agency will be able to analyze within GIS. For

example, if you do not collect (and enter into GIS) the day of the week a crime took place, then you will NOT

be able to map it or analyze it. So, once you return to your agency, establish a group of interested people and

take the time to develop a complete list with all of the desired attributes.

Would Like

(yes/no)

Data

Layer

Potential Attributes

(circle those desired

and add additional ones)  

Currently

Available

(yes/no/dk)

Source (or

potential source) 

Updates (how

often/who is

responsible)

Street 

centerline

Address range, name, direction,

speed limit, type

Police 

boundaries

Jurisdiction, name

Offenses 

(from

RMS)

Code, incident address,

reporting address, recovery 

address, date, time of day,

day of week, MO, UCR, suspect

Calls for 

service 

(from 

CAD)

Address, date, time of day, day

of week

Arrests Address where arrest took

place, address of arrest, time 

of day, day of week

Parks Name, hours of operation

Railroads

Hydrology 

(lakes,

rivers)

Tax parcels Owner name, owner address,

value

Census 

tracts

Tract number, demographic

data (population, age, gender,

race, etc.), socioeconomic data 

(income, etc.)

Census 

blockgroups

Blockgroup number, demographic data, socioeconomic

data

Census 

blocks

Block number, demographic

data, socioeconomic data 

Neighborhoods

Neighborhood name, names

of community organizations

(continued)

Assessing Resources and Needs
32

Exhibit 4–2. Data “Wish List”—Crime Mapping

Research Center (continued)

Would Like

(yes/no)

Data

Layer

Potential Attributes

(circle those desired

and add additional ones)  

Currently

Available

(yes/no/dk)

Source (or

potential source) 

Updates (how

often/who is

responsible)

Police 

boundaries

Name, number

Digital 

orthophotos

ATM Address, name

Hospitals/

care 

centers

Address, name

Bus stops 

and routes

Name, hours of operation

Convenience 

stores

Name, address, owner, hours

of operation

Churches Name, address

Schools Name, address, type, number 

of students

Liquor 

stores

Name, address, owner

Shelters 

(DV,

Runaways)

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

33

Exhibit 4–3. Sample Resource Directory

[Site Name] Weed and Seed Strategy

Resource Requests

Contact Person: ____________________________________________________________________________

Phone Number: ____________________________________________________________________________

E­mail Address: _____________________________________________________________________________

Affiliation/Agency: ___________________________________________________________________________

Group Use: _______________________________________________________________________________

Deadline:__________________________________________________________________________________

Resource Category: _________________________________________________________________________

Item Description: ___________________________________________________________________________

Resource Value: _____________________________________________________________________________

Restrictions: _______________________________________________________________________________

Possible Uses: ______________________________________________________________________________

Comments: ________________________________________________________________________________

Note: Resources need executive­level approval (e.g., mayor, tribal president) and a process for requesting

resources.

Assessing Resources and Needs
s

35

Chapter 5. Planning for Weed and Seed 

Overview

This chapter provides guidance on the Weed

and Seed planning process at the local level. It

provides local sites with clear direction from the

national level that will be instrumental in creating a comprehensive and cohesive initiative for

Weed and Seed. The local strategy should mirror

the national strategy while still reflecting local

conditions. Weed and Seed participants should

always keep in mind that Weed and Seed is a

strategy, not a program. 

This chapter explains the steps required to begin

and carry out the planning process. Two types

of plans are needed for Weed and Seed. The

first is the site’s strategic plan, which outlines

the site’s vision, mission, critical priorities,

goals, and objectives. The second is the implementation plan, which is a continuation of the

strategic plan and defines in greater detail the

tasks and resources required and the timeline

needed to achieve the goals and objectives. 

Vision 

Weed and Seed sites share some common features such as crime and poor social and economic conditions. These risk factors make these

communities the most challenging to restore.

Given their commitment to overcoming these

challenges, it is important for the Steering

Committee to develop a plan of action that

everyone can follow. This plan serves as a

blueprint for determining which actions will be

taken and by whom and how certain goals and

objectives will be achieved. 

Once completed, the plan also provides a vision

of what the community can achieve through

the positive interventions of Weed and Seed

activities. Some activities may already be in

place; others may have to be developed. One of

the unique features of Weed and Seed is bringing stakeholders together to address issues

affecting the community. For many people, this

will be the first time they have worked together. 

Implementation Process 

Seven steps are recommended in planning your

local Weed and Seed strategy. 

Step 1: Assemble the Planning Team 

Some communities quickly form a Steering

Committee to lead the planning process. In other

communities, a core group of individuals takes

responsibility for putting the planning process

into action and keeping other individuals

informed of progress.

Experience has demonstrated that making individuals from the community members of this

Planning Committee is a strategic decision that

helps move the planning process forward.

Individuals who serve on the Planning Committee may or may not ultimately serve on the

Steering Committee; however, emphasis should

be placed on identifying individuals who have

the time, expertise, influence, and commitment

to work through the process to create a realistic

local strategy. 

Step 2: Identify Resources for Planning 

After the Planning Committee is in place, there

are different ways to proceed:

� Identify a person to serve as a facilitator.

� Identify committee members to lead different

components of the planning process.
36

� Engage a professional facilitator from the

community (e.g., local university, tribal college, nonprofit agency).

Do not underestimate the ability of local stakeholders to lead the planning process. Talk with

others who have been involved in implementing

Weed and Seed sites to learn about their planning experiences. Planning can be a great teambuilding exercise for Weed and Seed supporters. 

Before starting, everyone included in the planning process should understand what is involved. Often, residents who have never been

a part of this type of process feel reluctant to

become fully engaged unless information or

“preplanning” activities are provided. 

If the site is a tribal location, the planner is encouraged to coordinate closely with the Tribal

Council or executive regarding planning and

implementation efforts. This will also ensure

continued support throughout participation in

Weed and Seed activities and sustainment of

efforts after federal funding has ceased. 

Before outlining the local context for developing

a strategy, some of the primary tasks and subtasks associated with developing a strategy

should be outlined. This list can be used as the

planning process is initiated.

� Identify critical priorities. 

� Develop goals consistent with CCDO goals.

� Develop objectives to support the goals

consistent with CCDO objectives.

� Develop an implementation plan. 

Step 3: Prepare To Plan 

At this point, data collected from the community

assessment process will be used to develop the

site’s strategic and implementation plans. The

priorities identified will first be converted into

goals and objectives that reflect the needs and

views of the community.

Tensions can develop at the local level during

discussions about priorities. Law enforcement

officials may see criminal activity basically in

terms of arrest and incarceration, while community members may feel that greater public safety

is more important. Finding ways to coordinate

different strategies can produce powerful new

approaches to problem solving. A list of examples would be extensive, as is the range of

appropriate interventions. 

Sound strategy development and planning must

incorporate multiple perspectives that include

effective programs and services as well as

creative ways to solve community problems.

Understanding the local context is crucial in

formulating any strategy and subsequent plan.

Moreover, understanding the local aspects of

past and current working relationships helps

the implementation process.

A primary objective in preparing a solid strategy

and implementation plan must be the development of open communication, cooperation, and

trust. This can only be achieved through a planning process that is inclusive and respectful of

the community and its residents.

Step 4: Move From Community Needs

to Critical Priorities 

Understanding the local context, combined with

the planning process, prepares the Steering

Committee to begin formulating local goals and

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
37

objectives. By this time, the Steering Committee

should have taken steps to ensure that the planning process has included a balanced approach

to developing community goals and objectives.

The Steering Committee should now identify the

priorities of the community. 

During the needs assessment process, both

assets and gaps in resources were identified.

Part of the reason for identifying gaps was to

encourage community residents and other

stakeholders to shape a vision of what the

community could be. Critical priorities are

issues that could affect the ability of the community to achieve this vision. After identifying

these priorities, it is necessary to assess the

community’s ability to address them. 

The benefit of planning exercises is the critical

thinking that emerges and the synergy created

from bringing different groups together to work

on the Weed and Seed strategy. At this point, a

SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities,

and threats) analysis of key priorities may be

applied. A SWOT analysis should address such

questions as the following: 

� How does this issue relate to the national

Weed and Seed strategy? 

� What are the strengths of the Weed and

Seed site in responding to this issue? Consider the contributions of each community

representative. 

� What are the weaknesses of the Weed and

Seed site in responding to this issue? Consider the contributions of each partner and

his or her investment in the process. 

� What opportunities can Weed and Seed pursue in addressing this issue? What are some

programs or services currently being offered

by each partner? 

� What threats should Weed and Seed be

aware of in responding to this issue? 

� What are the consequences relative to

achieving the vision of the community if this

issue is not addressed under Weed and Seed? 

� What should be the goal in addressing this

issue? What will change or improve in the

community? 

After completing this exercise for each of the

selected priorities, it is possible to condense and

combine the items to correspond to one or more

of the four Weed and Seed components: 

� Law enforcement. 

� Community policing. 

� Prevention, intervention, and treatment. 

� Neighborhood restoration. 

When this exercise is completed, it is time to

begin developing goals and objectives to

respond to each priority issue. 

Step 5: Link Critical Priorities to

Goals and Objectives 

In this implementation manual a goal is defined

as a broad target to be achieved through the

performance of tasks that connect to some

measurable objectives. Objectives are viewed as

the tools needed to provide some specificity to

the goal. Objectives can be either qualitative or

quantitative. Although the initial goals are often

easy to formulate, measuring the achievement

of these goals usually presents a challenge. 

The goal statements should reflect major desired

changes as a result of the Weed and Seed effort.

Goal statements can be made by reversing problem statements so that they express the desired

result. 

The use of goals and objectives enhances the

potential success of the Weed and Seed effort

and facilitates effective implementation, management, and evaluation of Weed and Seed

activities.

Planning for Weed and Seed
38

Although each of the four Weed and Seed components must have goals and objectives, these

components do not operate in isolation from

one another. 

The goals for prevention and community restoration should work in conjunction with all other

goals. Community policing should be a bridge

between goals. As the police develop positive

relationships with residents, they will gain

insights into more of the problems that plague

the community.

As mentioned previously, law enforcement activities should complement all goals. For example,

if an objective is to construct a small business

“incubator,” the implementation task should be

to reduce and prevent crime by targeting that

location and providing a secure area for the

facility. Crime prevention should also support

other economic development goals.

To achieve selected objectives, those objectives

must be connected to specific Weed and Seed

activities. The objectives must be measurable so

that progress toward the stated goal can be

gauged. 

Although it may be tempting to develop several

goals for each of the four components, the local

strategy must be realistic if it is to demonstrate

progress. It may be more advantageous to refine

and reduce the list to a manageable number of

critical priorities for Weed and Seed. This number should be flexible and related to the local

community’s ability to handle the tasks. 

Below is a review of the planning process: 

1. Identify the critical priorities based on the

community assessment. The top 10 issues

will be the priorities for the local strategy. 

2. Separate these priorities into one or more

of the four Weed and Seed components.

3. Formulate goal statements for each of the

priorities by asking, “What do we want?” 

4. Develop measurable objectives for each goal

that will help move the process toward

achieving the goal. Take note of what will

be measured to assess progress. 

Remember, completing the goals, objectives, and

tasks with everyone’s participation simplifies the

process of developing the implementation plan.

The following sections cover the implementation

and management plan for Weed and Seed. 

Step 6: Develop the 

Implementation Plan 

Developing a Weed and Seed strategy can be

challenging. Unlike independent organizations

involved in strategic planning, the overall planning process for Weed and Seed involves several

important actors who may never have worked

together. Not only is there pressure to develop

close working relationships quickly, these

relationships must create a marriage of different perspectives, beliefs, and, often, biases.

Developing common goals and objectives is

one of the major hurdles to overcome; the

design of an implementation plan is another. 

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
39

The implementation plan for Weed and Seed

involves several organizations undertaking a

sequence of activities. Some of these activities

are performed concurrently; others are sequential. Weed and Seed uses a holistic approach;

therefore, law enforcement efforts should be

reinforced with prevention, intervention, and

treatment to make it difficult for the community

to slide back to its prerestoration condition. 

Developing an implementation plan requires

linking goals and objectives with tasks, assigning responsibility for these tasks, creating a

timeline for action, and identifying resources

necessary to implement the tasks. The tasks

developed in the implementation plan should

correspond to the commitments made in the

memorandums of agreement (MOAs). Remember, everything in an effective Weed and Seed

strategy is connected: neighborhood selection,

needs assessment, identification of goals and

objectives, implementation plan, and MOAs.

A sequence of activities reinforces each Steering Committee member’s or other stakeholder’s

commitment to Weed and Seed by helping the

individual to see where he or she fits in the total

plan. The implementation plan is the action

guide for the strategy. The implementation

plan should include answers to the following

questions:

� What solutions will help to achieve the goal?

� What are the barriers to achieving the goal?

� How long will it take to achieve the goal?

� Who will be in charge of the activities for

achieving the goal?

� How can the success of the strategy be

measured?

In developing the implementation plan, it is

important to determine which organization

or agency will take the lead for each of the

proposed tasks. Other organizations will also be

needed and will take direction from the lead

organization. The time required to complete a

task may exceed the total time allotted for the

implementation plan. This happens when certain tasks take several years to complete. Most

important, the tasks should be cited in the plan

and progress toward achieving the objectives

should be reported to the Steering Committee

on a consistent basis. 

The following steps are necessary to develop an

implementation plan: 

1. Identify all the tasks that must be completed

to achieve each objective. Consider them one

at a time. Do not group all objectives and

tasks under one heading. 

2. Determine which agency or organization

should be responsible for implementing the

tasks. Indicate which agency will serve as

the lead and which others will be involved in

carrying out the task. This selection should

also correspond to the MOAs signed by all

participating organizations. 

3. Establish a realistic timeline for achieving the

objectives. This timeframe can be used to

monitor activities and progress.

4. Identify barriers that might hinder the work.

It is better to be prepared for potential problem areas than to have to deal with them

after implementing the strategy. 

Step 7: Design a Planning Format for

Your Local Strategy

One of the beauties of Weed and Seed is that

it is designed to be flexible, proactive, and

interactive. Continuous commitment of multiple

resources is a key requirement for overall success. Furthermore, it is unrealistic to assume

that local and tribal officials can confirm the

availability of all necessary resources during the

Planning for Weed and Seed
40

initial planning phase. As the strategy develops,

local and tribal agencies will discover new ideas

and resources to assist the community. The

neighborhood residents, law enforcement agencies, resource agencies, and others will continually recommend adjustments to the plan. The

Steering Committee should encourage all participants and other interested groups to make recommendations for changes. Managers should

not assume that the original goals and objectives are cast in stone. 

Site coordinators who use project management

software for Weed and Seed can input changes

and generate reports by task, agency, milestone,

and other criteria. Those without access to the

software should maintain a manual system.

This management system not only improves

program oversight but also assists with program

reporting. 

The purpose of well­defined goals, objectives,

and tasks is to ensure that the proper mix of

activities results in a successful Weed and Seed

initiative. However, even if complete goals and

objectives exist, efficient or systematic implementation cannot be guaranteed. Management

is responsible for converting these processes

into a format that advances the functional

operation of the strategy. 

Directing the ongoing relationships among the

tasks and their timely implementation is the

backbone of the management process. Successful management of Weed and Seed involves

assigning specific responsibility for executing

each task. A task timeline organizes the tasks

by each objective and enables managers to

arrange the tasks in sequence. A timeline also

shows when additional tasks are needed,

responsibilities are to be identified, and the

links between tasks are to be organized. 

Exhibit 5–1. Identifying Critical Priorities and 

Their Corresponding Components

Corresponding Components

Prevention,

Intervention, and Community Neighborhood

Critical Priorities Law Enforcement Treatment Policing Restoration

High level of open­air drug 

trafficking ✔

Lack of affordable housing3 ✔

Poor relationships between law 

enforcement and the community ✔ ✔

High level of youth gang activity ✔ ✔

High truancy and school dropout 

rates ✔

3 The lack of housing and affordable housing, in particular, on tribal lands is the issue. The land status of many Indian reservations is currently held in Federal Trust by the U.S. Government (Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior); therefore, housing mortgages are extremely difficult to provide. Tribes may focus on education of tribal government representatives to

address home mortgages, development or enhancement of Uniform Commercial Codes or training of judicial personnel.

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
41

Exhibit 5–2. How Can We Develop Goals To Address 

Our Critical Priorities?

Critical Priorities by Component Area Goal Statement

Law Enforcement

High level of open­air drug trafficking Significantly reduce open­air drug trafficking

High level of youth gang activity Reduce level of youth gangs

Community Policing

Poor relationship between law enforcement and the  Strengthen lines of communication between 

community residents and law enforcement officers

Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment

High truancy and school dropout rates Reduce truancy and school dropout rates

High level of youth gang activity Establish alternative programs to help deter youth 

from participation in gangs

Neighborhood Restoration

Lack of affordable housing Increase number of new or rehabilitated homes in 

community

Exhibit 5–3.Additional Estimates of Contributed Resources

Federal

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will assist in

the provision of meals in the Safe Havens.

State

The Department of Mental Health, Mental

Retardation and Substance Abuse is contributing a

grant­writing expert to assist individual agencies in

applying for direct grants.

Local

The city manager has agreed to encourage all city

agencies to cooperate in the establishment of Safe

Havens and service provision.

Tribal

If the Indian tribe is a participant only in a Weed

and Seed effort, the tribe provides a point of contact who will serve on the Steering Committee

(tribal executive) and one to work with the various

committees (staffer). If the tribe leads the Weed

and Seed effort, a tribal council member is assigned

to move the formal coordination through the government process, and office space is provided for

the designated Weed and Seed coordinator.

Private

1. A local T­shirt printer will provide 50 T­shirts

with Safe Haven Safe Corridor Guard printed

on them for members of the target area

communities.

2. One dentist has pledged to provide free dental

care to target community residents.

3. One medical doctor who is a family practitioner has offered her services free of charge to

Weed and Seed communities.

4. A private small business has offered to

employ some of the graduates of the jobs/

literacy program.

Planning for Weed and Seed
s

43

Chapter 6. Managing Weed and Seed

Overview 

This chapter focuses on successfully managing

the Weed and Seed Steering Committee as it

oversees implementation of the site strategy.

The Steering Committee maintains operating

policies and procedures for the Weed and Seed

site. Each Weed and Seed site has unique characteristics that reflect local needs and resources,

but all sites address similar issues at some

point in their development. No single answer

fits all situations; consequently, the ideas in this

chapter may be used and adapted as needed. 

Sustaining Positive and

Permanent Changes 

The chapter discusses policy­level decisionmaking responsibilities, day­to­day operational

issues, and oversight and monitoring of site

activities. These components are necessary not

only to start up a Weed and Seed site but also

to sustain its success and expand its reach.

The goal of sustaining positive and permanent

changes in the neighborhood can best be

accomplished through strong collaborative

arrangements, teamwork, and good management. Although no one model exists for managing a Weed and Seed Steering Committee, many

successful sites offer solutions from which to

draw. Weed and Seed emphasizes local control;

therefore, management­level activities should

maximize local resources and meet local needs. 

Vision for the Community

The Weed and Seed Steering Committee makes

decisions, develops policies, and guides implementation of the site strategy to establish a

healthy, stable, and crime­free community.

The Steering Committee collaborates with

law enforcement, social service agencies,

community­based organizations, houses of

worship, and local businesses to empower

residents to effect and sustain positive changes

in the neighborhood.

The Steering Committee should be the driving

force in reaching the goals identified in the site

strategy. The inclusive nature of Weed and Seed

should result in a Steering Committee that represents all segments of the community. All committee members should share a vision for the

community, despite differing approaches to

solving problems. 

Implementation Process 

Step 1: Establish an Organizational

Structure

Most Weed and Seed sites have found that using

subcommittees is an effective means of distributing the workload. Each subcommittee should

include community stakeholders, residents, and

Steering Committee representatives. Steering

Committee involvement helps ensure effective

communication among the subcommittees.

Subcommittees also provide an opportunity to

broaden participation in the Weed and Seed

process. 

The subcommittee is a comfortable format in

which to discuss critical and sometimes contentious issues. Because subcommittees are

smaller than the Steering Committee, they are

less intimidating and encourage discussion

among members. Subcommittees help ensure

that different voices are heard and various

points of view are discussed. 
44

Reports from subcommittee meetings should be

presented to the Steering Committee with recommended action when appropriate. This will

help keep Steering Committee meetings more

focused and productive. However, this should

not restrict discussion at Steering Committee

meetings. It is still important that Steering

Committee members understand the issues. 

Step 2: Develop an Action Plan 

for Each Subcommittee

Identify specific tasks for each priority 

A subcommittee is most effective when it concentrates on specific goals. With this approach,

the subcommittee can accomplish interim tasks

while working toward a major goal. 

Example 

Priority: Attract new businesses to the

community. 

Task: Make the community more attractive. 

Activity: A series of neighborhood cleanups. 

Identify available resources for 

accomplishing the goals 

As part of the community assessment, resources

were identified that can be used for activities

related to each subcommittee’s goals. 

Example 

Activities: Bring youth and adult residents

together to work on the cleanup. That partnership will accomplish the immediate task while

building stronger ties in the community. Bring

other stakeholder agencies together to work on

the cleanup. 

Set a timetable for activities 

Establish a schedule for the cleanup. Having a

timeframe for activities energizes people. It is

harder to maintain enthusiasm when activities

seem to go on endlessly. It is easier to sustain

interest when work is broken into short periods. 

Activity: Arrange for food, prizes, and media

coverage. 

It may be a long time before businesses start

coming into the designated area, but interim

activities can keep residents actively involved

and feeling positive about the goals. 

Step 3: Develop Open Communication

Among All Parties 

Open communication is important to the successful operation of the Weed and Seed site

strategy. People like to feel they are on the

“inside”; they do not like to be the last to know

what is going on. You need to find a simple way

to communicate with CCDO, Steering Committee

members, other stakeholders, residents, and

interested parties. 

Identify how and when people want to receive

information from the Weed and Seed site. This

gives you ideas about what methods to use and

ensures members’ involvement in developing a

communication network. Your community policing partners may be able to help with this task.

If they have a standard method of communicating with residents, you could ask to be included

in the arrangement. 

Find out how other partner agencies reach their

constituencies, and try to develop a way to

share with them. Doing this also strengthens

collaboration efforts with these agencies. 

The CCDO Program Manager may be able to

help devise a communication strategy and provide a schedule that describes what information

is needed and when it should be submitted. 

Identify ways to get information to the media,

state or tribal and local officials, and U.S. representatives’ and senators’ offices. 

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
45

1. Tell the local Weed and Seed story. You have

things to be proud of, but no one will hear

about them if the local site does not take

responsibility for getting the word out.

2. Notify the media of events. In case the media

are not available, have a camera handy, take

pictures, and submit them along with a

brief story to the local newspaper.

3. Invite local elected officials to events. Give

them an opportunity to share credit for the

success. Share the good news. 

4. Send information (story and pictures) to the

U.S. representative’s office. Regular contact

helps ensure a better reception when you

call on the office for assistance. 

5. Develop a short presentation about Weed

and Seed to present at meetings of local

service clubs, such as the Rotary Club, Lions

Club, and Chamber of Commerce. These

organizations meet often and are always

looking for speakers. Use these opportunities

to tell the Weed and Seed story. 

Not everyone is proficient in these communication techniques, but it should be possible to

identify a Steering Committee member to

assume these responsibilities. This provides a

great opportunity to expand the number of local

supporters by finding someone to assume this

responsibility and train someone to assist. 

Step 4: Establish a Consistent

Procedure for Securing Weed 

and Seed Staff 

Although volunteer members of the Steering

Committee and subcommittees do most of the

work at local Weed and Seed sites, paid staff are

also important to the operation. The process

for filling staff positions varies from one site to

another. In some sites, the local grantee organization may assign the police department, another local government department, or a nonprofit

agency to administer Weed and Seed operations.

Under this arrangement, it is especially important to establish a clear line of reporting authority and responsibility. If a staff person is paid

by the grantee organization and reports to both

that organization and the Weed and Seed

Steering Committee, he or she may feel torn

between the two entities. Regardless of the hiring arrangement, the Steering Committee must

approve the staff who will work with Weed and

Seed. A job description must be developed with

clearly defined duties, and it must be satisfactory to both the grantee organization and the

Steering Committee. 

The U.S. Attorney must be notified prior to the

selection of the site coordinator. He or she has

Managing Weed and Seed
46

the authority to approve or deny candidates for

this position. 

Background checks are required for coordinators

who work with children in the Safe Haven.

Step 5: Develop a Process for 

Steering Committee and 

Subcommittee Meetings 

Much of the work of the Weed and Seed committees is done during meetings: policy decisions are made, oversight of the operation is

reviewed, and stakeholders are informed of the

issues. Good attendance at these meetings is

essential to the continued success of Weed and

Seed; therefore, careful attention should be given

to the structure of the meetings. The following

are components of a good meeting: 

� Meetings are scheduled at a convenient time

and location in the neighborhood. 

� Meetings are open to the public unless

sensitive matters, (e.g., personnel issues)

are scheduled for discussion. Open meeting

rules in each locality are followed.

� Methods of informing the public of the meetings are as broad as possible, using newspapers, bulletins of community organizations,

and fliers. These media can also help let the

community know about Weed and Seed. 

� Meetings begin on time. If people have to

wait each time they meet, more of them will

arrive late or stop coming altogether.

� A quorum for the meeting is established at

the start and enforced evenhandedly. A good

reference for conducting meetings is Robert’s

Rules of Order.

� A prepared agenda, developed with input

from members, is sent before the meeting, if

possible. At the least, an agenda is ready at

the beginning of the meeting. 

� Subcommittee reports and timely program

and financial information are presented to

the Steering Committee regularly. Whatever

format is selected for meetings, keep in mind

that the meetings should be productive. If

members feel they are wasting their time,

they will stop attending. Once attendance

falls, it is difficult to reenergize the group. 

Step 6: Develop a Process 

for Team Building 

Weed and Seed’s success depends partly on

bringing the Steering Committee together to

work as a team with a shared vision for the

community. Being a team means differences can

be worked through. Mutual respect and a willingness to listen to other points of view are necessary for people to work together effectively. 

The following are ways the Steering Committee

can promote team building: 

1. A shared vision. The Steering Committee has

a sense of common purpose, is focused on

the future, and sees change as an opportunity for growth.

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
47

2. Strong bonds. Steering Committee members

have a strong sense of commitment to the

Weed and Seed mission and vision.

3. Clearly defined roles and responsibilities.

Steering Committee members have a sense of

ownership and feel responsible for the site’s

performance. Stakeholders are kept informed

and involved. 

4. Effective meetings. Meetings focus on

accomplishing tasks and achieving results.

5. Decisionmaking strategies. The Steering

Committee has an effective and inclusive

decisionmaking strategy. 

6. Effective communication. A climate of openness and trust exists among Steering

Committee members.

7. Appreciation for the synergy created by

diversity. Steering Committee members

appreciate the effects of culture, ethnicity,

gender, age, personality, and education on

each member’s views. 

Step 7: Provide Training and 

Technical Assistance 

People do not always come to their Steering

Committee duties fully prepared to assume their

responsibilities. Although they have the commitment and concern for the neighborhood, they

may not have been asked to perform the policysetting and decisionmaking responsibilities that

they are now facing. 

Training and technical assistance are most often

delivered to staff who are responsible for dayto­day site operations. Providing assistance to

Steering Committee members, stakeholders,

and residents is equally important. These key

decisionmakers are the most essential component in the Weed and Seed site. The following

are recommendations about training and technical assistance: 

1. Provide training on local resources.

Encourage partner social service agencies

to make presentations about their services. 

2. Define law enforcement’s role. Ask law

enforcement officials to make a presentation

about their role in Weed and Seed. 

3. Use the training and technical assistance

available from CCDO. CCDO schedules

training on various topics year round. A site

may also request assistance tailored to its

particular needs.

4. Build relationships with the Indian tribe,

tribal communities, native villages, or

urban Indian communities as appropriate.

Request a presentation from the tribal entity

on the Indian tribe/tribal community and

its life ways. Likewise, offer to provide an

overview of your community to the tribal

council. You may also request assistance

from CCDO for training on working effectively with tribal government, tribal communities, or urban Indian communities. Formal

introductions are essential in Indian county. 

Do not hesitate to seek help, especially during

the startup phase of Weed and Seed. The training and technical assistance available from

CCDO is an important advantage of becoming

an Officially Recognized site. 

Implementation Issues 

Diversity, one of the strengths of the Steering

Committee, may occasionally present challenges

to a smooth working relationship. The different

roles and responsibilities of volunteers and staff

must be defined. Developing a good working

relationship among the grantee, the Steering

Committee, and the staff will help produce a

successful Weed and Seed site.

Managing Weed and Seed
48

Exhibit 6–1.Weed and Seed Management Plan

Committee/Person Handles Meets

Weed and Seed Executive 

Committee 

(with current membership of 7)

Policy, public relations,

fundraising

Quarterly

Weed and Seed Steering

Committee 

(with current membership of 47)

Protocol, program planning,

administration

Quarterly

Weed and Seed Program

Subcommittees

Law Enforcement Subcommittee (expanded)

Community Policing Subcommittee (expanded)

Prevention/Intervention/Treatment Subcommittee 

(expanded)

Neighborhood Revitalization Subcommittee 

(expanded)

Strategy implementation,

procedures, program 

evaluation

Bimonthly

Weed and Seed Program

Management Committee

Law enforcement chair

Community policing chair

Prevention/intervention/treatment chair

Neighborhood revitalization chair

United Way assistant executive director

Day­to­day management,

linkage of weeding and

seeding activities

Monthly

Weed and Seed Coordinator works with

Family center

Community policing staff

Safe Haven

Weeding partners

Seeding partners

Ongoing referrals, onsite

supervision, and information

management

As necessary

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
49

Exhibit 6–2. Program Coordinator Position Description

This is an example and can be modified to meet the needs of a particular site.

Position: Weed and Seed Program Coordinator

Location: This position will be housed at [location]. It is expected that the incumbent will work weekends and 

evenings during the operation of the Safe Haven Center.

Position Summary:

This is a full­time position responsible for coordinating the [city] Weed and Seed strategy. This position will be

responsible for coordinating the activities of organizations and agencies that have committed services, volunteers,

and contributions to the operation of the Weed and Seed initiative. The coordinator will primarily report to the

Weed and Seed Steering Committee, with direct supervision provided by [title].

Job Duties:

� Coordinate schedules of program volunteers.

� Recruit service providers and participants to the Weed and Seed initiative.

� Work with organizations on intake and assessment of program participants.

� Pursue additional sources of funding for the Weed and Seed strategy, including working with agency staff to

pursue grant sources and grant writing.

� Collect data on program activities and participants.

� Report design and writing on program activities, accomplishments, and evaluation.

� Work evenings and weekends during the hours of program operation.

� Work with and at times represent agencies involved in program implementation, e.g., [provide examples].

� Draft policies and procedures for the operation of the Safe Haven Center for the Weed and Seed Steering

Committee.

� Be knowledgeable of all levels of law enforcement, including local activities related to community­oriented

policing activities.

� Help to develop a strategy to build and sustain relationships between entities (e.g., Indian tribes and the

Weed and Seed Steering Committee) if appropriate.

Managing Weed and Seed
50

Exhibit 6–3. Site Supervisor Position Description

This is an example and can be modified to meet the needs of a particular site.

Position: Site Supervisor

Status: Full Time

Hours: Daily: 3 to 11 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: noon to 5 p.m.

Location: Weed and Seed Office

Reports to: Weed and Seed Program Manager

Basic Function: To assist the [city] Weed and Seed initiative with the development of Safe Havens in 

target areas.This entails coordination, support, and program promotion in each building

as well as the strategic planning and utilization of the Safe Havens by the residents in the

target areas.

Specific Responsibilities:

1. Set up a system and manage the Neighborhood Center and Safe Havens.

� Greet individuals, identifying their reason for coming and providing a welcoming and comfortable environment, and referring them to the appropriate service, person, or materials.

� Develop spaces within each facility that will be a comfortable and inviting environment for the residents

to access for peace, quiet, and comfort.

� Foster community involvement in the targeted areas.

� Coordinate projects with various agencies and the community education staff.

� Recruit and market the Safe Haven concept; this includes marketing the Safe Haven to agencies and

respective police departments.

� Manage recruitment and staffing needs as they pertain to the Safe Haven operation.

� Identify appropriate services to operate within the Safe Havens.

� Publicize services of the Safe Havens to potential clients and residents.

� Help to develop a strategy to build and sustain relationships between entities (e.g., Indian tribes and the

Weed and Seed Steering Committee) if appropriate.

2. Broker clients to appropriate agencies and social service agencies.

3. Be responsible for various projects and identify sources to assist in project completion.

4. Serve as an advocate of the Weed and Seed strategy.

5. Interact and offer exchanges with other Weed and Seed sites.

6. Discern and evaluate various community interests.

7. Communicate data, activity reports, and attendance figures to the Weed and Seed Program Manager.

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
s

51

Chapter 7. Community Mobilization

Overview 

This chapter focuses on defining community

mobilization and incorporating its tactics into

the Weed and Seed strategy. Community mobilization is the ongoing process of generating

strong stakeholder commitment to revitalization

of the designated area by building on a shared

vision and common goals. Community mobilization is a key element in successful Weed and

Seed implementation at the local level. 

Vision 

When asked what they want the community

to become, residents respond with clear ideas

about their future. Out of these visions come

specific goals toward which residents can work.

Community mobilization is a tool that residents

and other stakeholders can use to facilitate

these changes. 

The success of Weed and Seed depends in large

part on successfully mobilizing residents and

stakeholders to support the goals and objectives

of the local strategy. Mobilizing residents empowers them, creating more resident leaders,

a clear vision of what the community should

look like, and greater resident responsibility for

positive community changes. 

As previously noted, Weed and Seed is not a

program; rather, it is a comprehensive strategy

that brings all community stakeholders together

to effect change. Evidence from many Weed and

Seed sites and initiatives of public­ and privatesector organizations has shown that residents’

involvement and leadership are essential to revitalizing communities. 

Although many people associate community

mobilization with residents’ protests against city

hall, it is much more. Often the issue is defined

as a problem that can be solved through the

collective persistence and responsibility of community stakeholders. Community mobilization

in itself does not solve problems, but it brings

together interested stakeholders who develop

solutions.

Community mobilization can have many positive

outcomes. Done correctly, community mobilization can enhance a community in ways that

building new structures or refurbishing old ones

never can. Healthy communities begin with the

residents who live in them. Empowering residents

to engage in rebuilding their neighborhoods is

critical to promoting healthy communities. In

addition to empowering residents, community

mobilization can help create a vision for the

community that will focus residents’ energies.

If a Weed and Seed community lacks a positive

vision, resources may be redirected to other communities that are mobilized and that articulate

their requirements for further development. 

Community mobilization also can have a

positive impact by helping community­based

organizations work collectively to increase their

service capacity. Although each small organization can provide only limited services, each

can be more effective if it joins with others to

leverage their collective resources to meet the

community’s needs. Community mobilization

can greatly facilitate the building of these

partnerships. 
52

Implementation Process 

During the preparation of the Official Recognition (OR) application, meetings will be held

with community residents to discuss what Weed

and Seed is and what it can do for the community. This begins the community mobilization

process. Community mobilization and community organizing are often confused and ill

defined. Community organizing is generally seen

as the broader process that focuses on an issue

and promotes change. Community mobilization

may be one tactic used to facilitate action. Both

community organizing and community mobilization are ongoing, long­term processes that focus

on bringing residents together with other stakeholders to take collective and strategic action for

change in the community.

Mobilizing residents and other stakeholders at

the onset of Weed and Seed is critical; however,

the work begins only when the community is

designated as a Weed and Seed site. Many residents of distressed communities have feelings

of hopelessness after many years of watching

programs start and stop, with no permanent

change. They often have watched groups secure

funding based on neighborhood conditions and

then move out of the community. So Weed and

Seed sites may have major challenges to overcome, such as this community hopelessness,

before the strategy can be implemented. 

Sites should follow several critical steps to

develop an implementation plan for community

mobilization. The community may have already

begun implementing some of them; therefore,

sites may be further along in mobilizing the

community than they realize. 

Step 1: Secure Resident Commitment

and Involvement 

Community mobilization enlists residents to

become involved in and accountable for the

planned changes that result from the Weed and

Seed strategy. A good indication of residents’

commitment to Weed and Seed is their participation on the Steering Committee, subcommittees, and other groups and their involvement in

volunteer activities.

To generate resident commitment and involvement, look to the leaders on the Steering Committee. Resident leaders often have community

members’ respect and a following in their communities. Involve these leaders in recruiting

other residents. They can—

� Provide information on Weed and Seed. 

� Explain how residents can become involved

in Weed and Seed. 

� Explore what residents perceive are the

critical problems affecting their neighborhoods. (This information will be vital to the

community assessment section of the OR

application.) 

� Engage residents in discussions about

how problems can be solved and how

residents can be involved in implementing

the solutions. 

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
53

� Use resident leaders to help facilitate meetings. (This will help build trust in the

community.) 

Step 2: Encourage Residents To Help

Provide Community Focus 

An important step that must be completed

before a site can receive Official Recognition

is a community needs assessment. Many

community­development practitioners use

assessment models that highlight the community’s assets rather than its problems.

Historically, assessments focused primarily

on community needs or problems with the

expectation that the resources to solve those

problems would come from the outside. Residents were viewed not as contributors to the

growth of their community but as recipients

of the programs and services offered to solve

those problems. Unfortunately, this proved to

be a flawed way to examine a community. The

current focus of community assessment is to

identify all community assets, including the

skills of the residents and their interest in the

neighborhood. 

Community assessments serve as an important

tool to help residents learn more about their

community or neighborhood. The goal is to

get residents to articulate their needs and contribute their skills toward changing the area. By

getting residents to help decide on the changes

required, the community mobilization process

can help expand the base of informed resident

leaders. 

Step 3: Build Community Networks 

Every community has formal and informal networks that connect residents and other stakeholders. Formal networks include neighborhood

associations, resident councils, ministerial

alliances, tribal councils, social clubs, and business associations. Informal networks include

groups of families that have lived in the community for years and have become the neighborhood spokespersons. These networks are

important to community mobilization because

they represent a significant source of support for

Weed and Seed. One of the easiest ways to build

on community networks is to ensure sufficient

resident involvement on the Steering Committee.

Associations, clubs, and other groups form the

basis of a strong community network. Keep

track of these networks and their members

because they can be a mechanism for informing

the community about Weed and Seed. 

Step 4: Create Resident­Led 

Leadership Structures 

Resident­led entities, a subset of community

networks, serve as ideal resources to help identify key community leaders who possess critical

leadership skills. Individuals who are leading or

have led organizations such as neighborhood

associations or resident councils are strong candidates to help lead the community mobilization

efforts behind Weed and Seed. It is important to

reach out to these leaders early in the community mobilization process. Typically, they are concerned citizens who can bring residents together

for a common cause, such as affordable housing

or public safety. If the cause is related to promoting positive change in the community, these

leaders must be part of the community mobilization efforts. Remember, strong leaders bring

many followers. 

Step 5: Leverage Internal 

and External Resources 

Community transformation requires that resources both inside and outside the community

be identified and incorporated into a strategy for

change. This is the fundamental principle behind

Weed and Seed. Community mobilization is

mobilizing all types of resources, not just people.

Community Mobilization
54

Look outside the community for additional

resources that can be leveraged as part of

community mobilization efforts, (e.g., youth

volunteer agencies from other neighborhoods,

faith­based institutions, foundations that provide

grants to community organizations, and government programs and services). 

Step 6: Create Additional

Communication Vehicles 

Community mobilization cannot succeed without strong communication. How the vision,

issues, and opportunities are communicated

influences the success of the mobilization effort.

All forms of communication must consider local

languages and dialects in addition to English. 

Choose carefully who will communicate verbal

messages. If people hear or see information

about Weed and Seed but do not recognize anyone involved, the chances of getting mass participation are much more limited. 

More Community Mobilization Tactics 

Weed and Seed offers communities the opportunity to achieve their own vision by mobilizing

the collective resources of all stakeholders.

Focusing on what the community can become,

confronting problems or issues, and having

committed stakeholders are critical to beginning the process of revitalizing a community.

Community change does not happen overnight,

particularly in distressed communities. This type

of change is a long­term process that can lose

its momentum over time if new ideas are not

included periodically.

It is important to have a clear focus, whether on

a particular problem or a new opportunity. Once

the focus is clear, activities can be initiated to

involve residents. Remember, residents tend to

respond to specific issues or opportunities that

are germane to their homes and families. A

broad focus may not engage residents. Consider

taking smaller steps to bring residents and other

stakeholders together. 

For example, inviting parents who are concerned

about their children to meetings is a first step in

finding out why the problems exist, what has

worked in the past, what parents believe are

viable solutions, and how they would like to get

involved. Identify other stakeholders who might

want to join the process, such as school officials

and police officers. Interested stakeholders

should be involved in finding a solution to

each issue. 

Because community mobilization is not a onetime activity, it is important to think about multiple mobilization tactics that can be integrated

into the local Weed and Seed strategy. 

Community fairs and similar events are ideal

ways to get people into the community, but

make sure they help drive some aspect of the

strategy. Each activity or event should be linked

to a short­ or long­term goal. Do not organize

mobilization activities with no purpose. This is

one of the quickest ways for Weed and Seed to

lose its credibility with residents. 

Community mobilization is one of the hardest

tasks associated with Weed and Seed. As a new

initiative in the community, Weed and Seed has

to win the confidence of residents before it will

secure their support. This takes time, but it can

be done. 

Weed and Seed sites have used a variety of creative community mobilization tactics. Some of

them are listed here:

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
55

� Door­to­door campaigns.

� Tribal gatherings such as tribal council meetings, community meetings, and powwows.

� In­house coffees at community centers,

police stations, and storefronts.

� Street fairs and festivals.

� Community rallies.

� Promotional materials that highlight Weed

and Seed such as T­shirts or water bottles. 

� Fliers placed in public facilities and at events

in or near the Weed and Seed community.

� Church­based functions such as revivals,

church meetings, and concerts.

Community mobilization is an important tool for

successfully implementing a local Weed and

Seed strategy. As the Steering Committee develops goals and objectives, consider how community mobilization tactics will generate additional

resident support. Specifying separate action

steps that are designed to build community support goes a long way toward ensuring that Weed

and Seed is accepted and integrated into the

neighborhood. 

If you find you are not generating enough

resident support over time, ask the following

questions: 

� How are we communicating to residents

what Weed and Seed is about? 

� Did we get feedback from residents about the

effectiveness of the message? 

� Have we leveraged relationships with key

community leaders to help promote Weed

and Seed? 

� Have we asked why people are not interested

in Weed and Seed? 

� Are we not addressing other issues confronting the community? 

� Are the events we are hosting offered at convenient times for residents? 

� Are we expecting too much resident participation too soon? 

Although these are tough questions, the answers

will provide a clearer sense of what needs to be

modified to generate the desired level of support

for Weed and Seed.

Community Mobilization
56

Exhibit 7–1. Community Empowerment and Participation

Empowering residents and other stakeholders in the community is vital to the Weed and Seed effort. Community residents must be empowered to take responsibility for promoting positive changes in their neighborhood, with the reinforcement of public­ and private­sector resources. By acting collectively with others,

residents can mobilize financial and other resources to create change in their community and improve their

quality of life.

If Weed and Seed is to be successful, residents must be involved in the effort.There must be public places in

the neighborhood where Weed and Seed strategies and activities can be discussed. Additionally, neighborhood residents should be invited to serve on the various committees. Proposed plans and actions should be

shared with the community in an effort to obtain their support. Faith­based and other community organizations

should host forums and workshops as part of the Weed and Seed activities identified in the local strategy.

The following are suggestions for empowering neighborhoods:

� Sponsor rallies, marches, and vigils so residents, in cooperation with local police departments, can nonviolently and proactively confront and expel drug dealers from the neighborhood.

� Ensure that neighborhood residents are sufficiently represented on the Steering Committee and any

other task forces.

� Ensure that grassroots organizations active in the neighborhood are well represented on committees.

� Contract with neighborhood residents and organization staff to provide research, survey, and evaluation

work. (At a minimum, convene focus groups for residents to voice their concerns.)

� Contract with neighborhood organizations to conduct workshops to brief and involve residents before,

during, and after Weed and Seed activities.

� Contract with neighborhood organizations to publish a newsletter to communicate with residents or

write a column in an existing newsletter.

� Contract with neighborhood organizations for additional services (e.g., drug abuse prevention, employment training and job searches, child care, tutoring programs, youth entrepreneurship projects, and parent

training workshops) whenever possible.

� Have the local government contract out public services to neighborhood groups, individuals, and businesses.These services may have to be scaled down to a size that groups can handle (e.g., lawn care, park

maintenance, boarding up abandoned buildings, maintaining bus stops, alley cleanup, and tree trimming).

� Request that technical assistance organizations (e.g., National Crime Prevention Council) concentrate

some of their resources in the designated neighborhoods.

� Cohost resource workshops with federal, state, and local public and private organizations and foundations

or technical assistance organizations to assist smaller groups in applying for resources to carry out seed

work.

� Connect smaller groups with larger ones that can assist with editing and proposal writing.

� Help raise money for a local minigrant fund that a local organization can operate to provide assistance to

groups with good seed proposals.

� Publish a resource list of neighborhood organizations that provide technical assistance and resources in

this area and include some of their organizing materials.

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
s

57

Chapter 8. Law Enforcement

Overview 

This chapter discusses the law enforcement

component of the Weed and Seed strategy.

It presents a law enforcement vision in which

collaborative processes, coordinated activities,

and focused strategies lead to reductions in

crime, violence, and citizen fear. The chapter

focuses on police and prosecutorial strategies

to remove serious and visible criminals quickly

from high­crime neighborhoods. Other criminal

justice strategies to reduce criminal behavior

in the long term are also discussed. Joint task

forces are discussed as the vehicle for implementing many enforcement strategies.

Vision 

The weed portion of Weed and Seed concentrates law enforcement resources to reduce

crime and violence in the designated site. This

is key to transforming a high­crime community

into a safe and healthy place to live. Visibly

reducing crime, suppressing violent activity, and

reducing citizen fear gives residents hope for a

better life and sets the stage for community

revitalization. 

With collaborative problem­solving processes, the law enforcement strategy focuses on

enforcement tactics designed to reduce and

suppress crime at the neighborhood level.

The law enforcement component of the strategy

should focus on removing violent crime from the

community, using tactics to suppress violent

crime, gang activity, drug trafficking, and drugrelated crime. Efforts should be directed at

identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting

criminals, with priority given to quickly removing the most serious and visible criminals from

the neighborhood. 

The law enforcement strategy is most effectively

developed and undertaken through collaborative

processes. A law enforcement subcommittee

with representatives from all law enforcement

agencies that operate within the jurisdiction

provides an excellent starting point. This subcommittee can determine which crime issues

are the highest priorities, develop the law

enforcement strategy, and make recommendations to the Steering Committee. The breadth

of its membership allows it to function as a

coordinating body for law enforcement activity

in the target community. 

The goals, objectives, and tasks identified in the

Weed and Seed strategy form the basis for law

enforcement activities in the designated area.

A range of programs can be used to address

the site’s priorities. Successful enforcement

programs at the federal, state, tribal, and local

levels can serve as models for Weed and Seed

sites. Strategies may include reentry programs,

gun abatement efforts, gang intervention programs, intensive drug investigations, targeted

prosecutions, or the creation of a Sexual Assault

Nurse Examiner Unit or Child Advocacy Center.

Each Weed and Seed site must determine which

strategies will be most effective in reducing

crime. 

When it considers law enforcement tactics

during the planning process, the Steering

Committee may consult other criminal justice

officials and invite them to join the subcommittee, depending on the severity of local crime

problems and the law enforcement priorities
58

established. For many sites, apprehending and

prosecuting criminals is given the highest priority; activities involving other criminal justice

agencies are placed on hold until local Weed

and Seed efforts mature and needs change. 

Securing the involvement of law enforcement

representatives in the planning process and the

framing of goals and objectives for this component of the site strategy reaps benefits even

before the law enforcement activities are implemented. This coordinated planning process

improves working relationships among local law

enforcement agencies and results in improved

service to residents. 

Implementation Process 

Step 1: Establish the Weed

Subcommittee 

Roles and responsibilities 

Early in the planning process, the Steering

Committee should establish a subcommittee

to oversee the law enforcement component of

the local strategy. The subcommittee is responsible for developing and implementing the law

enforcement strategy and for coordinating with

the other three program components. Other

roles and responsibilities will vary depending

on the circumstances and needs of the Weed

and Seed site. 

Membership 

Members of the subcommittee represent the

law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction in

the designated area. Police and prosecutorial

agencies from all levels of government—city,

county, state, tribal, and federal—should be

represented on the subcommittee. At the local

level, police officers who work in or oversee the

designated community should be represented

on the subcommittee. A community policing

officer may also be a member to help bridge

any gaps between the Weeding and Seeding

subcommittees. 

Subcommittee members should have the appropriate skills, knowledge, resources, and time to

help develop and implement the Weed and Seed

law enforcement strategy. The Steering Committee should consider appointing midlevel

managers or frontline staff from each agency.

One Steering Committee member should be designated to ensure ongoing and effective channels

of communication among the committees. 

Special consideration must be given to whether

residents should be part of the subcommittee.

Law enforcement officers might resist having

residents present when they are planning and

coordinating law enforcement operations; the

sensitive nature of the information discussed

may take precedence over community participation. The decision depends on the structure of

the local Weed and Seed organization and staff.

The subcommittee should be put together in a

way that works best for the individual site. 

The Steering Committee must keep in mind,

however, that community input is critical for

Weed and Seed success, and subcommittee

members must gather residents’ views on

crime issues and integrate their perspectives

into the strategy.

Frequency of meetings 

During the planning process, the subcommittee

meets regularly, perhaps biweekly, until the law

enforcement strategy is drafted and reviewed by

the Steering Committee. The planning process

requires a great deal of work—identifying local

crime problems, setting priorities, developing

goals and objectives, and establishing an implementation plan and schedule. During implementation, the subcommittee may meet less often.

Meeting schedules will vary from site to site.

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
59

Step 2: Review the Needs Assessment 

Needs assessment 

In the needs assessment phase, subcommittee

members focus on identifying the most

intractable crime problems and providing data

and information that explain these problems. 

It may be difficult to get detailed police data on

the designated Weed and Seed area because

Weed and Seed boundaries may not correspond

precisely to police districts or beats, particularly

in tribal communities. However, usually some

data are available that will help subcommittee

members better define and understand local

crime problems. 

Before setting priorities, the subcommittee

should carefully review the results of the needs

assessment. In setting law enforcement priorities

for the Weed and Seed site, members should

consider not only the most serious local crime

problems as identified in the assessment, but

also the community’s perspective on issues of

greatest concern and signs of neighborhood

deterioration, such as high unemployment,

dropout, and truancy rates. 

Community perspectives 

Community participation is a fundamental principle of Weed and Seed. The views of local residents must be considered and integrated into

decisionmaking and strategy development. The

law enforcement subcommittee can include

community opinion in many ways. Members

can review the results of the needs assessment,

a community survey, or focus groups (if administered or conducted as part of the assessment

process) to identify resident views on area crime

issues. 

The subcommittee must work closely with the

Steering Committee, which comprises the various community stakeholders. Even though these

stakeholders live or work in the area, their opinions may differ from those of the law enforcement representatives.

Step 3: Establish Law Enforcement

Goals, Objectives, and Tasks 

The law enforcement strategy should be clearly

articulated relative to the goals and objectives

that can be achieved in the short and long term. 

Collaboration and coordination 

In developing the strategy, subcommittee

members should consider the goal of building

long­term working relationships among law

enforcement agencies. The strategy should

emphasize collaboration rather than differences

among federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement. It should focus on coordination and

information sharing among all law enforcement

agencies in the community, with the local U.S.

Attorney’s Office taking the lead. 

Federal law enforcement efforts. Federal law

enforcement agencies have expertise that can

be applied to specific local issues in any community. The roles of the Federal Bureau of

Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration are familiar. However, other federal

agencies also should be considered as partners

if crime problems warrant their involvement.

For example, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,

Firearms and Explosives can trace confiscated

weapons to help locate and prosecute illegal

sources of weapons. The U.S. Marshals Service

can execute federal warrants and access the

witness protection program. 

Local law enforcement efforts. Weed and Seed

sites may want to consider implementing the

following state and local law enforcement

strategies that have proved effective on the

street level. 

Career criminal or reentry programs. These programs focus on apprehending, prosecuting, and

incarcerating the most serious offenders in a

community. The premise is that a few offenders

commit a disproportionate amount of crime. By

concentrating on removing repeat offenders, law

Law Enforcement
60

enforcement can significantly reduce crime overall in a community. 

Gun abatement. Many sites focus on both the

supply and demand sides of the illegal gun

market by using law enforcement strategies that

interrupt the sources of illegal guns, identify

gun offenders, target gun cases for prosecution,

and enhance penalties for gun offenses through

federal prosecution. 

Gangs. Gangs are a constant source of illegal

activity. Various law enforcement approaches

have been used for gang identification and intervention, including combining police and probation patrols, communicating and implementing

a policy of zero tolerance for gang violence,

restricting gang activities through injunctions,

increasing the swiftness of sanctions against

gang members, focusing on major offenders,

implementing gun­seizure programs, and using

witness protection programs. 

Prosecution. Several prosecution strategies have

been effective in combating and suppressing

crime. Consider the following when developing

law enforcement strategies. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, State or Tribal

Attorney General’s Office, and county or district

attorney’s office should be part of the law enforcement strategy. Because most crimes are state

violations, the county or district attorney will be

the primary prosecutor. Even when applying special statutes such as the Racketeer Influenced and

Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), federal RICO

prosecutions frequently are predicated on state

crimes. The law enforcement strategy should

support the efforts of local prosecutors. 

The U.S. Attorney, the local prosecutor, and the

State or Tribal Attorney General, when appropriate, decide which office prosecutes specific

types of cases. A detailed memorandum of

agreement (MOA) signed by all parties can

establish priorities and specify responsibilities

for developing and presenting cases.

Whenever multijurisdictional organizations work

together, turf battles occur. In working with

three jurisdictions (i.e., federal­state­tribal), an

MOA is an effective tool for promoting the working relationship. It should clearly outline all parties’ responsibilities and establish criteria for

case selection and assignment to avoid interagency conflicts.

Step 4: Identify Additional Resources

for the Law Enforcement Strategy 

Some law enforcement strategies require the

involvement of officials from the courts, corrections, probation and parole, victim services,

juvenile justice, and other areas of criminal

justice. 

The participation of court administrators or

service providers may enable a site to address

more effectively the needs of specific offenders

such as drug users and minor offenders through

drug courts, community courts, and teen courts

that provide special case processing and alternative adjudication practices. A Weed and Seed

site’s law enforcement strategy may include

establishing such a program or coordinating

efforts with an existing program. 

The participation of corrections and probation

and parole departments is particularly important

when many community residents are under

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
61

correctional supervision or many offenders are

expected to return to the area after serving their

sentences. These offenders may require a range

of services (e.g., vocational training, remedial

education, counseling, drug treatment) to prevent their return to criminal activity, or they may

require greater supervision. In either case, coordination between law enforcement and corrections may be an important component of the

Weed and Seed law enforcement strategy. 

If juvenile crime is a priority, consider the need

for input and participation from juvenile justice

officials. If targeted enforcement of juvenile

offenders is a goal, then it is important to coordinate long­term plans to offer prevention and

intervention services for juveniles. Consult with

juvenile justice officials when planning the

strategy and expand the law enforcement subcommittee to include these officials during

implementation. 

The criminal justice efforts undertaken depend

on the local circumstances. Many Weed and

Seed sites initially focus on police and prosecution tactics to reduce crime quickly. Later in the

process, they focus on other strategies to reduce

long­term criminal behavior. 

Step 5: Develop an Implementation Plan

for the Law Enforcement Strategy 

The implementation plan should identify the

agencies responsible for each major task and

activity in the strategy and the start and completion dates for those tasks and activities. In

many Weed and Seed sites, joint task forces

carry out the tasks and activities identified in

the law enforcement strategy (at least those

involving police and prosecution efforts). These

joint task forces represent a collaboration of law

enforcement agencies and are designed to target

specific crimes or offenders. Task force targets

include drug trafficking, street crack sales,

stolen car rings, burglaries, fencing rings, and

gun trafficking. 

Representatives of the prosecuting agencies in

the jurisdiction (including the U.S. Attorney,

State or Tribal Attorney General, and county

prosecutor or district attorney) should actively

participate in task force operations. Community

policing officers are important resources for

information about the designated area. Other

criminal justice officials may be invited occasionally to attend task force meetings or special

meetings, during which active investigations or

sensitive matters are not discussed, to assist in

planning task force operations. These officials

include probation and parole officers, correctional officials, local municipal prosecutors, traffic court personnel, public or tribal housing

officials, health agency personnel, and code

enforcement officials. 

Implementation Issues 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office plays a pivotal role

in the Weed and Seed law enforcement strategy.

Local prosecutors may or may not be as involved; they are typically elected officials whose

priorities may differ from those of Weed and

Seed. If possible, try to involve the local prosecutor’s office in the Weed and Seed planning

process, but do not expect to overcome political

Law Enforcement
62

differences at the outset. It is preferable but not community’s incidence of violent crime is a

mandatory that local prosecutors be involved in deciding factor in receiving Official Recognition,

the law enforcement strategy. law enforcement is a logical starting point. All

program components need to support and

Each Weed and Seed site will establish its strengthen the overall strategy.

own timetable and schedule, but because the

Exhibit 8–1. Local Drug Enforcement Tactics

Directed patrol. Patrol units focus on specific problems or assignments and target particular places (e.g.,

street corners, playgrounds, abandoned property, businesses), individuals, or drugs.The saturation patrol

can be an effective show of force.

Executing outstanding arrest and bench warrants. Habitual offenders are often the subjects of outstanding

arrest warrants or bench warrants for failure to appear on other charges.

Surveillance. Observation of people and places by trained officers produces evidence of drug trafficking.

Still or video cameras and microphones capture the details of street drug transactions.

Undercover and confidential informant buys. Narcotics purchases produce evidence for narcotics 

prosecutions, whether arrests are made immediately or later.

Buy busts. Buys can be immediately followed by arrests by either the undercover officer who made the buy

or other officers in jump­out squads.

Reverse stings. Officers pretending to be dealers sell to users, who are then arrested by other officers. Stings

are effective in both street narcotics enforcement and user accountability programs to help reduce demand

for illegal drugs.

Crackhouse raids. When probable cause has been established by undercover or confidential informant buys,

a search warrant can be obtained and executed in a raid on a crackhouse.

Arrest of narcotics dealers and users for other offenses. Drug dealers are vulnerable on several nondrug

offenses, from trespassing to aggravated assault. On the basis of a lawful arrest, individuals can be searched,

and any drugs or weapons found result in additional charges.

Roadblocks or checkpoints. Roadblocks and checkpoints that meet federal and state constitutional 

standards can reduce traffic coming into the neighborhood and reduce drug trafficking.

Traffic enforcement. Police can confiscate the automobiles of drug purchasers. As a driver or passenger in

a vehicle makes a drug purchase, police secretly observe the transaction. Radio reports identify the vehicle

involved in the purchase.The vehicle is stopped, the car and the occupants are searched, and the narcotics

that were just purchased are discovered.Although the purchaser is arrested for illegal drug possession, he

or she may receive a noncriminal disposition, particularly if the individual does not have a record.The vehicle

may be seized under federal and state forfeiture laws.This is the “Fishnet” procedure, which deters would­be

drug purchasers, particularly wealthier clients, from entering high drug trafficking areas for drug sales.

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
63

Exhibit 8–2. Local Prosecution Tactics

Defendant targeting. The focus is on identification of previously convicted drug offenders to revoke their

probation or parole, if the offender is currently under court or parole supervision.The prosecutor files probation and/or parole revocations at the first appearance, which brings down court costs and limits the rerelease of arrested probationers and parolees into the community.This effort can also be directed toward

those arrested while on pretrial release on earlier charges.

Deferred prosecution. First­time offenders charged with less serious drug offenses are held accountable and

allowed to pursue rehabilitative services.This program attempts to structure the defendant’s activities and

monitor compliance with special conditions. Expeditious prosecution follows noncompliance or rearrest.

Prosecutor­police coordination. Early and frequent involvement of prosecution personnel in investigative

processes and enhanced police involvement in prosecution phases is emphasized. Interaction is designed to

improve the quality of case screening, and prearrest technical assistance is supplied by prosecutors to meet

evidence requirements.

Community prosecution. Prosecution resources are focused on high­crime and drug­crime communities.

The prosecutor’s jurisdiction is subdivided into district precincts or specific neighborhoods, establishing satellite offices staffed by prosecution personnel.The goal is to enable prosecutors to become problem solvers

in their respective jurisdictions, working in collaboration with the community, law enforcement, and other

involved agencies.

Prosecution­based prevention and education. Prosecution personnel work with local education officials in

antidrug abuse education initiatives.The prosecutors give drug and crime prevention presentations to students and community groups.

Law Enforcement
Exhibit 8–3. Joint Task Force Implementation Plan

Step 1: Create the joint task force. Agree on goals, objectives, and activities.

Step 2: Prepare memorandum of agreement. Establish procedures for providing equipment (cars, radios,

and cellular phones), personnel (time commitments), and expense funds (money for small, incremental items;

64 petty cash).

Step 3: Select personnel. Selections should be based on the candidate’s experience, record, and ability to

work in a multijurisdictional setting.

Step 4:Train personnel. Joint training helps to bond personnel from different agencies and build a team attitude.Training should include community relations and an overview of the Weed and Seed strategy.

Step 5: Develop policies and procedures (consider adapting these from one of the participating agencies).

Key policies include—

� Managing confidential funds.

� Managing informants.

� Collecting and processing evidence.

� Documentation (e.g., intelligence reports, arrest reports).

Step 6: Develop a system to coordinate, manage, and use intelligence information.

Step 7: Establish the case assignment, and review the process.

Step 8: Develop targets, and implement tactics.

� This is an ongoing process with plans submitted regularly to the Weed Committee.

� Law enforcement agency managers meet periodically with the Weed Committee.

Step 9: Maintain strong managerial oversight of law enforcement activities.

Step 10: Evaluate task force activities and results.

Step 11:Adjust task force activities based on oversight and evaluation.

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
s

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Chapter 9. Community Policing

Overview

This chapter describes community policing in

relation to Weed and Seed sites. It presents useful steps for implementing community policing

and describes key implementation issues. 

Vision 

Community policing is a philosophy and style

of policing that a law enforcement agency

adopts to guide its delivery of services in Weed

and Seed areas. The initial step in the Weed

and Seed process is to weed out the criminal

elements before providing seeds in terms of

prevention, treatment, and neighborhood

restoration. The bridge between the weeding

and seeding components is community policing. 

Community policing officers assigned to a Weed

and Seed area are a mainstay of the strategy.

They become involved with the community and

help guide the site’s initial law enforcement

efforts to make the area safe and secure. 

Community policing officers provide continuity

and maintain community safety and peace

by communicating and forming partnerships,

stimulating community mobilization, and

encouraging prevention programs and community restoration efforts. 

Community policing is defined by its two key

components: community engagement and

problem solving. Community engagement is

an ongoing process between the police and the

public. The public includes residents, businesses, government agencies, schools, hospitals,

community­based organizations, and visitors. 

Community engagement takes place in several

ways. It occurs in formal meetings with the

police and in routine contacts on street corners.

Any contact between police and citizens is an

opportunity for community engagement. The

ideal is to formalize these public relationships

through collaborative partnerships with key

stakeholders. These stakeholders are critical for

several reasons. Many of them provide services

to the Weed and Seed area. Each stakeholder

can offer police insight into the problems faced

by the community and potential solutions to the

serious and violent crime problems. Because of

their shared responsibility for the community

and their understanding of the issues, stakeholders are important resources for implementing programs designed to address problems. 

Preventing crime and enforcing the law are traditional police functions. Community policing

expands the police officer’s role beyond enforcing the law and arresting criminals to identifying

and responding to problems associated with

crime and disorder in the designated area. The

manner in which the police undertake problem

solving and how they and the community relate

to each other determine the success of community policing. For community policing to be successful, the police must understand the local

conditions that give rise to problems associated

with crime and criminal behavior. Developing

and implementing solutions to these problems,

as well as determining the impact of the solutions by obtaining feedback from the community, sets community policing apart from more

traditional law enforcement. 

Therefore, the processes of community engagement (and partnership development) and
66

problem solving are central to the concept and

practice of community policing and are inseparable. Partnering with the community without

solving its problems provides no meaningful

service to the public. If community policing

efforts engage in problem solving without developing collaborative partnerships, they risk overlooking the most pressing community concerns

and tackling problems that are of little interest

to the community, sometimes using tactics that

residents find objectionable. Furthermore,

because community members know what goes

on locally and have access to resources that

may be important for addressing problems,

involving them in problem solving is vital to

gaining information and mobilizing community

responses. Meaningful community partnerships

improve police accountability. The most important element of an improved engagement

process is communication between the police

and residents. 

Implementation Process 

The steps required to implement community

policing programs in the designated areas closely parallel those for planning Weed and Seed

implementation. In fact, planning for community

policing programs can be done simultaneously

with, and borrowing extensively from, the Weed

and Seed implementation process. 

Step 1: Create a Community 

Policing Partnership With the

Designated Area

Successful implementation of community

policing in Weed and Seed areas depends on

the involvement and commitment of government

and tribal agencies, community residents, and

community organizations and other institutions.

Commitment grows from involvement. Entities

with interests in the community have unique

goals, objectives, and missions that must be

considered and blended through a collaborative

process in planning implementation of community policing. 

For these reasons, the first step is for Weed and

Seed staff, in conjunction with the police, to put

together a broad­based coalition to serve as the

planning and oversight group for the community

policing effort. The police can be the catalyst for

the effort but should not control it. Control must

come from the community, the city or tribal

jurisdiction, and other agencies participating in

the site’s community policing partnership. 

The partnership should include local, state, tribal, and federal government agencies; private for

profit and nonprofit organizations; civic groups;

religious institutions; police; neighborhood associations; and residents. The group should also

have a direct link to the Weed and Seed Steering

Committee. 

The following are some responsibilities of the

Weed and Seed site’s community policing partnership: 

� Create the community policing implementation plan. 

� Develop goals and objectives, and identify

community problems and alternative

solutions.

� Help bring resources to bear on the

problems. 

� Coordinate with others on problem solving

(e.g., Steering Committee, other city or tribal

agencies). 

� Oversee and monitor alternative programs

and activities aimed at solving problems. 

The community policing partnership group

should meet regularly during the implementation process and take care to document plans,

problems, attempted solutions, and results. 

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
67

Step 2: Determine Community

Characteristics 

As part of the Weed and Seed implementation

process, the Steering Committee selects the

localities for Weed and Seed and community

policing, and Steering Committee staff conduct a

community needs assessment. This step builds

on that assessment step and develops greater

detail, specifically related to crime, fear of crime,

and community safety. 

Much of the needed sociodemographic and

crime­related information is collected during

the needs assessment from official records,

including citizen complaints and crime reports.

This step requires collection of new and more

detailed information on area characteristics.

A door­to­door census of the community,

including all businesses and a representative

sample of residences, is conducted. The size of

the residential sample depends on the number

of residences in the selected area. 

The police should take the lead in conducting

the survey. Some agencies have used civilian

police aides, volunteers, and other city personnel to assist with surveys. A survey instrument

should be developed in conjunction with the

community partnership and pilot­tested to

ensure its validity and reliability. All members of

the survey team should be trained and given a

protocol for conducting the survey. 

Agencies that lack experience in doing surveys

can consult a local university or researcher

for assistance. In addition, the federal government has two free resources: A Police Guide to

Surveying Citizens and Their Environment (Bureau

of Justice Assistance, 1993) and Conducting

Community Surveys: A Practical Guide for Law

Enforcement Agencies (Bureau of Justice Statistics

and Office of Community Oriented Policing

Services, 1999). 

The purposes of the survey are to—

� Identify crime and other quality­of­life

issues.

� Advise residents of the new community policing program and how they can contribute to

its success.

� Determine whether residents are willing to

participate in some capacity and support the

new program. 

Identify the community’s assets (e.g., people

willing to take a leadership role and public

resources) and liabilities (e.g., signs of decay

and neglect such as abandoned vehicles, code

violations, graffiti, neglected children, and

homeless people). Determine whether the

Steering Committee is already doing this task

before beginning it.

The information obtained from the survey

should be recorded and carefully analyzed

to reveal trends and patterns. 

Step 3: Develop an Information and

Communication Network 

Two essential building blocks for community

engagement and problem solving are information and communication. Police departments

need to develop new information sources and

merge existing sources into a community policing information network. This information

should be communicated to the partnership

Community Policing
68

group and other neighborhood stakeholders.

Residents can contribute facts and insights that

might be helpful to the police and the information base. 

The information network includes intelligence

(e.g., tips from residents or informants) and routinely collected records (e.g., calls for service,

crime reports, field interrogation information).

Several police agencies have automated information networks that provide local officers with

data useful for problem solving and community

engagement. 

Communicating information is as essential as

collecting it. Community policing officers must

develop ways to communicate information such

as repeat calls for service and reported crimes,

police and government resources committed to

Weed and Seed, and programs planned for the

residents. By providing this information, police

enhance their credibility with residents and

increase the likelihood that residents will reciprocate by giving the police useful information. 

Step 4:Assess and Develop Resources 

This step borrows from the Weed and Seed

implementation process. The Weed and Seed

Steering Committee must identify and assess

available resources and develop additional

needed resources. 

The list of resources should be prepared with

community policing in mind. This information

should be readily available to the community

policing partnership group. The group should

review the resources list and add to it as

needed. 

Exhibit 9–1.Ways To Communicate Information to Residents

Newsletters. The community policing partnership group can provide information through a regular newsletter.Although many established neighborhood associations have newsletters, they may not be located in

Weed and Seed sites.A newsletter keeps people informed who are interested in the effort but are unable

to attend neighborhood meetings.

Neighborhood meetings. The community policing partnership group should meet regularly and exchange

information. In addition, community policing officers should attend meetings of other organized groups such

as business associations, public housing tenant associations, community­based organizations, and local affiliates

of national organizations (e.g., Boys & Girls Clubs, United Way).

Hotlines. Most hotlines or tiplines are used to obtain information from citizens (e.g., the Bureau of Alcohol,

Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ 800 number to report individuals carrying or selling firearms).A special

phone number can be used by the police to provide information through recorded messages, which can be

changed frequently and can provide information on various subjects such as recent crimes, safety tips, how to

organize a Neighborhood Watch program, and how to schedule a police security survey of your home or

business.

Walking citizen encounters. In community policing, everyday citizen encounters by officers must be viewed

as an opportunity to exchange information.While walking a beat or staffing a storefront office, officers should

be oriented and trained to convert an otherwise casual citizen encounter into a community engagement or

problem­solving opportunity. For example, during an exchange, a resident may comment that a relative looks

like he is on drugs.The officer should educate the resident on drug­use warning signs to verify the resident’s

suspicions; advise the resident on alternative courses of action, including counseling provided under Weed

and Seed; and, depending on the circumstances, question the relative to obtain information about the source

of drugs coming into the neighborhood.

Media. The media are always useful sources for communicating information about Weed and Seed.

Community policing officers should rely on the department’s public information professionals to deal with

the media.

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
69

Step 5: Develop an Implementation Plan 

This step mirrors other steps in the Weed and

Seed implementation process: identify goals,

objectives, and implementation activities and

develop an implementation schedule. 

The emphasis on prevention, especially youth

crime prevention, is fundamental to effective

community policing in Weed and Seed sites.

Implementation activities should include community policing officers working with youth

clubs and other outreach agencies. Through

these activities community policing officers can

serve as positive role models and mentors for

many troubled youth. 

Step 6: Collaborate on Problem Solving 

Community policing officers, while engaging

community residents through the partnership,

work with the group on problem solving. The

process should use a model such as SARA (scanning–analysis–response–assessment). The group

(1) scans and identifies neighborhood problems,

(2) analyzes the problems together, (3) discusses

and decides on programs or activities to respond

to the problems and works together to implement

those programs or activities, and (4) assesses the

results of the programs or activities. 

The key to making community policing work

is to involve the community in a collaborative

Exhibit 9–2. Sample Implementation Plan

Goal 1: Reduce violent crime by  Goal 2: Reduce resident fear of crime.

50 percent.

Objective: Improve contact and communiObjective:  Increase observable police  cation with residents.

Tasks:

presence in the neighborhood.

� Add six officers to the 

Tasks: � Establish monthly newsletter 

through a neighborhood 

walking patrol. association.

� Use off­duty officers for  � Police officers and supervisaturation patrol during   sors attend monthly neighpeak times. borhood association 

� Coordinate with task force 

meetings.

sweeps, search warrants, and  � Open a storefront office in   

other field activities. the neighborhood.

Objective: Coordinate information with the  Objective: Provide crime prevention eduappropriate law enforcement  cation and training to residents.

Tasks:

task force.

� Community policing superviTasks: � Establish a program to conduct home and business 

sors meet weekly with the  security surveys.

task force.

� Share intelligence and police 

� Establish Neighborhood 

Watch programs.

records with the task force.

Community Policing
70

relationship with the police, other agencies, and

neighborhood or tribal organizations. One suggestion to help implement community policing is

to start on small problems that are nonetheless

significant to the partnership group. Initial successes are critical in developing and maintaining

community support. Graffiti removal, trash

cleanup, and neighborhood sporting events or

cookouts are examples of small joint activities.

The problem­solving process and the partnership’s implementation of new programs and

activities are ongoing efforts that must be continually coordinated with Weed and Seed activities. The partnership’s link to the Steering

Committee is essential here, as the following

examples illustrate: 

� The Weed and Seed goal of rehabilitating a

public housing garden apartment complex

might be linked with the police department’s

community policing goal of opening a storefront office in the area. 

� The public housing authority may want to

verify and correct the names on its tenant

leases. This may require a door­to­door survey of the units, which could be executed in

conjunction with community policing officers’

door­to­door survey to identify community

characteristics. 

� The community policing door­to­door survey,

although intended primarily for law enforcement and police­related problem­solving

purposes, could be amended to include questions about social services (e.g., need for job

training, employment, counseling) and school

systems (e.g., dropouts in need of special

education). 

Early community policing efforts to build trust

and work with the community on crime prevention goals and objectives should be coordinated

with traditional enforcement such as sweeps

and the execution of search warrants. All efforts

should involve cooperation. Police initiatives

conducted without input from residents could

create hostility toward the police. If not developed in collaboration with the community, these

enforcement efforts could undermine the credibility of the community policing effort. 

Step 7: Monitor and Assess Success 

The final step in the implementation process is

to monitor and assess the results of the community policing implementation. This is an important role for the Steering Committee, which

collects the information to determine whether

community policing has been successful. 

The Steering Committee should be in constant

contact with residents, continually taking the

pulse of the community in terms of working

with the police to implement community policing.

Steering Committee members should attend

neighborhood community policing meetings and

read newsletters and other information developed

to promote community policing. City and tribal

management often will conduct formal community surveys to assess local satisfaction with the

police department. If a city or other jurisdiction is

using such a survey, the Weed and Seed Steering

Committee can ask for a specialized survey for

Weed and Seed sites. 

The Steering Committee can use various techniques to monitor and assess community policing implementation. The assessment process

should be continuous and provide feedback so

that changes can be made and community

policing activities can be fine­tuned. 

Implementation Issues 

A police agency must deal with several important issues when planning for and implementing

community policing, including changing police

culture and values, organizing the department to

facilitate community policing, and managing the

implementation. 

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
71

Changing Police Philosophy and Culture 

Community policing is a departmentwide effort

that requires long­term, substantial changes in

the entire police agency and its relationships

with the public and other government institutions. It is desirable, although not mandatory,

that a Weed and Seed effort be supported by

such an undertaking. 

Nevertheless, Weed and Seed does not require a

top­to­bottom change in the culture of policing

for community policing to be successful. A dedicated group of officers can develop community

partnerships and implement problem solving in

Weed and Seed sites; however, this approach

requires that all policing activity in the area be

coordinated with these officers. For example, the

Weed and Seed effort may be put at risk if

another police unit begins a crackdown without

consulting with the assigned community policing officers. Equally important, community

policing officers engaged in Weed and Seed

activities must be able to call on other specialized police units to support community engagement and problem­solving activities. These units

include narcotics, gangs, crime analysis, intelligence, crime prevention, investigations, communications, and special weapons and tactics, and

school resource officers.

Strong leadership is needed from the chief of

police, commander of field operations, and head

of the community policing unit assigned to the

selected areas to coordinate these activities.

Community policing officers are expected to

exercise initiative in dealing with residents,

coordinating with other police units, and collaborating with other agencies.

Changing Patrol Officer Behavior 

The most visible police presence in some communities is the patrol officer. If community

policing is to succeed at the local level, the

behavior of patrol officers must conform to

community policing principles. Officers must

focus on local problems and must include the

community in this effort. Officers should understand how to identify and analyze problems,

and they must have the skills to engage the

community throughout the problem­solving

process. 

Officers who do not possess these skills can be

trained; the most important criterion for the officers is that they have an interest in being part of

the effort. Officers who have been working in

the designated areas should be considered for

the program first because they already know the

people and the problems. 

The best way to change patrol officer behavior

to a community policing style is to have officers

work on problems in the designated site. This

introduces them to the community and eventually makes them aware that problems can be

solved only through collaboration with residents,

businesses, government agencies, and others

who are affected by the problems. 

Officers working in the Weed and Seed communities get to know the residents as human

beings with needs, problems, and goals. In a

patrol operation in which officers rotate frequently through different shifts and neighborhood beats, officers rarely get to know anyone

but the perpetrators and victims of crime. They

also often develop a mindset that “bad” neighborhoods are places to get into and out of as

quickly as possible. Without getting to know the

Community Policing
72

residents, officers identify all people in the

community as part of the problem. Thus, for

community policing to succeed, agencies need

to empower patrol officers and assign them long

term to the Weed and Seed sites. In this way,

officers and residents can develop trust and

mutual respect. 

Neighborhood­Level Accountability 

One major difference between traditional policing and community policing is the shift in organizational focus from accountability for a limited

period (work shift) to full­time accountability for

a geographic location. Traditionally, patrol officers and supervisors are held accountable for

what occurs during their watch. Because officers

on a shift may be assigned to police the entire

city or large districts within the city, they are not

held specifically accountable for local problems

that occur during each shift. Moreover, persistent problems often overlap the shift times that

officers work. Consequently, many unresolved

problems are passed on from shift to shift,

which makes it more difficult to hold officers

or supervisors accountable.

Under community policing in Weed and Seed

strategy, patrol officers and supervisors have

primary responsibility for a designated area.

The officers are held accountable for any and

all police­related problems that occur in the

community, regardless of when they occur.

Geographic assignment integrity (the same officers are assigned to the same areas for a long

period) and territorial responsibility (local officers are accountable for what goes on in the

area) are crucial to the success of community

policing. 

To demonstrate the agency’s commitment to the

community and ensure that officers have assignment integrity with geographic responsibility,

many police agencies have opened ministations

or storefronts in the selected Weed and Seed

areas. A renovated mobile home, which was

placed in the center of the community near the

recreation center and park, served as one

department’s ministation. 

Organizational Changes To Enable

Community Policing 

If community policing officers are to be held

accountable for the designated area, they must

be given adequate resources to do the job. Police

agencies must decide whether to deliver patrol

services to the Weed and Seed areas by using

regular beat officers or creating a special squad.

Regardless of the approach selected, full­service

patrol officers should be assigned to the neighborhoods. In addition to their community

engagement activities, the officers should handle

citizen calls for service. 

Policing Weed and Seed areas requires the help

of specialized units such as narcotics, traffic,

canine, and investigations. Which services

should be provided by the community policing

team and which should be provided by outside

specialists must be determined locally. Decisions

on decentralization of police services to the local

level should involve both the police and the

community. 

Regardless of the degree of decentralization,

Weed and Seed area officers should know about

other police activity on their beat and have

some input into that activity. This principle

should also apply to the relationship between

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
73

the neighborhood community policing officers

and the enforcement and suppression component of Weed and Seed. Once community policing efforts are in place, the enforcement and

suppression task force should notify community

policing officers of any undercover operations as

long as such notification will not jeopardize the

safety of the undercover officers or the security

of the operation. Whereas the enforcement task

force must be concerned with information leaks

about its operations, the community policing

officers can provide valuable inside information

about local criminal activity. 

Role of Management and Supervisors 

The role of management and supervisors is critical during any organizational change, but especially in the transition to community policing.

Management’s most important role is to provide

an environment in which community policing

can be successfully implemented. One of the

best ways to accomplish this is by developing a

plan that explains what must be done and identifies who is responsible for each task. 

Leadership and vision at the top levels of the

police department are critical; the top command

must demonstrate to the entire department that

it is behind the move to community policing.

This is especially important as the agency struggles with critical decisions such as the extent of

decentralization needed for the transition to

community policing. Police agencies attempting

to implement community policing usually face

some resistance. 

Management must also lead the effort to develop the necessary officer selection criteria, training requirements, and performance evaluations

to support and reinforce community policing.

Management should provide the resources that

the community policing officers need to do an

effective job. In addition, management’s help is

needed to coordinate with other city and county

agencies in bringing services such as code

enforcement and sanitation to the designated

sites. 

Field supervisors play a critical role in bringing

community policing to Weed and Seed areas.

Some of the functions of first­line supervisors

include— 

� Meeting regularly with residents to get feedback on policing plans and activities that

affect their community. 

� Helping community policing officers involve

residents in efforts to bring about a safer

community.

� Promoting and prioritizing problem­solving

activities.

� Monitoring and rewarding proactive community policing, especially neighborhood problem identification and analysis. 

� Preventing problems between community

policing officers and residents, including corruption or unnecessary use of force.

� Facilitating interaction among officers, community members, and government agencies

that can help resolve problems. 

During community policing implementation,

police managers serve as the planners and

directors, whereas field supervisors serve as the

neighborhood coaches and monitors. 

Information Management 

Another significant organizational issue in community policing is managing information to

support implementation. A vast amount of information about Weed and Seed sites needs to be

collected, stored, retrieved, and analyzed. This

information should be made readily available to

community policing officers.

All crimes have three important elements:

offender(s), victim(s), and place. Community

Community Policing
74

policing information must describe all three.

Crime analysis should identify the most active

offenders, people who have repeatedly been victims, and individuals who are at the highest risk

of becoming victims. This analysis must also

identify places that have a disproportionately

high level of crime, drug dealing, or gang activity. This information can be used to spot problems and focus police and community activities

on those problems, design appropriate solutions

to problems, and assess the effectiveness of

interventions. Important sources of information

used by community policing officers are calls

for service (computer­aided dispatch [CAD]

records), field incident reports, field interrogation stop reports, and officer intelligence reports.

In addition, valuable intelligence from outside

the police department may come from parole

and probation departments, social service agencies, at­risk businesses (e.g., banks, convenience

stores, and motels), property management firms,

schools, and hospitals. 

Neighborhood residents are another important

source of information. They can express their

public safety concerns at neighborhood meetings, during door­to­door surveys, on the street

to foot patrol officers, and in other encounters.

Community policing officers can use these

opportunities to document residents’ problems.

They can also collect information from residents

through anonymous drug or crime tip­lines or

the Internet. Increasing numbers of police agencies have Web sites through which citizens can

file reports or complaints or e­mail questions

and issues to the department. One police agency

distributed postcards that residents could mail

back with information about crime and other

neighborhood problems. 

In addition, community policing officers should

maintain a problem­solving log that documents

neighborhood problems and police officer activities directed at solving them. This log is needed

for supervisors to track and monitor the

progress of officers in dealing with community

problems. Agencies with data processing capabilities may be able to automate this log. 

Other agencies, such as code compliance and

parks and recreation, also receive citizen complaints about local problems. Community

policing officers should coordinate with these

agencies and the Weed and Seed Steering

Committee to share information. 

Specialized units throughout the police agency

also maintain information databases (e.g., narcotics, intelligence, gangs). Community policing

officers should continuously share information

about the neighborhood with these units.

In summary, community policing is an important

component of Weed and Seed. To be implemented successfully, community policing requires

training and technical assistance. Although the

training should primarily cover the delivery of

services in the Weed and Seed sites, jurisdictions that have Weed and Seed sites also could

use outside training to develop plans to implement community policing departmentwide.

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
s

75

Chapter 10. Prevention, Intervention,

and Treatment

Overview 

This chapter describes a comprehensive framework for communities to use when planning

prevention, intervention and treatment strategies. These strategies are intended to help

reduce various risk factors and institute protective approaches in Weed and Seed areas. 

An initiative to provide prevention, early intervention, and treatment should include holistic

and alternative applications that use both traditional and innovative approaches. Social problems evolving from the risk factors confronting

individuals and institutions are complex; therefore, it is not realistic to expect one solution to

fit every need. Responses tailored to the special

needs of each at­risk population must be carefully designed. 

This chapter also discusses the Safe Haven

program, which provides core prevention, intervention, and treatment activities. Weed and Seed

sites display an impressive ability to develop a

Safe Haven into a centerpiece for providing services and giving the neighborhood a facility from

which to coordinate resources.

Throughout society, people are searching for

answers to the problems of drug abuse, violence, delinquency, school dropouts, and teen

pregnancy. Although these are not new problems, they have become more urgent as we

have become increasingly aware of the longterm consequences of at­risk behavior. 

Vision 

Prevention, intervention, and treatment are core

seeding components of Weed and Seed. Every

Weed and Seed site should develop a framework

for organizing a safe and healthy community

that includes prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies. 

The needs assessment process identifies resources in your community that will provide

the foundation for prevention, intervention, and

treatment activities. The Weed and Seed Steering

Committee can provide leadership to build a

coalition of groups to provide these resources.

The coalition can reduce fragmentation and

duplication of services and provide a more

comprehensive system for service delivery. 

For this discussion, prevention, intervention,

and treatment activities to help solve problems

are described as follows: 

Prevention activities should be undertaken

before the at­risk behavior becomes widespread

in the community. For example, if teen pregnancy is increasing, information programs on

prevention and professional counseling may be

the best choice.

Intervention refers to efforts to develop a comprehensive strategy to eliminate harmful behavior before it becomes entrenched in the

community. For example, if truancy among high

school students is a problem, the solution might

involve developing activities to keep younger

students interested in staying in school. Or, the

community may design a mentoring program

that pairs community policing officers with

young students. 

Treatment represents the most protracted and

focused effort to combat undesirable behavior.

Recommendations by professionals on the

prevention, intervention, and treatment (PIT)
76

subcommittee about the types of help available

and the referral process can be especially

useful. 

Problems, however, do not always break down

into such distinct categories; therefore, some of

the PIT programs should combine two and possibly three strategies when necessary. As with

every part of the Weed and Seed strategy, participants must be flexible and develop activities

that reflect the community’s needs and

resources. 

Each approach should be included in the planning phase, but remember that prevention is the

best method. It is preferable—and easier—to stop

negative behaviors from developing rather than

to address them after they become major problems. It is almost always more cost effective. 

Implementation Process 

Step 1: Establish a Prevention,

Intervention, and Treatment

Subcommittee 

The Weed and Seed Steering Committee should

create a PIT subcommittee to review and expand

on the issues identified by the needs assessment. The Steering Committee should select the

members of the PIT subcommittee at the beginning of the planning process so seeding activities can be designed and incorporated during

the developmental phase of Weed and Seed.

Membership should be as inclusive as possible

to ensure that all groups in the community are

represented. Among those to be considered for

the PIT subcommittee are the following: 

� Community­based organizations are usually

well known and accepted in the community.

They may also be current service providers

trusted by residents. 

� Mental health and health practitioners bring

their professional knowledge and skills and

provide an important perspective on mental

health­ and health­related issues to the

discussions and planning sessions. 

� Substance abuse agencies provide advantages that are sometimes overlooked.

Members can provide information about

various services available in the local community, help access the services, and arrange

counseling and classes onsite. 

� Young residents offer the perspectives of

those for whom most services are targeted.

Allowing them to express their concerns and

ideas as members will also help the subcommittee gain acceptance within the youth population for its plans and recommendations. 

Step 2: Review the Needs Assessment

and Develop an Action Plan 

The PIT subcommittee should focus on issues

identified by the needs assessment conducted

during the strategic planning process. This focus

will help narrow the scope and prioritize community issues. 

Two distinct but related components of the subcommittee’s tasks are identifying risk factors

and selecting protective factors. Risk factors are

indicators of increased problem behaviors and

include the following: 

� Family issues. Parental attitudes toward atrisk behavior, a family history of high­risk

behavior, and internal family conflicts can

contribute to the development of at­risk

behaviors.

� School problems. Attending several schools

because of frequent family moves, falling

behind in classwork, and falling behind in

grade level can present obstacles for young

people. 

� Community factors. A poor community

image, high crime levels, and inadequate

public services negatively affect youth

behavior. 

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
77

The subcommittee should discuss strategies that

will have a positive effect on these risk factors

and should select those approaches that can

make a significant impact. A better understanding of the risk factors is important in determining where to focus resources and what services

to develop. 

The second component of the subcommittee’s

tasks is identifying protective factors that help

shield residents, especially young people, from

risk factors. For example, the subcommittee can

review each identified risk factor and develop

activities to address it. Examples include the

following: 

� Family issues. Offer classes in family management and parenting that are especially

targeted to solving some of the identified

family risk factors.

� School problems. Develop a program with

one or more partner agencies that offers

homework assistance and tutoring for

students. 

� Community factors. Work with the law

enforcement and community policing subcommittees to develop strategies affecting

community risk factors. These issues will also

be important for neighborhood revitalization.

Additionally, coordinate activities with the

neighborhood restoration subcommittee. 

Step 3: Develop Plans for Locating and

Staffing a Safe Haven 

The centerpiece of the PIT effort is often a Safe

Haven, which most Weed and Seed sites find to

be their most valuable asset. The local site has

the flexibility to develop a facility that makes the

best use of available resources and best meets

the needs of the neighborhood. The services

offered in a Safe Haven should be developed

around the identified risk and protective factors.

A Safe Haven can begin with a limited number

of programs and activities and expand as other

needs arise. If there is an existing Safe Haven in

the community, Weed and Seed funds can be

used to expand and improve the services and

programs it offers. 

What is a Safe Haven? 

A Safe Haven is a multiservice center that coordinates youth and adult services in a highly visible, secure, and accessible facility. In a Safe

Haven, youth should learn to resist drugs and

crime and avoid other neighborhood problems. 

What type of staff should operate a 

Safe Haven? 

Staff hired to operate a Safe Haven should possess knowledge, skills, and abilities related to

the activities and programs offered. Job descriptions should be developed for all positions. 

It is necessary to conduct a thorough background check of staff hired to work in a Safe

Haven. The background check is required not

only to ensure the safety of the children at the

Safe Haven but also as a protective measure for

Weed and Seed. 

What are the guiding principles of a Safe

Haven? 

Successful Safe Havens are—

Community based. The goals and objectives of

a Safe Haven should be based on the needs and

resources of the designated neighborhood. 

Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment
78

Culturally relevant. A Safe Haven should reflect

the site’s local culture and diversity, which

should be considered when determining and

coordinating services and programs. 

Easily accessible. A Safe Haven should offer

extended hours and be centrally located. 

Education based. A Safe Haven should emphasize programs and services that are education

based. 

Prevention based. A Safe Haven should emphasize programs and services designed to prevent

problems at the earliest possible stage. 

Multiservice. Community problems often are

multifaceted and require comprehensive solutions. A Safe Haven can offer a unique forum for

maximizing collaboration among service agencies and community partners. 

What types of programs should be offered at a

Safe Haven? 

Successful Safe Havens offer a variety of activities. These may include—

Afterschool activities. These programs usually

provide tutoring and homework assistance but

can cover other identified needs. 

Recreation and sports programs. A Safe Haven

can offer supervised play, sports, games, and

physical fitness activities. 

Group activities. Clubs such as the Cub Scouts,

Girl Scouts, and similar groups can meet regularly and hold activities at a Safe Haven. 

Classes. Subjects can include health and nutrition, citizenship, and those related to risk and

protective factors. 

Training. Skills training can be offered through

collaboration with other agencies. Computer

training for youth and adults is both popular

and practical. 

Education on cultural issues. Programs should

be developed to teach children to take pride

in themselves, their families, and their cultural

heritage. 

Heath care services. The PIT subcommittee

should make it a high priority to provide health

care services when possible. At a minimum, a

Safe Haven should offer a health referral service.

A greater emphasis on health care services will

help build a healthier community. 

Marketing your Safe Haven 

The Safe Haven should always be included in

the marketing plans of your Weed and Seed site.

Safe Haven activities are the types of positive

programs that businesses, civic clubs, and

churches are likely to support. These organizations may be willing to sponsor a program or

a special event. They may also have members

who will volunteer for some of your projects. 

Develop a marketing plan that will reach out to

people who can make the Safe Haven successful. Demonstrate not only what can be done

with the limited resources available, but also

what could be accomplished with additional

help. Always give credit to those who provide

assistance and honor their contributions publicly, unless they ask to remain anonymous. 

Whenever possible, tell people about the positive contributions of the Safe Haven. This is a

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
79

great opportunity to spread positive words

about the program. 

Implementation Issues 

Although the PIT subcommittee makes every

effort to be inclusive in its membership and

objective in its review of needs and resources,

not everyone will agree with its decisions. The

following issues may create obstacles to implementing plans. 

Competition among service providers can present serious challenges to Weed and Seed. If

a local organization already offers satisfactory

services for residents, avoid developing a competing program. The best course of action is to

form an alliance with the existing program and

combine resources. If the existing program is too

small to adequately serve the community, try to

include it as part of the PIT subcommittee and

develop a partnership to support, not compete

with, its services.

Inadequate funds can be a major obstacle to

operating PIT programs. The most challenging

issue for Weed and Seed sites usually is planning how best to allocate available funds.

Remember that local Weed and Seed money is

not expected to fund all identified needs, but

should be used to establish collaborations that

can help leverage funds from other sources. 

Local government agencies often assume that

they are responsible for providing services and

resent others’ intrusion even if they are not able

to address needs adequately. Try to establish a

working partnership with local agencies. Suggest

adding your efforts to their existing ones. Avoid

confrontations that will be hard to overcome

later. 

If certain services are not offered, explore ways

to attract agencies or organizations to provide

them. For example, if you need health care, well

baby clinics, and health education, contact a

local hospital about providing auxiliary services

in your community. Find out what it will take to

get them to consider your request. 

Even though it seems daunting, the United Way,

Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, or similar agencies

may be able to help. They can also refer you to

other agencies or organizations that will work

with you. Do not give up too quickly.

Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment
Exhibit 10–1. Safe Haven Sample Organizational Structure

80

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
s

81

Chapter 11. Neighborhood Restoration

Overview 

Neighborhood restoration is the fourth major

component of Weed and Seed. It focuses on

revitalizing designated neighborhoods by leveraging local, state, tribal, and federal resources.

Restoring a community can be a complex and

long­term process. This chapter highlights the

steps needed to implement a neighborhood

restoration plan that encourages the leveraging

of key resources at all levels to maximize their

impact on the designated area. 

Vision 

Everyone wants to live in a community that has

all the amenities—safe parks, grocery stores,

schools, thriving businesses, homes, entertainment, and medical services. When communities

experience a loss in the tax base, it is often

because of deteriorating conditions such as

business closings, a shift away from home ownership, negative changes in the quality of medical and social services, unkempt parks, and

increased prices for basic necessities in local

stores. 

Communities that suffer from any of these

conditions can be revitalized. Neighborhood

restoration is about much more than physical

buildings—it is about restoring the human capital in a neighborhood by providing tools to help

residents secure livable­wage employment, start

new and thriving businesses, increase the stock

of affordable housing, and increase the number

of homeowners. It recognizes the needs of both

the young and the not so young. Youth activities

in safe parks, senior housing and services, and

increased medical and social services treat many

community ills.

Imagine a community that provides access to

local city services in strip malls (e.g., postal

services and Social Security and employment

offices). A competitive grocery store that offers

quality food at affordable prices is often high on

residents’ wish lists. They would also like to

have clean streets with bright lights that deter

crime. The neighborhood would benefit if businesses that have been operating from homes

without proper licenses would open their doors

in storefronts or malls in the community. A popular idea is to develop programs that encourage

residents to save their money and that provide

matching funds they can use to buy a new

home, start a business, or complete an education. Training programs that provide residents

with increased technology skills would enable

them to secure higher paying jobs. Some programs could help residents correct their credit

problems and prepare them for owning their

own homes.

Neighborhood restoration efforts should help

rid the community of crime, improve relations

between residents and police, and provide residents with programs and services that prevent,

intervene, or treat problems of youth, adults,

and families. That work lays the foundation for

community restoration. Any effort to rid a community of negative elements brings positive

resources and the physical assets needed to

revitalize the community. Changes in population, economic or physical conditions, social

attitudes, and business patterns all affect communities in complex ways. Many such changes

are dictated by decisions made at the local government level—which is why Weed and Seed is

an ideal strategy for improving neighborhoods

in distress. Working in collaboration with local,
82

state, and federal government agencies, Weed

and Seed brings community stakeholders together to leverage their collective resources and

achieve the restoration goals for the Weed and

Seed neighborhood. 

The initial Weed and Seed strategy that results

from analyzing needs and available resources

provides a safer, more stable community environment that can promote restoration. Of the

four major Weed and Seed components, neighborhood restoration offers residents the opportunity to actually see improvements in their

community. It does more than just inject new

programs into a community. Neighborhood

restoration is self­defining: The process originates from and is sustained by the actions and

choices of those living and working in the neighborhood. The restoration process should reflect

the needs of the entire community, not just the

judgment of community representatives on the

Steering Committee. Neighborhood restoration

must also be viewed as a long­term strategy. 

Although certain changes can be made to the

physical appearance of a community in a relatively short period of time, restoring a community implies that the whole area will return to its

original state. For some locations, though, the

strategy involves restoring only certain aspects

of a community while developing new components—which moves neighborhood restoration

into the arena of comprehensive community

development. 

This manual does not cover community development in great detail, but it can serve as the

cornerstone of effective neighborhood restoration strategies. All communities are in some

state of development. Implementing neighborhood restoration strategies is necessary to help

a distressed area work toward the vision of

community restoration. 

Restoring a community begins with a vision

of what it might become in the future. The

restoration process begins with taking stock of

what in the community can be developed, what

can be recruited or secured, and what needs to

be replaced by positive, community­benefiting

enterprises. This is not an easy task. However,

working in incremental steps and building on

small accomplishments can end in success.

Remember to work from the inside out—if

you build strong communities, businesses will

come. When businesses come, people become

employed, and when they are employed, they

begin to create wealth. 

Implementation Process 

Restoration goals and objectives may have to be

revisited after the local Weed and Seed’s firstphase strategy is underway to determine if they

are appropriate. This review is recommended

because initial stabilization efforts may not work

exactly as planned, and because restoration

strategies do not work in high­crime neighborhoods. Also, the value of any community is

determined by the consumers who live there.

Although the Steering Committee can identify

basic restoration issues with help from the city

planning office, specific details and timing

should be coordinated with neighborhood residents. For example, demolishing and reconstructing homes, if identified as a priority in the

needs assessment, may not be as important to

community members as public­private financing

to expand the local supermarket. Making

restoration plans that contradict community

expectations and values can hinder the process

and undermine stabilization efforts. Restoration

designed without resident input can produce

negative effects within the community and unintentionally accelerate decline. 

As you begin to think about your plan, keep in

mind the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Silly).

Steering Committee members are not community

development experts, and it would be unrealistic

to try to execute massive projects without

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
83

sufficient expertise on board. In addition, neighborhood restoration is one of the components of

Weed and Seed that allows residents to actively

participate in the transformation of their community through low­cost or no­cost activities.

Remember, a team effort is necessary to bring

about community change. Weed and Seed does

not have to be solely responsible for everything.

Although many people may want a new shopping center in their community, this should not

be a top goal for Weed and Seed. Support existing community development corporations, which

generally have the expertise to carry out these

types of projects. 

In developing an implementation plan for neighborhood restoration, the following steps should

be taken. 

Step 1: Create a Subcommittee 

The creation of a neighborhood restoration

subcommittee is key to involving residents and

other community stakeholders in an organized

restoration process. Although several local community organizations may exist, they often focus

solely on providing a specific service to residents

and do not consider how they might all work

with each other and leverage their resources.

This does not mean that they are not interested.

Often, they just need to be brought together to

address a common purpose. The subcommittee

unites the groups. 

The subcommittee could include representatives

from the Steering Committee and from community organizations who are not members of the

Steering Committee but who have an interest or

expertise relevant to neighborhood restoration.

Residents are generally interested in this type

of committee, as are community development

corporations, community action agencies, government agencies, financial institutions, foundations and small businesses. 

Make a list of organizations that may be interested in participating on this subcommittee and

contact them. Remember, individuals who agree

to serve on the subcommittee should understand

that their participation is voluntary and that

their organization or agency will not receive

funds. Also make sure that subcommittee members have the time to attend meetings. Other

members often are frustrated when someone

who attends meetings infrequently wants the

group to revisit issues that were addressed in

past meetings. 

How does the subcommittee connect to the

Weed and Seed Steering Committee? The Weed

and Seed Steering Committee promotes restoration plan development by enlisting professional

help for the plan’s design, targeting local

resources, and soliciting local, state, and federal

cooperation. 

Step 2: Revisit the Needs Assessment

Conducted for the Neighborhood 

One of the benefits of conducting a needs

assessment is that the priorities identified can

be used to formulate goals for each of the four

Weed and Seed components. Because much of

the assessment may focus on the economic conditions of a target area, this information should

serve as a basis for creating neighborhood

restoration goals. In a subcommittee planning

session, the group may want to examine these

issues and to determine what role it can play in

addressing each of them. 

Neighborhood Restoration
84

Step 3. Formulate Goals and Objectives

To Be Accomplished 

Once the subcommittee has identified issues, it

can formulate goals and objectives and focus on

how these goals and objectives should be met.

Remember that some goals are directed at stabilizing the community and some at restoring it.

Subcommittee members must consider activities

or tasks that yield both short­ and long­term

results. 

Residents may be frustrated by initiatives that

start out strongly but finish poorly; they look for

immediate evidence that Weed and Seed is a

positive investment in their community. Shortterm activities to produce visible results include

conducting neighborhood cleanups and allocating special days for graffiti removal—activities

that residents can see, participate in, and benefit

from. 

Long­term neighborhood restoration challenges

include asset building, reducing unemployment,

encouraging business startups, upgrading the

quality of housing stock, and increasing the

number of homeowners in the community. 

Step 4: Develop Activities To Achieve

Goals and Objectives 

After formulating goals and objectives, it is time

to identify relevant activities that emphasize

serving residents. Activities may require a series

of partners, both internal and external to the

community. Some activities that are popular

with Weed and Seed sites include (1) job fairs

attended by employers and employment assistance organizations; (2) workshops on starting a

business by partnering with the Chamber of

Commerce or other business organization; and

(3) workshops on financial management and

asset building. 

Step 5: Secure Approval From the

Steering Committee 

After the implementation plan is developed, it is

submitted to the Steering Committee for

approval—an important process because it provides additional opportunities for residents and

other stakeholders to provide input on the plan

and on how the activities described in the plan

complement other Weed and Seed components’

activities. Everyone involved with Weed and

Seed should understand the implementation

plans for all components of the program. 

The coordinator is responsible for scheduling

activities to ensure minimal duplication of events

that target residents for participation. The Steering Committee has ultimate responsibility for

monitoring the entire site plan; however, the

neighborhood restoration subcommittee is

directly responsible for implementing neighborhood restoration activities. The progress of

planned activities is reported to the Steering

Committee on a regular basis. No component of

Weed and Seed is more important than another.

Communication between the subcommittee and

the Steering Committee not only ensures successful implementation of the Weed and Seed

strategy but also permits maximum resources to

be applied to each of the planned activities. 

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
85

Step 6:Adjust the Goals,

Objectives, or Activities 

After goals and objectives have been formulated

and implementation activities have begun, it

may be necessary to evaluate and adjust them.

When groups formulate their plans, they often

tend to be overly ambitious. The time required

to pull new initiatives together may be underestimated, or unforeseen challenges may arise

that hamper the progress of certain activities.

Initial goals may turn out to conflict with other

community activities, or the support needed

from local organizations to achieve these goals

may not be forthcoming. Remember that the

goals are established for the local community.

If Weed and Seed goals appear to conflict with

those of other community organizations, try to

incorporate these organizations into the Weed

and Seed strategy, or revise the goals. 

Based on the community needs assessment conducted by the Planning Committee, the site

should have a list of issues to be addressed in

restoring the neighborhood, which have been

identified by community stakeholders. If adjustments to the goals or objectives are needed,

revisit the assessment to ensure that the Weed

and Seed strategy is working to address these

priority issues. Sometimes the goal or objective

is fine, but the time needed to implement an

activity may have to be extended. Adjustments

are acceptable as long as the group remains

focused on activities consistent with neighborhood restoration. 

Step 7: Evaluate the Neighborhood

Restoration Plan 

To be effective, some type of planned evaluation

must be conducted to determine the effect of the

restoration efforts. It is vital for the subcommittee to know whether restoration goals and

objectives are appropriate and achievable. 

Subcommittee members should monitor two levels of core indicators during the implementation

of key activities. The first level pertains to outcome measures established as part of the overall

planning process that relate to the objectives.

For example, if an objective includes offering

workshops on small business development, two

evaluation indicators are the number of workshops offered and the number of people who

attended these workshops. 

The next level of indicators is broader than the

objectives and may take months to fully document. Referring again to the example of the

small business workshop, the second­level indicator is the increase in new business startups in

the neighborhood. Where would you get information to document the level of business development? The city’s department of economic

development or the department handling business registration can usually assist in documenting an increase in the number of new

businesses. 

Core indicators are important because they

measure the overall effectiveness of the restoration process, which includes both stabilization

activities and restoration activities. You need to

document whether the conditions in the community that affect residents are improving and

resulting in more residents securing employment, increased capital investment in the area

through new businesses, and higher rates of

home ownership. Such increases suggest another level of investment in the community. 

Specific indicators to consider are—

� Property values. The demand for housing

increases as overall neighborhood quality

improves. As demand increases, value

increases. 

� Home or business loans. Increases in loans

indicate higher incomes among applicants,

improved physical conditions in the neighborhood, increased confidence in the stability

of collateral, and reductions in perceived risk.

Neighborhood Restoration
86

� Building permits. Increases in building permits usually mean an improvement in the

neighborhood. However, they should be

analyzed closely because permits to convert

single­family housing to multifamily units, for

example, may not necessarily indicate community improvement. 

� Property taxes. A decrease in tax payment

delinquencies indicates an increase in incomes and greater community commitment

and confidence. 

� Household income. Although difficult to

measure, increases in household income are

directly related to neighborhood conditions. 

� Home ownership. Increases in home 

ownership mean that the community is

improving. 

Recap of the Process 

� Assemble a diverse team of individuals to

serve on the neighborhood restoration

subcommittee 

� Review the needs assessment completed by

the initial Planning Committee.

� Formulate goals, objectives, and activities to

be accomplished.

� Submit the neighborhood restoration plan for

Steering Committee approval, and ensure

neighborhood restoration tasks complement

the other components of the Weed and Seed

strategy.

� Implement the plan, recognizing that adjustments may be needed over time. 

� Establish core indicators, and evaluate the

plan on a regular basis. 

Implementation Issues 

The subcommittee does not have to be directly

responsible for the implementation of neighborhood restoration activities. Instead, it can

coordinate such activities by already existing

organizations that have the appropriate

expertise. 

Also, if neighborhood residents are not participating in the program, restoration will probably

fail. Participation does not mean listening to

Weed and Seed updates at the local community

center; it means volunteering in activities designed to remove negative influences and create

a positive living environment. Expanding volunteers’ participation can be difficult, but it can be

done. There is no formula for creating an environment that results in effective community participation. Community policing officers can help

involve residents because they talk with the residents frequently. 

It may be necessary to occasionally reexamine

the composition of the subcommittee. As some

people lose interest or cannot attend meetings,

their positions may need to be filled with new

members. Community youth can also play an

important role in restoration efforts. Also, if it

is not possible to secure the participation of

top officials from local organizations, make sure

that individuals who do participate have the

power or direct access to power to make decisions on behalf of their organizations. 

The timing of subcommittee meetings might be

an organizational challenge. Although meetings

for staff representing organizations might be

ideal during the day, the number of employed

residents able to attend at that time may be limited. It is important to find the best schedule for

everyone. 

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
Planning and managing a successful restoration on the time required to restore a neighborhood

process is difficult because many of the socio­ helps balance expectations for change and

economic market forces that affect the value of results in critical activities, programs, and servthe community cannot be controlled by the ices that positively affect the lives of residents. 

Weed and Seed strategy. Keeping a realistic eye

87

Neighborhood Restoration
s

89

Chapter 12. Evaluation

Overview 

This chapter discusses the design, development,

and use of an evaluation component for the

Weed and Seed strategy. It reviews how a welldesigned evaluation provides a thorough

description of the structure and operation of

Weed and Seed activities and appraises whether

those activities were successful or need adjustment. The chapter also examines the elements

necessary to achieve an effective evaluation,

looking not only at the desired outcomes but

also at the resources used and the effectiveness

of the program design. 

Finally, this chapter focuses on local evaluations, which typically are less formal and rigid

in approach than evaluations performed at the

national level. The National Process Evaluation

of Weed and Seed (1995) and the National

Evaluation of Weed and Seed (1999) can serve

as references.

Vision 

Evaluation is the best way for the Steering

Committee to determine whether the selected

activities and programs are effective.

The evaluation process should be viewed as a

tool to help refine and improve activities, and 

to document successes rather than expose program failures. It can also help the Steering Committee improve its management and oversight of

Weed and Seed and affect future decisions.

Evaluation reports can influence decisions about

funding allocations and program selection.

These policy decisions are central to whether

the long­term goals of reducing crime and

promoting a safe and secure environment are

achieved. 

Implementation Process 

Step 1: Identify a Coordinator and the

Other Members of the Evaluation Team 

An evaluation coordinator should be selected

during the organizational phase of Weed and

Seed. To ensure the objectivity and credibility of

the evaluation, the coordinator ideally should be

selected from an organization not participating

directly in Weed and Seed. 

Many organizations can help with the evaluation process at little or no cost. Organizations

that may be able to assist include the following: 

Colleges and universities have students who can

work on an evaluation project. Which school

department to approach for assistance varies

from one institution to another, but options

include the political science, sociology, business,

and urban affairs departments. 

The planning section of local government may

be willing to help develop an evaluation component. The city’s economic development agency

may also be able to assist. 

Some nonprofit organizations, such as the local

Chamber of Commerce, Urban League, and

United Way, often help nonprofit groups such as

Weed and Seed develop an evaluation process. 

It will probably be possible to identify other

potential sources of assistance. Each community

has agencies that can perform these tasks. 
90

Step 2: Agree on the Definitions of

Terms Used in the Evaluation 

Although evaluation terms may seem unfamiliar,

they simply refer to program components and

are used universally. By using and agreeing on

these definitions, you can ensure a strong collaborative effort and avoid misunderstandings. 

� Input. Resources dedicated to the program

(e.g., human resources, funds, physical

space). 

� Activity. The types of services the program

provides to achieve its goals (e.g., what the

program does with its resources [inputs]

and how it changes these resources into

products). 

� Output. The products of the program (e.g.,

classes offered, training provided, counseling

conducted). 

� Outcome. The benefits to the targeted population during and after participation in the

program (e.g., changed attitudes, behavior

modification). 

Step 3: Review the Priorities To 

Be Measured 

A close relationship between site development

and evaluation should exist. Clearly defined

goals are key to both a successful site operation

and an informative and useful evaluation. Each

strategy component should have measurable

goals on which the evaluation framework is

constructed. 

� When developing operational plans, identify

desired outcomes tied to the goals; also

develop the following supporting pieces: 

� Tasks to be performed in moving toward the

goal. 

The following is an example illustrating how

your program design and evaluation plan

should relate to each other.

Identify steps necessary to operate and evaluate your program:

Goal: Decrease the dropout rate.

Objective: Decrease dropout rate by a 

certain percentage.

Tasks:  � Enroll targeted number of 

students.

� Track attendance in 

classes.

� Compile class completion 

rate.

� Measure the reduction 

rate of school dropouts.

� Organization or individual responsible for the

tasks.

� Timeframe for accomplishing these tasks. 

Important as they are, quantitative measures

should not be used in isolation. When assessing

program performance, schedule checkpoints at

regular intervals to ensure that the program is

on course to achieve its objectives. If the program is achieving on all measures, there is no

need to make changes. If achievement on some

measures is falling short of expectations, however, consider some of the following questions to

determine what midcourse corrections should be

made: 

� Were the numbers/goals realistic? 

� Was outreach adequate? 

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
91

� Were the schedule and program adequate to

the task? 

� Were interim adjustments made as needed? 

� Were resources adequate for program needs? 

� Was cooperation from other community

resources adequate for program needs? 

Assess qualitative measures using evaluation

process results. Talk with participants about

their perceptions of the success of the program.

What suggestions do they have to improve

future programs? 

Step 4: Collect and Analyze Information 

Evaluation reports should not be confined only

to numbers and percentages. The Steering

Committee should have access to both quantitative and qualitative information to help assess

progress. Numbers relating to crime statistics

show a precise picture of the results of activities

in the target neighborhood and can be used to

allocate resources for law enforcement and

community policing activities. Statistics can also

reveal the number of people served by programs

related to seeding activities.

Do not overlook the qualitative aspect of

evaluation. Do residents feel safer and more

comfortable in their neighborhood? Does the

neighborhood look better? Residents’ perceptions are an important part of evaluating

progress. 

Analyzing evaluation reports should yield valuable information about what was successful and

what needs to be adjusted. If the evaluation is

properly designed, it will not be used to place

blame. Success is always the desired outcome.

However, much can be learned from mistakes.

An evaluation process should show where

improvements need to be made. 

Some Findings That May Result 

From an Evaluation 

� There is insufficient funding to cover necessary program costs. If the program is to be

continued, it may be necessary to reduce the

number of people served, limit the scope, or

raise additional funds. 

� There is not enough information about the

causes of the targeted problem. With additional information from the evaluation,

adjustments to the focus can be implemented. For example, a goal is to reduce drug

sales around a school. The program provides

classes about substance abuse. Drug sales,

however, have not been affected by the program because drugs are sold by people from

outside the community, not students who

attend the classes. The classes may be effective in teaching students about substance

abuse; however, they have missed their main

target because of insufficient information

about the problem.

� The organization or individual selected to

operate the program does not have the skills

or experience to succeed. With experience

gained from operating the program, the coordinator may be able to improve how the

program is run. It may, however, be necessary to make more extensive changes. 

� The goal is reached and the program will

operate for another year or until it is no

longer addressing a priority issue and the

focus gets redirected. 

Evaluation 
92

Implementation Issues 

Deciding What To Evaluate Will 

Be the First Issue 

Priorities are the most important aspect to 

evaluate. It will not be easy to get everyone

to agree; however, use the site strategy as the

guide. 

As discussed earlier, some people believe statistics are the most important measure of program

success. Quantitative results can be accurate

and objective, but qualitative results should not

be ignored. Both quantitative and qualitative

measures are important. 

Other Implementation Issues 

To ensure credibility, find an organization or

individual not involved in Weed and Seed to

conduct the evaluation. 

Costs are often an important issue when the

evaluation is discussed, so seek assistance from

educational and other nonprofit organizations as

well as local government agencies. 

Remember that signoff from the Steering

Committee may not be easy to obtain if members feel that the evaluation report depicts the

site unfavorably. Therefore, this issue should be

addressed before the evaluation starts to assure

everyone that it will not be an indictment. It will

be important to demonstrate to the Steering

Committee that the report is an important management tool.

Local site evaluations feed into the larger view

of Weed and Seed and help to make the case for

the positive aspects of the strategy nationwide.

The local information is a vital part of the larger

picture. 

Exhibit 12–1. Program Outcome Measurement Model

Input Activity Output Outcome

Resources Services Products Benefits 

Money Training Classes taught New knowledge gained

Staff Education Counseling sessions held Skills increased

Volunteers Counseling Educational material Attitudes or 

Equipment Mentoring designed values changed

Supplies Hours served Behavior modified

Building/space

for program use

Participants served Conditions for 

participants improved

Donations

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
93

Exhibit 12–2. Monthly Participant Attendance Form

Month of _____________ 20 _____ Site: _____________________________

Day

Number

First Time

Total Number

Signed In Number Signed In for Each Activity

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Total

Days Open

Average

Evaluation 
s

95

Appendix Contents

References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

How To Obtain Technical Assistance From CCDO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Implementation Manual Glossary of Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Safe Haven Sample Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Weed and Seed Safe Haven Center Volunteer Survey/Intake Form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Safe Haven Staff Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Weed and Seed Service Provider Information Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Weed and Seed Participant Information Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Sample Format for Site Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

The Weed and Seed Strategy and Community­Oriented Policing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
97

References

EOWS Community­Oriented Policing Summit: Summary of Proceedings

National Evaluation of Weed and Seed

Weed and Seed Best Practices

Weed & Seed In­Sites Magazine

Appendix 
99

Resources

Community Capacity Development Office

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ccdo 

U.S. Department of Justice

www.usdoj.gov 

Community Policing Consortium

www.communitypolicing.org 

Institute for Law and Justice

www.ilj.org/index.asp

International Association of Chiefs of Police

www.theiacp.org

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services

www.cops.usdoj.gov

Police Executive Research Forum

www.policeforum.org

Reentry Initiative

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/reentry

The Task Force for Faith­Based and Community Initiatives

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/fbci

For a list of Officially Recognized Weed and Seed sites, visit our Web site:

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ccdo 

Appendix 
101

How To  Obtain Technical Assistance

From CCDO

Overview 

The Community Capacity Development Office’s

(CCDO’s) mission is to work with local communities to design strategies for deterring crime,

promoting economic growth, and enhancing

quality of life. One of CCDO’s most important

functions is to support and help sustain the

Weed and Seed strategy of local and tribal

communities through technical assistance (TA)

programs. CCDO­sponsored TA provides direct

assistance to communities to develop and

implement comprehensive strategies for

improvement.

Technical assistance plays an integral role in the

success of a Weed and Seed strategy. Sites can

procure technical assistance directly with their

Weed and Seed grant’s core funds and/or special emphasis funds. In addition, CCDO can

provide TA to help sites achieve their strategic

goals with professional guidance, consultation,

and team­building approaches. 

Who Is Eligible for TA? 

Officially Recognized and developing Weed and

Seed sites are eligible for TA. Sites must work

with the Steering Committee and the U.S.

Attorney’s Office (USAO) when requesting TA.

For developing sites, the TA request must be

submitted by the USAO.

What TA Can CCDO Provide? 

Technical assistance is designed to help improve

the organization, management, and elements of

a site’s strategy and implementation plan. CCDO

has a variety of providers (consultants) who

carry out TA and have years of advanced

professional experience in areas including—

� Strategic planning. 

� Youth programs.

� Mobilization.

� Employment training. 

� Evaluation. 

� Funding and marketing. 

� Asset mapping. 

� Steering committees. 

� Public housing issues.

� Community policing. 

� Conflict resolution. 

� Team building. 

� Grants/funding review. 

� Job training. 

� Computer systems.

Does Your Site Need TA? 

If you hesitate in answering this question, you

may need TA. Sites are not charged, penalized,

or judged to any degree for requesting technical

assistance. Many sites feel that if they show

signs of need, they will be viewed as failures. 

TA is based on the common understanding that

many people lack comprehensive training in

Appendix 
102

areas that are necessary to reach Weed and

Seed goals. If project partners lack the same

training, technical assistance is the perfect solution. Technical assistance is free to all Officially

Recognized and developing Weed and Seed sites.

How Do I Request TA? 

Sites should allow 6–8 weeks for a TA request to

be processed and approved by CCDO. 

� The site Steering Committee develops a TA

request in response to a specific site need.

� The site submits the request to the CCDO

Program Manager.

� CCDO works to match a site’s needs to a

qualified TA provider. 

� A working TA plan is developed and

processed for approval.

� TA is distributed to the site, and progress is

monitored by the CCDO Program Manager. 

� Sites are encouraged to complete the customer satisfaction survey after TA services

are rendered.

What Should Be Included in 

the TA Request? 

Each TA request should have the following

sections: 

� A statement explaining the need for and

objectives of the TA request. Include how the

needed TA fits into your site’s overall Weed

and Seed strategy. 

� A description of the specific assistance

requested. The description should include

each anticipated task associated with the

request.

� A contractor or service provider, if known. If

a contractor or service provider has been

identified, include as much background

information as possible. If no contractor has

been identified, CCDO will work with you to

find an acceptable provider. 

� A timeframe within which TA should be

provided. 

� The names of the representatives from your

site who will participate in TA. 

How Is TA Delivered? 

In most cases, TA comes in the form of a service

provider—a CCDO consultant—traveling to the

Weed and Seed site. The TA service provider

will meet with the site representatives (i.e., site

coordinator, Steering Committee members, and

USAO contact) to ensure that services are rendered as outlined in the request. The provider

may work for 1 day or several. Everything

depends on the training needs of the site. 

Sometimes the needs of the site can be met

through telephone consultation and a site visit

is not necessary. Your CCDO Program Manager

is responsible for understanding the details of

your situation and is the best person to help

you develop your TA request.

Technical assistance comes in several forms.

Ongoing training coordinated by CCDO comes

in the form of— 

� Electronic assistance (e­mail broadcasts,

CCDO Web site). 

� Coordinated peer­to­peer training, in

which sites learn from other Weed and

Seed contacts. 

� Training workshops and conferences, in

which sites have the opportunity to meet

many CCDO service providers. 

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
103

� Telephone consultation. 

� Satellite broadcasts, in which live, interactive

satellite broadcasts cover Weed and Seed

topics. 

� An interactive training manual.

Appendix 
105

Implementation Manual Glossary of Terms 

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG):

These grants, administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, are

awarded to communities to carry out a range

of community development activities directed

toward neighborhood revitalization, economic

development, and improvements to community

facilities and services. 

Community mobilization: A process to rally

and organize community members and stakeholders to work as a group toward common

community goals.

Community service officer (CSO): A uniformed

civilian employee whose duty is to handle nonenforcement situations that would otherwise be

assigned to sworn police officers; these situations include conflict resolution, missing persons

report filing, emergency needs assistance, and

crisis intervention. CSO support reduces the

demands on sworn officers so that they can

devote their time to other aspects of community

policing. 

CAD: Computer­aided dispatch.

CCE: Continuing criminal enterprise.

Community Capacity Development Office

(CCDO): The program office in the Office of

Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice,

that manages and administers the Weed and

Seed strategy at the national level. CCDO provides services, technical assistance, training,

resources, grant oversight, and funding to local

Weed and Seed strategies. CCDO is responsible

for overall program policy, coordination, development, and budgeting. Additionally, CCDO—

� Enhances law enforcement and prosecution

coordination among federal, state, tribal, and

local agencies.

� Processes Weed and Seed property forfeitures

to convert problem properties to community

uses.

� Coordinates asset forfeiture fund reimbursement for state and local law enforcement.

� Awards Official Recognition to unfunded

sites.

� Coordinates trainings/meetings to support

site initiatives.

� Publishes tools for community development

and leadership, including the nationally

distributed electronic In­Sites magazine.

� Coordinates with other cooperating programs

or agencies.

DEFY (Drug Education for Youth): A comprehensive, two­phased mentoring program that

uses adult leadership to strengthen protective

factors that direct youth to a life without drugs,

alcohol, and gangs. DEFY has three goals:

� To develop relationships between youth and

positive adult role models.

� To deliver life­skills training.

� To deter drug use and gang involvement.

Differential police response (DPR): A practice

of managing calls to increase response to community calls for service. By prioritizing calls by

severity of emergency, police can better provide

Appendix 
106

timely service to callers by responding over the

phone, scheduling next­day responses to nonemergency calls, and distributing responses to

community service officers for report filing. DPR

creates more unbroken patrolling time for problem solving and community policing. The result

is a net reduction of overall dispatches of police

officers and a rescheduling of some lower priority dispatches to hours of relatively fewer 911

demands. 

DOJ: U.S. Department of Justice.

Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community (EZ/EC): A U.S. Department of Housing and

Urban Development initiative that offers both

rural and urban residents and businesses

innovative approaches to revitalization. This

initiative brings communities together with public and private partnerships and attracts financial backing for economic and community

development.

High­Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA)

program: A national program funded by the

Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)

that provides resources to areas identified as

having the most critical drug­trafficking problems affecting the rest of the country. HIDTA

creates federal, state, and local partnerships in

the most critical drug­trafficking areas to tailor

anti­drug goals into regional solutions.

Individual Development Account (IDA): IDAs

are asset­building tools that provide low­income

individuals with an incentive to save money to

continue their education, start a business, or

buy a home.

Law enforcement strategy: The Weed and Seed

law enforcement vision includes police and

prosecution strategies to remove serious and

visible criminals quickly from high­crime

neighborhoods.

Law enforcement subcommittee: A subgroup

that reports to the Weed and Seed Steering

Committee comprising representatives from all

law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction in

the Weed and Seed neighborhood.

Memorandum of agreement (MOA): A written

statement of commitments signed by members

of the Steering Committee and partner organizations. The MOA serves as documentation,

clarification, and a resource for later followup

activities. 

Neighborhood assessment: The process in

which community stakeholders, including residents, law enforcement agents, business owners,

and nonprofit organizations, collect data and

analyze the resources and problems within a

specific neighborhood.

Neighborhood watch program: A program in

which the community works together to look

for and identify criminal activities within the

neighborhood.

Official Recognition (OR): The designation

awarded by CCDO to sites that submit a comprehensive plan to implement a Weed and Seed

strategy in a designated area. Once OR has been

awarded, sites may apply for Weed and Seed

funding. 

Operation Weed and Seed: A community­based

approach to law enforcement, crime prevention,

and neighborhood restoration. Established in

1991 by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ),

Weed and Seed is an innovative strategy in

DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs that provides

a comprehensive multiagency approach to community revitalization. Weed and Seed has four

elements:

� Law enforcement.

� Community policing.

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
107

� Prevention, intervention, and treatment.

� Neighborhood restoration.

Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force

(OCDETF): A federal program initiated in 1982

to combine federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts into a comprehensive attack against

organized crime and drug traffickers. Aspects of

the program have influenced every major law

enforcement initiative in recent years, such as

HIDTA, Weed and Seed, and the Anti­Violence

Initiative.

PIT: Prevention, intervention, and treatment.

Safe Haven: A multiservice center that coordinates youth and adult services in a highly visible, secure, and accessible facility. Every Weed

and Seed site is required to have at least one

Safe Haven in its target area. The Safe Haven

acts as the center of activity for most Weed

and Seed initiatives.

Serious and Violent Offender Reentry

Initiative: Developed by the U.S. Department of

Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), in conjunction with federal partners, the initiative is a

comprehensive effort that addresses both juvenile and adult populations of serious, high­risk

offenders. It provides funding to develop, implement, enhance, and evaluate reentry strategies

that will ensure the safety of the community and

the reduction of serious, violent crime. This is

accomplished by preparing targeted offenders

to successfully return to their communities

after having served a significant period of secure

confinement in a state training school, juvenile

or adult correctional facility, or other secure

institution.

Scanning­analysis­response­assessment

(SARA): An approach to problem solving used

by community policing officers to identify and

respond to problems in a community. Successful

implementation of the model by law enforcement officers has led to increased use of SARA

by residents, businesses, and universities to

identify and resolve issues in their immediate

communities.

Site coordinator: The individual who is the fulltime “hands­on” person working in the Weed

and Seed target area. The site coordinator is the

link between members of the target area, Safe

Haven staff, law enforcement, CCDO, and the

site Steering Committee.

Steering Committee: The Weed and Seed Steering Committee includes representatives from

four key stakeholder groups: the U.S. Attorney

or designee; residents of the designated neighborhood; city, county, or tribal government

representatives; and local law enforcement officials. It may also include other representatives,

including youth and elderly residents of the

target area. 

The role of the Steering Committee is to—

� Complete initial development steps.

� Provide direct oversight and management of

program goals and objectives.

� Coordinate the activities of Weed and Seed

subcommittees.

� Implement a coordinated law enforcement

and neighborhood restoration plan.

� Approve changes to the program.

� Document program activity.

� Evaluate the overall program.

Technical assistance (TA): Technical assistance

helps sites achieve their goals with professional

guidance, advice, consultation, and training. It is

an integral part of Weed and Seed strategy.

Appendix 
108

U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO): Participation by

the local USAO is mandatory for every Weed

and Seed site. The USAO plays a central role in

organizing the Steering Committee and is integral to the site’s law enforcement strategy. 

The role of the U.S. Attorney is to—

� Provide leadership to community leaders who

coordinate the strategy locally.

� Convene a core group of community officials

in a working committee and assist the local

site in selecting and convening a Steering

Committee.

� Serve on the Steering Committee (often as

chair).

� Initiate the planning activities.

Weed and Seed stakeholders: The four key

stakeholders for a Weed and Seed program

are—

� The U.S. Attorney or a designee.

� Residents of the designated neighborhood.

� The mayor, city manager, county executive,

or designated representative of city, county,

or tribal government.

� The police chief, sheriff, or other designated

representative of local law enforcement.

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
109

Safe Haven Sample Forms

Weed and Seed Safe Haven Center

Volunteer Survey/Intake Form

Name: _______________________________________ Date:________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________________________

City, State, ZIP: _________________________________ Phone: ______________________________________

Activity Prioritize

Days Available Hours

Friday Saturday First Choice  Second Choice

Cultural/Skills Building

Sewing instructor

Talent show coordinator

Dance class instructor

Drill team coordinator

Modeling instructor 

Guitar instructor

Other

Activity Prioritize

Days Available Hours

Friday Saturday First Choice  Second Choice

Recreation

Boys basketball coach

Girls basketball coach

Baseball coach

Karate instructor

Billiards instructor 

Volleyball instructor

Sports medicine instructor

YFCA Outings

Swimming chaperon

Weightlifting chaperon

Field Trips

Fishing chaperon

Bowling chaperon

Other

Appendix 
110

Safe Haven Sample Forms

Safe Haven Staff Inventory

Date: _______________________________________ Site Name: ____________________________________

Type of Staff Members: ❒ Paid by Safe Haven

❒ Volunteers

❒ Student Interns

It is recommended that a separate form be maintained for each type of staff so that subtotals can be calculated

for each staff type.These subtotals can be easily transferred to the quarterly staff report.There is a separate staff

inventory form for repositioned staff.

Name Title

Start Date/

End Date Full Time Part Time 

Hours

Per Month

Totals

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
111

Safe Haven Sample Forms

Weed and Seed Service Provider

Information Sheet

Agency Name: _____________________________________________________________________________

Federal Tax Identification Number: ______________________________________________________________

Or

Social Security Number: ______________________________________________________________________

Name of Person(s) Authorized To Request Reimbursement:

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________________________________________

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________________________________________

Name To Appear on Check: ___________________________________________________________________

Address To Mail Check:

Appendix 
__________________________________________ __________________________________________

112

Safe Haven Sample Forms

Weed and Seed Participant Information Form

ID Code: ___________

I. Participant Data

First Name: _________________________ M.I.: __________ Last Name: _______________________________

Street Address: _____________________________________________________________________________

City: _______________________________ State: _________ ZIP Code: _______________________________

Telephone:_________________________________________________________________________________

Race: Check one best answer. Sex: ❒ Male 

❒ African American ❒ Female

❒ Hispanic Date of Birth:___/___/___

❒ White

❒ Asian/Pacific Islander

❒ Other

Are you a [target area] or [target area] resident? (circle one)

II. Emergency Contact

First Name: _________________________ M.I.: __________ Last Name: _______________________________

Telephone: _______________________________ Relationship:_______________________________________

Parents must complete this section for participants under 18 years of age.

III. Parent/Guardian

First Name: _________________________ M.I.: __________ Last Name: _______________________________

Relationship to Participant: ❒ Mother

❒ Father

❒ Legal Guardian

❒ Other: Please Specify:_______________________________________________

Street Address: _____________________________________________________________________________

City: _______________________________ State: _________ ZIP Code: _______________________________

I, ____________________, parent/guardian of ________________________, waive all liability and give my

son/daughter permission to participate in all activities of Weed and Seed, Project Safe Haven. I also give 

my son/daughter permission to be transported to other Safe Haven sites for activities and to participate in 

special trips and events including monthly Weed and Seed Steering Committee meetings or as outlined in 

the Safe Haven Program.

Signature of Parent/Guardian Date

Community Capacity Development Office: Weed and Seed Implementation Manual
_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

113

Sample Format for Site Summary

[Site Name]

Background:________________________________________________________________________________

Target Area:________________________________________________________________________________

Steering Committee:_________________________________________________________________________

Strategy: __________________________________________________________________________________

Law Enforcement:____________________________________________________________________

Community Policing:__________________________________________________________________

Prevention/Intervention/Treatment: ______________________________________________________

Safe Haven: _________________________________________________________________

Neighborhood Restoration: ____________________________________________________________

Special Initiatives:____________________________________________________________________________

Notable Programs: __________________________________________________________________________

Evaluation: _________________________________________________________________________________

Appendix