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Presentation by:

Integrated Partnerships to Support Community Transformation: Using

Comprehensive Strategies to Strengthen Families and Neighborhoods

Michael Sparks, Associate Director, Free to Grow National Program Office

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Introduction

Collaborative Partnerships to Strengthen Families and Communities Through:

Improved Physical Environment

Increased Social Capital

Increase Human Capital

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The Free to Grow ProgramThe Free to Grow Program

Integrated Family and Community Integrated Family and Community Strengthening StrategiesStrengthening Strategies

Implemented by Head Start in Implemented by Head Start in Collaboration with Community Collaboration with Community

Partners Partners

To reduce risk factors and enhance To reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors for substance abuse protective factors for substance abuse

and other high risk behaviorsand other high risk behaviors

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Free to Grow Primary Free to Grow Primary StrategiesStrategiesFamily AssessmentFamily Assessment

Case Case ManagementManagement

Parent Parent EducationEducation

Family Family SupportSupport

Substance Abuse Substance Abuse and Mental Health and Mental Health TreatmentTreatment

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Free to Grow Primary Free to Grow Primary StrategiesStrategiesLeadership DevelopmentLeadership Development

Community AssessmentCommunity Assessment

Community Action to Support Community Community Action to Support Community ChangeChange

Community AwarenessCommunity Awareness

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Introduction

Free to Grow Strategies within Community Transformation Model:

Improved Physical Environment

• Community Assessment (including property assessment)

• Community Awareness

• Community Action (support for increased code enforcement and policing)

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Introduction

Collaborative Partnerships to Strengthen Families and Communities Through:

Improved Physical Environment

Increased Social Capital

• Leadership Development• Local Action Groups (block watch, neighborhood assns, etc)• Family Support and Parent Education

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Introduction

Collaborative Partnerships to Strengthen Families and Communities Through:

Improved Physical Environment

Increased Social Capital

Increased Human Capital • Family Assessment• Case Management• SA & MH Treatment

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Interventions

• Neighborhood improvement through modified physical environment (exterior and interior property improvement), increased safety, enhanced infrastructure

• Building of social connectedness between residents of neighborhoods – Block watch, neighborhood associations, etc.

• Improving delivery of social services to neighborhood residents, SA treatment, MH treatment, family supports, employment, etc.

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• Head Start – Coordinator of neighborhood intervention, coordination with families, service delivery

• Police Dept. of Sheriff – Securing neighborhoods, training

• Community Action Program (CAP) – Services for families

• Neighborhood Associations – Guiding & shaping community action

• Code Enforcement – Problem abatement in neighborhoods

• Building Department – Enforcement of health and safety standards for rental property

• Vallejo Fire Department – Weed abatement, hazardous waste removal

Key Partners & Possible Roles for Team Members

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•Faith Community – Service delivery for families, person power for clean-ups

• Local Housing Organization– First time homebuyer opportunities

• Chamber of Commerce – Jobs programs, person power for neighborhood clean-ups

Social Service Organizations and Providers – network of needed services for individuals and families in neighborhoods

• Local School Representative – Meeting space, coordinated services for families, community awareness

Key Partners Comprising Team

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Selection of a Neighborhood A target area can range from one to six blocks in size. The Team considers the following criteria for selecting:

• High level of crime and violence

• Significant level of physical distress

• Number of Head Start Families in area

• Level of neighborhood organization

• Role alcohol outlets

• Ratio of owner occupied vs. rental properties

• Resources available to the Team

• Stimulation of similar resident-driven projects in nearby areas

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Deteriorated Areas in VallejoCalls forService

By Density

Areas ofHigh

Deterioration&

High Calls forService

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Police Involvement (undercover operations, increased patrols, walking neighborhood, abandoned vehicles )

Meeting Neighbors – Engaging in “Knock and Talks” Enhancing Service Delivery to Residents (offering services

to H.S. and non-H.S. families in neighborhood) Individual Property Assessments (interior and exterior) Building Neighborhood Organization (block meetings,

shared projects, training, organizational facilitation and support)

Code Enforcement – Problem Abatement of property matainance violations, interior health and safety violations, etc)

Clean-up of Neighborhood

Activities

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Eight Step Process –Order is flexible

Step One:

NeighborhoodProfileAnd

Action

Step One:

NeighborhoodProfileAnd

Action

Police Department Intervention:• Property Profile (owner/resident)

• Review individual property calls for service

• Individual background (as required)

• Abandoned Car Abatement Begins

• Begin criminal abatement

• Misdemeanor & Felony Arrests

Review findings with Team for safety and information

Outcomes: 1) Secure area for future neighborhood work

2) Identify parolees and probationers

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Eight Step Process Step One:

NeighborhoodCriminalProfileAnd

Action(30 days)

Step One:

NeighborhoodCriminalProfileAnd

Action(30 days)

Head Start and Partner Outreach to Families

Initiate “Knock and Talks”• Begin with H.S. families

• Follow with outreach to non-H.S. families

• Focus on building relationship

• Listen to concerns about neighborhood

• If appropriate listen to family support and social service needs

• Be prepared to make on-going visits to family

Outcomes: 1) Begin development of relationsips with families in neighborhood

2) Better understand neighborhood issues

Step Two:

KnockAnd

Talks (on-going

throughout process)

Step Two:

KnockAnd

Talks (on-going

throughout process)

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Eight Step Process Step One:

NeighborhoodCriminalProfileAnd

Action(30 days)

Step One:

NeighborhoodCriminalProfileAnd

Action(30 days)

If High Level of Environmental Distress Each Property is Assessed:

• Properties are assessed to determine how properties are distressed

• Assessments performed by Team members including H.S., CODE agencies and if possible neighborhood residents to determine which municipal codes are being violated

• All properties are photographed for before and after for outcome documentation

• Properties are also assessed from a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CEPTED) perspective

• Residents are informed about property issues and incentives to clean-up are offered

• If needed/desired interior inspections of health and safety conditions are performed.

Outcomes: 1) ID of exterior problems in housing

2) Create baseline for neighborhood standards

3) Target properties for code enforcement action

Step Two:

KnockAnd

Talks(Two to three weeks)

Step Two:

KnockAnd

Talks(Two to three weeks)

Step Three:

PropertyAssessment

Step Three:

PropertyAssessment

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Eight Step Process Step One:

NeighborhoodCriminalProfileAnd

Action(30 days)

Step One:

NeighborhoodCriminalProfileAnd

Action(30 days)

Meeting for Resident/Owners to:

• Personally meet Team members engaged in process

• Identify problems and solutions as a neighborhood

• Discuss what has been happening in neighborhood

• Start developing behavior and property maintenance standards for neighborhood

• Introduce availability of services

Outcomes: 1) More information on issues in neighborhood

2) Introduction of social service providers

Step Two:

KnockAnd

Talks(Two to three weeks)

Step Two:

KnockAnd

Talks(Two to three weeks)

Step Three:

PropertyAssessment

(Two to three weeks)

Step Three:

PropertyAssessment

(Two to three weeks)

Step Four:

BlockMeeting

Step Four:

BlockMeeting

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Eight Step Process Step One:

NeighborhoodCriminalProfileAnd

Action(30 days)

Step One:

NeighborhoodCriminalProfileAnd

Action(30 days)

Enforcement of Municipal Codes (After Voluntary Efforts Have Failed)

• Abatement of all problem vehicles on public and private property

• Specialized traffic enforcement strategies

• Continued criminal abatement

• Code Enforcement issues citations for property violations not corrected which were identified in Step 3

• Assistance with interior problem abatement is offered (homeowner and rental property)

Outcomes: 1) Start of addressing “broken window” issues

2) Establishes new norm in neighborhood about acceptable property conditions

Step Two:

KnockAnd

Talks(Two to three weeks)

Step Two:

KnockAnd

Talks(Two to three weeks)

Step Three:

PropertyAssessment

(Two to three weeks)

Step Three:

PropertyAssessment

(Two to three weeks)

Step Four:

BlockMeeting

Step Four:

BlockMeeting

Step Five:

ProblemAbatement

Lead byEnforcement

Agencies

Step Five:

ProblemAbatement

Lead byEnforcement

Agencies

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Eight Step Process Step One:

NeighborhoodCriminalProfileAnd

Action(30 days)

Step One:

NeighborhoodCriminalProfileAnd

Action(30 days)

Planning Meeting with Residents• Review resident reaction to neighborhood work thus far

• Elicit other issues or problems

• Introduce potential for clean-up day (can address issued Code violations)

• Continued emphasis on availability of referrals resources for needed services including job training, child care, counseling services, property improvement loans, etc.

Outcomes: 1) Builds support for neighborhood clean up

2) Deepens relationships with service providers

Step Two:

KnockAnd

Talks(Two to three weeks)

Step Two:

KnockAnd

Talks(Two to three weeks)

Step Three:

PropertyAssessment

(Two to three weeks)

Step Three:

PropertyAssessment

(Two to three weeks)

Step Four:

BlockMeeting

Step Four:

BlockMeeting

Step Five:

ProblemAbatement

Step Five:

ProblemAbatement

Step Six:

ResidentAnd

OwnerMeeting

Step Six:

ResidentAnd

OwnerMeeting

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Eight Step Process Step One:

NeighborhoodCriminalProfileAnd

Action(30 days)

Step One:

NeighborhoodCriminalProfileAnd

Action(30 days)

Clean-up day

• Team provides leaders to supervise neighborhood requests and correction of CODE violations by organized volunteer groups and residents

• Approx. 5 hour work duration

• BBQ for residents and workers

• Resource information displays

• Music and Celebration

Outcomes: 1) Builds social cohesion

2) Further improves physical environment

Step Two:

KnockAnd

Talks(Two to three weeks)

Step Two:

KnockAnd

Talks(Two to three weeks)

Step Three:

PropertyAssessment

(Two to three weeks)

Step Three:

PropertyAssessment

(Two to three weeks)

Step Four:

BlockMeeting

Step Four:

BlockMeeting

Step Five:

ProblemAbatement

Step Five:

ProblemAbatement

Step Six:

ResidentAnd

OwnerMeeting

Step Six:

ResidentAnd

OwnerMeeting

Step Seven:

TheClean-up

Step Seven:

TheClean-up

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Eight Step Process Step One:

NeighborhoodCriminalProfileAnd

Action(30 days)

Step One:

NeighborhoodCriminalProfileAnd

Action(30 days)

Building Neighborhood Cohesion and Strengthening Families:

• Development of effective block watch or other neighborhood group

• Partners continue to assist with resources for the improvement of the quality of life for each resident

• Continued assistance to neighborhood for maintaining the property standards they establish

• Continued work on interior property issues

• On-going support for residents needing alcohol and drug counseling, employment, housing, social services, etc.

Outcomes: 1) Continued reduced social isolation

2) Development of neighborhood structure to maintain positive changes in neighborhood

3) Increase emphasis on human capital development

Step Two:

KnockAnd

Talks(Two to three weeks)

Step Two:

KnockAnd

Talks(Two to three weeks)

Step Three:

PropertyAssessment

(Two to three weeks)

Step Three:

PropertyAssessment

(Two to three weeks)

Step Four:

BlockMeeting

Step Four:

BlockMeeting

Step Five:

ProblemAbatement

Step Five:

ProblemAbatement

Step Six:

ResidentAnd

OwnerMeeting

Step Six:

ResidentAnd

OwnerMeeting

Step Seven:

TheClean-up

Step Seven:

TheClean-up

Step Eight:

Creation of aStrong

NeighborhoodGroup and Supporting Residents

Step Eight:

Creation of aStrong

NeighborhoodGroup and Supporting Residents

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Examples of Community Outcomes

Calls for Service – Neighborhood Incidents

Code Enforcement – Property Improvements

Resident Opinions of Improved SafetyIncreased Utilization of Social Services

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Incidents by Problem Group 6 Month Increments - % Change

4/98-9/98 10/98-3/99 % CHANGE

Domestic Violence – NON CHILD 469 382 - 18.6

Domestic Violence – CHILD ABUSE 115 70 - 39.1

Domestic Disturbance 922 781 - 15.3

Assault/Battery 525 392 - 25.3

Disorderly 2075 1468 - 29.2

Robbery 44 37 - 15.9

Theft – grand 70 57 - 18.6

Theft – petty 175 152 - 13.1

Theft – vehicle recovery 34 17 - 50.0

Theft – vehicle/tampering 124 78 - 37.1

Drugs/Narcotics 68 73 + 7.4

Drunkenness 75 61 - 18.7

Loitering 998 883 - 11.5

TOTAL 5697 4451 - 21.9

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Outcomes - Neighborhood Incidents

124

52

37

64

41

0

20

40

60

80

Total

Total Part 1 and Part 2 Crimes

12 mos. During (4/98 - 3/99)

12 mos. Post (2/00 - 1/01)

600 Kentucky: Police Incidents Part 1 Crimes & Part 2 Crimes

-66.7% Part 1: -28.8% Part 2: - 35.9% Total

7 5

35

17

42

22

0

10

20

30

40

50

Part 1 Part 2 Total

6 mos. Pre (4/98 - 9/98)

6 mos. Post (10/98 - 4/99)

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Outcomes - Neighborhood Incidents

422

195

38

237

40

0

100

200

300

Part 1 Part 2 Total

Total Part 1 and Part 2 Crimes

12 mos. During (4/98 - 3/99)

12 mos. Post (2/00 - 1/01)

600 Ohio: Police Incidents Part 1 Crimes & Part 2 Crimes

-95.2 % Part 1: -80.5 % Part 2: - 83.1% Total

2913

129

66

158

79

0

50

100

150

200

Part 1 Part 2 Total

6 mos. Pre (4/98 - 9/98)

6 mos. Post (10/98 - 3/99)

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Outcomes - Neighborhood Incidents

94

43

24

52

28

0

20

40

60

Part 1 Part 2 Total

Total Part 1 and Part 2 Crimes

12 mos. During (5/98 - 4/99)

12 mos. Post (2/00 - 1/01)

1900 - 2000 Kentucky: Police Incidents Part 1 Crimes & Part 2

Crimes

-55.6% Part 1: -44.2% Part 2: -46.2% Total

2 3

12

21

14

24

0

5

10

15

20

25

Part 1 Part 2 Total

6 mos. Pre (11/97 - 4/98)

6 mos. Post (11/98 - 4/99)

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Outcomes - 700 Alabama St. Resident Opinions Before/After Intervention

0

20

40

60

80

100

Safe Uneasy

Before

After

Perc

en

t

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Outcomes - Springs Rd. St. Resident Opinions Before/After Intervention

15

65

35 35 35

0

15

00

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Safe Uneasy

Before

After

Perc

en

t

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Increased referrals to substance abuse treatment

Creation of parent support groupsIncreased employmentIncreased access to health insurance

(adult and youth)Increased support for victims of domestic

violence

Family Outcomes

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Beverly Hills Project From the Air

BEVERLY HILLS PROJECT

Beverly HillsSchool

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Photo 407 Alhambra

• Code Violations resolved

• Garbage removed from front and rear

• Landscaping refurbished

• Victory Garden planted

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Photo Cabrillo Problem Areas

• Heavy drug and alcohol use occurring in rear of property

• Public urination and feces in heavy vegetation

• Trash and alcohol containers being left in bushes

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Photo Cabrillo Problem Areas

• Drug sales and loitering on street

• Heavy vegetation providing cover

• 3 major locations of activity on street

• Hiding areas removed • Lighting improved• Code violations resolved

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400 Cabrillo

• Large numbers of people hanging out on the corner.

• Drugs and alcohol being used.

• Vegetation causing low light and hiding illegal activities

• Code Violations resolved

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Why Does This Approach Work?

Involvement of many partnersShared responsibility and consensual

decision making among TeamHeavy emphasis on improving physical

environmentEmphasis on developing neighborhood

assets (Human Capital & Social Capital)Long-term commitment (12- 18 months)