Springtime has long been associated with beginnings; it is nature's way of renewing our precious earth. As spring approaches, it is only fitting that CCDO also refresh and give new life to its flagship strategy—Weed and Seed. Nature never stops growing nor does it discard its success; the same is true for Weed and Seed. We are enhancing the many fine features of Weed and Seed, all attributes that have worked to make it a success throughout the country. We have already made some important changes for the FY 2006 applications, regulating that every steering committee will include a representative from the Drug Enforcement Administration and placing a new emphasis on fighting gang activity. Both of these changes show how we have already started to expand our mission. We are now raising the bar. The FY 2007 guidelines will be a critical point in the continued development of Weed and Seed. In what ways are the FY 2007 guidelines new and improved? Let's begin with the process. In FY '07, communities will need to submit only one application along with a budget. If a strategy is approved, the community will receive “Weed and Seed Community” designation and a grant all in the same fiscal year. This will save time, and therefore money, for both grantees and CCDO. A second process change will be the scoring of Weed and Seed applications. Previously, Weed and Seed applications were scored on a pass/fail basis but starting in FY 2007, CCDO will score Weed and Seed applications on a 0–100 scale. CCDO will approve only as many applications as it can fund, based on congressional appropriations. The revised scoring system will be divided into small sections, thus allowing CCDO to provide very specific and detailed analysis of where applications fell short. Applicants who score well but not well enough to be a “Weed and Seed Community” will be offered targeted technical assistance. The new process favors communities that are organized and community groups that are already collaborating on crime reduction. Quite simply, we are looking for communities that have completed startup work and are ready for implementation. We believe this change is important because with only a 5-year timeframe it is critical to select communities that will be able to implement their strategies quickly. Clearly the steering committee is central to Weed and Seed and applicants will notice our added emphasis on the steering committee. For instance, we believe—as you do—that residents must be involved from beginning to end in every aspect in order to promote sustainability. Therefore, at least a quarter of every Weed and Seed steering committee must be composed of residents. However, resident involvement is only part of the equation. The other part is engaging decisionmakers who control important local resources. Therefore, the new guidelines emphasize securing participation of such key local decisionmakers. There are other important changes which you can view for yourself on our Web site: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ccdo. On our home page, you will find a link to the draft guidelines. These guidelines are an example of how we continue to make Weed and Seed the best it can be. I am saddened to say I am leaving CCDO and returning home to California where I will be Director of Community Development for the City of Ventura. Managing Weed and Seed has been an unbelievable experience, and I gained much beyond what I expected. I am proud of our partnerships, our new policies, and the special initiatives. Most of all I enjoyed the site visits and meeting people all across the country. You motivated me to work harder. I love what Weed and Seed is about and the people it serves. I will forever be a supporter, and I wish everyone involved the very best of luck. Please welcome Denise Viera as the Acting Director of CCDO. Sincerely, Nelson Hernandez |
