Operation: Safe Communities, the Memphis Youth Violence Prevention Plan, and the Defending Childhood Initiative (DCI) have distinct structures, but also many similarities. Most importantly, all three initiatives were designed to be multifaceted and collaborative entities that bring a diverse group of stakeholders together to support their purpose. Some of the key elements within their structures are:
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Involving an independent intermediary to coordinate plan implementation
Staff members from the Crime Commission act as intermediaries to coordinate and oversee the implementation of the Operation: Safe Community strategic plan and the Memphis Youth Violence Prevention Plan. While not an outside intermediary, the Shelby County Office for Early Childhood and Youth has a similar role of coordination for DCI.
Establishing multiple layers of leadership to manage plan implementation
The work being accomplished through the three initiatives takes coordination and multiple layers of leadership and organization. The board of directors provides the overarching leadership for all of the initiatives. The board has a president who oversees the work of the board as a whole. Specific to the effort of Operation: Safe Community and separate from the board president, there is a chair of Operation: Safe Community strategies. This chair provides oversight for the 15 strategies outlined in the plan. Within each of the strategies, there are one to two strategy leaders or chairs who coordinate the objectives outlined within the strategy and the effort to accomplish the work. These leaders report their work to the board of directors. Sub-committees or task groups have also been utilized based on the complexity of the work being done to support the strategies. Similarly, the Memphis Youth Violence Prevention Plan is structured with core teams based on the strategies outlined in the plan. As the plan is in its initial stages, work is currently being done to populate these teams and their leadership. The leaders of these teams will also report their work to the board of directors. Rather than utilizing strategic teams, the work of DCI is structured under a steering committee which coordinates its efforts and reports its work to the board of directors.
Outlining clear strategies and objectives in a strategic plan to guide and structure implementation
While the strategic plans are structured differently for each of the initiatives, they were all developed with clear and measurable objectives. The strategic plans establish the structure and accountability for the initiative.
For both Operation: Safe Community and the Memphis Youth Violence Prevention Plan, the strategies were used to create a structure of separate core teams that work to address each strategy and report to the board of directors on their work. These teams are led by one to two strategy leaders.
The Crime Commission has worked with policymakers and government representatives to see how pieces of the Operation: Safe Community strategic plan can be integrated into ongoing work in the different bureaus of government. For example, they discussed how parks and recreation can support ongoing efforts to prevent crime based on their resources and the capacity that they have to deliver necessary services to the community. Creating these connections and showing how crime prevention can be integrated into the work of government agencies ensures more long-term programming rather than grant-based work that often has a time limit attached.
Limiting overhead costs to provide majority of funding to partners implementing the strategic plans
While the funding sources and program coordination for the initiatives are different, all are focused on limiting overhead costs. These are costs associated with managing the work and acting as a go-between to target funds to partners at the community level that are working to implement the strategic plans. For example:
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Note: Accomplishments reflect outcomes of Operation Safe Community. Both the Defending Childhood Initiative and Memphis Youth Violence Prevention Plan are in early stages of implementation.
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