For both individuals and populations, health depends not only on health care, but also on other factors including individual behavior, genetic makeup, exposure to health threats and social and economic conditions. Multilevel studies have been published that link various indices of neighborhood variation and poverty to individual risks of cigarette smoking, higher body mass index, depressive symptoms, lower quality diet, poor self-rated health, as well as intimate partner violence. In almost all urban areas, serious health problems are highly concentrated in a fairly small number of distressed neighborhoods. The Division of Chronic Disease Prevention and Neighborhood Health works to understand where population needs are greatest and justifies these epidemiological nuances geographically as important health planning factors in improving quality of life and future access to health care.
BREAKING NEWS: The W&S Quick Guide to Winter Assistance Resources has been updated for the 2012-2013 season. The most current version of the Quick Guide can be found in the Community Resources section.
Established in 2001, the Manchester Weed & Seed (W&S) Strategy is foremost a strategy that aims to “weed out” crime, drug abuse, and gang activity, while “seeding in” community involvement, neighborhood revitalization, and prevention efforts. Over time, the strategy’s focus has shifted from an emphasis on criminal enforcement or the “weeding” portion of the W&S Strategy to primarily addressing the root causes of violence through prevention efforts. This is a natural progression or maturing of the W&S Strategy that other W&S Communities have experienced across the country. Furthermore, the W&S Strategy recognizes that violence prevention is the responsibility of the entire city, and that law enforcement efforts alone will not result in a significant decrease in violence.
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VISION STATEMENT
(Developed by Residents)
The City of Manchester is our community which has clean, safe and crime-free neighborhoods for all by encouraging mutual respect and consideration for others, promoting educational attainment and fostering opportunities for community engagement.
MISSION STATEMENT
(Developed by Strategy Partners)
The Manchester, NH Weed & Seed Strategy aspires to work as a sustainable collaboration composed of residents, community organizations, government and the private sector to achieve a unified, resident-driven vision for Manchester. The goal will be to develop constant and evolving responses to community needs through programs and change efforts that support the making of safer, stronger neighborhoods which embrace our diversity.
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The City of Manchester has continued to sustain the W&S Strategy under the Community Improvement Program. As the W&S Strategy completes its 10th year of collaboration within the city, it has continued to make a difference within the target neighborhoods. Highlights of recent accomplishments and ongoing activities include:
- Development of the City of Manchester Blueprint for Violence Prevention
- Designated Safe Havens within the community where a variety of youth and adult services are coordinated in a highly-visible, accessible facility;
- Development of educational programming for the community related to personal safety, cultural diversity, and domestic violence;
- Implementation of the Juvenile Crime Prevention Initiative, YouthReach, and Wraparound for Youth Resiliency (WYR);
- Creation of a Saturday Teen Night Program;
- Neighborhood improvement initiatives, such as Know Your Neighbor Block Parties, neighborhood and park clean-ups, and community gardens; and the
- Establishment of the Manchester Violence Prevention (MVP) Teens Council to provide a youth voice for the Strategy and violence prevention education from a youth perspective.
- Past Accomplishments (coming soon)
These efforts are the result of intense collaboration and networking. As of January 2011, there are 68 active partners in the W&S Strategy comprised of city, state, and federal departments, agencies, and organizations, such as the U.S. Attorney’s Office New Hampshire and the Manchester Police Department, as well as city residents.
Resident involvement is the driving force behind the success of the W&S Strategy and provides a high level of ownership to community members by creating neighborhood-based initiatives. Residents are involved at all levels of planning and decision-making for their neighborhoods in collaboration with elected officials, municipal departments, and community partners. All members have an equal voice in the W&S Strategy.
To learn more about the Weed & Seed Strategy: