Community Mapping, Planning & Analysis for Safety Strategies

PROJECT SUMMARY FOR 2001-MU-MU-K015 The Center for Urban Initiatives and Research at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will serve as the research partner for the City of Milwaukee COMPASS site. COMPASS will employ data-driven tools and an action-based research model to further Milwaukee's problem-oriented approach to community government. COMPASS emphasizes routine collaboration with City, County, and community agencies to identify, understand, resolve, and monitor high-priority public safety problems. Key components of COMPASS will include: (1) collaborative policy groups spanning a broad array of governmental agenices and community interests; (2) partnerships with community-based organizations to identify problems and develop collaborative, community-driven responses to neighborhood public safety issues; (3) a comprehensive data center that will house social indicators and other public safety data; (4) strategic analysis of data both spatially and temporally, through the use of a user-friendly information system; and (5) a research partner or consortium of partners to: 1) participate in the development of the data infrastructure; 2) provide analytic support to the problem solving effort; 3) assist in the development of intervention strategies that address identified problems; 4) document Milwaukee's COMPASS activities; and 5) assess the ongoing effectiveness of selected interventions. Ca/ncf