The primary areas of service for this Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI) project are Roosevelt Gardens, Goff Road, and Edisto Drive All are within the 29115 zip code. These areas have historically represented the highest rates of criminal activity in Orangeburg County. The 29115 zip code of Orangeburg, SC, is an area that has been marginalized for generations and has experienced tension with law enforcement dating back to the Civil Rights Area, and these tensions remain present. This rural community continues to rank among the highest in South Carolina for crime, health, and socioeconomic disparities. Of the 46 South Carolina counties ranked in child well-being indicators, Orangeburg County is 40th. Nearly all key determinants of risks to child well-being exceed, and at times double, that of the state average.

In a county of 1,128 square miles, Roosevelt Gardens represents just over 10 acres in size. Yet in the last five years, the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) has answered a call for service in the neighborhood once every four days. Recent data indicate that crime rates are on the rise.

Another focus area, Edisto Drive, is a 1.8 mile stretch of a four-lane road. For locals, the area is associated with criminal activity. The side streets have been a prostitution row and the street corners are known for drug activity Through the years, this area has suffered multiple murders Assaults, burglaries, shots fired, vandalism, and drug activity are all crimes that plague this community despite crime reduction efforts.

Goff Road, an area referred to as "The Hill," has experienced drug activity for decades. Young people known it is a drug supermarket, while older residents recognize the danger. Once a thriving community of professionals and artisans, the Stilton Road/Goff Avenue area became a place where the remaining senior residents no longer feel safe. The area is also marked by peripheral crimes that go along with drugs, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and shootings. At one point, a serial arsonist burned down more than 30 abandoned residences. Some residents believed the arsonist was cleaning up the neighborhood on their own by burning down the houses used for drug activity.

During the Planning Phase, the site will develop a plan based on Serve & Connect's (S&C) COMPASS model Guided by best practices, the four-phase COMPASS model facilitates positive community change through effective collaboration between police, residents, and community organizations. S&C will serve as the primary facilitator of COMPASS in Orangeburg and will coordinate all aspects of this project. This includes mobilization of partners, engagement of residents, community data collection, facilitating proposed activities, developing implementation plans for community initiatives and events, and overseeing grant management. S&C will work directly with their research partner, the Wandersman Center (WC), on data management, data analysis, capacity building, and Action Plan development.

S&C will work directly with key project partners to collect quantitative and qualitative data regarding project objectives and outcomes. Specifically, crime data will be provided by the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) via their records management system Additional data include indicators related to economic revitalization, provided by the Orangeburg County Development Commission, and indicators regarding adverse childhood experiences, supplied by Children's Trust. S&C will work with other partners, such as the Department of Juvenile Justice, State Law Enforcement Division, U.S Attorney's Office, and Department of Probation, Pardon, and Parole for additional data. These relationships are already established in South Carolina and will be further facilitated through their partnership with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association. Qualitative data from community meetings, community engagement and outreach, and other sources will be integrated into the data collection process as well The WC will oversee all data integration.

During the Planning Phase, BCJI practitioners will develop an Action Plan around the following project objectives:

1. At least 75 percent of community survey respondents will report improved trust between criminal justice organizations and community partners.
2. At least 75 percent of community survey respondents will report enhanced capacity for criminal justice, service providers, and community residents to effectively collaborate to reduce crime and promote safety.
3. At least 75 percent of community survey respondents will report enhanced accessibility to community resources associated with drivers of crime.
4. Violent crime in focus areas will reduce by 50 percent.
5. At least 75 percent of community survey respondents will report reduced fear of crime.

Based on Planning Phase data analysis and activities, the goals of this project are to increase availability and accessibility of community resources, support for youth and families, mental health and employment opportunities, trust between police and citizens, and police engagement. To achieve these goals, the grantee site and its project partners will implement the following strategies:

• Develop a Resource Map for Orangeburg: The virtual resource map will allow police and community members to easily identify services available in Orangeburg, including but not limited to social services, municipal and county services, nonprofit organizations, afterschool programs, and mental health resource providers. 
• Launch the Orangeburg ROSE (raising Orangeburg Seeds of Excellence) Partnership Network: The Orangeburg ROSE Partnership Network will connect resource providers, first responders, and community leaders to strengthen relationships among service providers and increase the coordination of services. 
• Launch the Orangeburg Police Activities League (PAL): The Orangeburg Team, in partnership with the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety, will launch a PAL chapter in Orangeburg and support at least two teams per year, serving at least 30 kids per season. In addition to coaching the teams, police officers will serve as mentors to build trusting relationships and connect participants to additional resources and activities in the community. 
• Launch Community-Based Youth Mentorship Program: The Orangeburg ROSE Mentorship Program will recruit and train volunteers to mentor high-risk youth ages 10-15. 
• Host Mental Health Training Sessions: The Orangeburg Team will host at least four training events for first responders, service providers, and other community members on mental health, first aid, and trauma-informed care grounded in evidence-based strategies and led by a trained facilitator. 
• Launch Orangeburg ROSE Counselors on Call: The Orangeburg Team will establish a volunteer mental health support system in Orangeburg called "Counselors on Call" who will offer trauma-informed support to community members. 
• Launch Orangeburg ROSE Social Work Internship Program: The Orangeburg Team will launch a social work internship program where social work students will partner with the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety to assist individuals experiencing mental health crises. 
• Host Employment-Related Training Sessions: The Orangeburg Team will host quarterly training sessions in the geographic focus areas to promote employment. Volunteer local business leaders will offer support and guidance to attendees related to soft skills, such as interviewing and resume writing, and offer direct connections to local job opportunities. 
• Establish Local Movement Branding: Working in partnership with police and community partners, the Orangeburg Team will solidify the Orangeburg ROSE brand to unify police and community partners around the shared goal of working together to cultivate a community where youth can thrive. 
• Host Monthly Neighborhood Meetings: The Orangeburg Team will host neighborhood meetings (at least) monthly in the three geographic focus areas to bring residents together to build trust and communication and support residents in developing initiatives that improve their community. 
• Host Community Events: The Orangeburg Team, in partnership with the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety and the City of Orangeburg, plans to host (at least) two community events per year in each of the geographic focus areas to create a warm, welcoming environment where police, resource providers, and community members can connect with one another. 
• Support Community-Driven Beautification Initiatives: The Orangeburg Team will support at least four community-driven beautification initiatives per year in the geographic focus areas. 
• Host Training Sessions Focused on Community Policing: The Orangeburg Team will host annual training sessions with officers at the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety focused on community policing best practices. 
• Facilitate Community Policing Action Projects: The Orangeburg Team will work with the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety to support quarterly community policing action projects focused on enhancing police involvement in the community. Policing Action Projects will focus on increasing positive, nonenforcement interactions between police and community members to help build trust. 

Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office, Orangeburg County Development Commission, Children's Trust, Department of Juvenile Justice, State Law Enforcement Division, South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association, U.S. Attorney's Office, Department of Probation, Pardon, and Parole