The Adopt-A-Neighborhood (AAN)

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

The Adopt-A-Neighborhood (AAN) program is a proactive program, collaboratively funded and operated, through the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department. Participating churches and businesses fund smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and awareness literature that the Fire/EMS Department provides to residents in targeted areas around Prince George’s County. Currently, there are eight (8) businesses and churches that have donated nearly $30,000 to cover the costs of the program. Materials and/or funds are donated to the Fire Chief’s non-profit Community Advisory Council, who then provides smoke alarms, CO detectors, and literature to the Fire/EMS Department. The program was launched when the Firefighters/Paramedics Union and clergy leadership agreed to donate smoke alarms and CO detectors after two fatal house fires. This assisted the County’s Fire/EMS Department with canvassing those specific neighborhoods, with both entities agreeing to provide meeting space for those communities to come together for proactive fire prevention and public education meetings. With the added use of technology to pinpoint target areas, since its inception the program has enabled an internet-based community tracking mechanism that allows donors to follow program effectiveness. This is the first program of its kind in this region and possibly across the country.