• Neighborhood-watch programs create safer neighborhoods.Neighborhood image by Joelyn Pullano from Fotolia.com
  
  Your neighborhood doesn't have to be an impersonal place where you just eat and sleep at night. Neighborhoods should be vibrant areas populated with friends who are happy to watch your home while you are away or feed your dog if you get stuck at work. A neighborhood-watch program provides an extra layer of community protection as well as social connections. When organizing a neighborhood-watch program, ask questions and take steps to make your neighborhood a safer community.
  
  

Enquire About Neighborhood Interest

• Canvas your neighborhood and ask neighbors if they would be interested in starting a neighborhood-watch program. Explain the safety advantages for the community as well as the social advantages of creating a close-knit community that takes care of each other.
  
  

Contact Your Local Police Department

• Call your police headquarters and ask if the department has literature on neighborhood-watch programs. Also ask if the police department participates in neighborhood-watch meetings. If they do participate, extend a start-up meeting invitation to the police officers who regularly patrol your neighborhood.
  
  

Host a Start-Up Meeting

• Invite your neighbors to a neighborhood-watch start-up meeting. At the meeting, explain the advantages of a well-organized neighborhood watch and ask your neighbors what they need and expect from their neighborhood-watch program. If a police officer is present, invite him to make his presentation and talk about the benefits of a neighborhood-watch program, ensuring there is enough time for neighbors to ask questions. Together, create a list of objectives for the neighborhood-watch group and then request volunteers to serve as block captains or co-block captains. Remind neighbors they should never take risks. If there are suspicious activities, or if strangers in the neighborhood trigger an uncomfortable feeling, that neighbor should contact authorities or dial 911.
  
  

Gather Information and Organize

• Ask neighborhood participants to provide their contact information, such as home telephone, cell phone, work phone and email for a neighborhood phone and email tree. The list is necessary for alerting neighbors and sharing vital information. Decide whether quarterly or monthly meetings would best benefit the neighborhood. At the regular meetings, combine social occasions with meetings where neighbors share information or safety concerns. Creating a strong community encourages neighbors to become more invested in taking care of one another and their neighborhood.