Re-application to retain status as a Safe Community of the International Safe Community (ISC) Network is required every five years.  The Safe Community Foundation New Zealand (SCFNZ), as a Certifying Centre of the WHO Collaborating Centre on Community Safety Promotion, can support your re-application process.   ISC designation and re-designation is based on the WHO Safe Community model.  To achieve and retain ISC status, communities are required to meet the following seven criteria:

1.      An infrastructure based on partnership and collaborations, governed by a cross-sectional group that is responsible for safety promotion in their community.

2.      Long-term, sustainable programmes covering both genders and all ages, environments, and situations.

3.      Programmes that target high-risk groups and environments, and programmes that promote safety for vulnerable groups.

4.      Programmes based on the available evidence.

5.      Programmes that document the frequency and causes of injuries.

6.      Evaluation measures to assess programmes, processes and effects of changes.

7.      Ongoing participation in national, regional and international Safe Communities networks.

For additional information visit: www.safecommunities.org.nz/becoming/accred

Process: Safe Community re-designation

The application for continued membership of the ISC network has to be made five years after the previous designation.  A community should contact SCFNZ six months before this to indicate their commitment to apply for re-designation. A letter of intent from the Mayor should be provided.   The process for re-designation requires an application report from the accredited Safe Community.  Site visits are not normally required for re-designation applications.  However, a site visit may be required if SCFNZ has: not had ongoing contact with the ISC; annual reports have not been received or are not at the required standard; if peer-reviewers indicate that a site visit is necessary to further clarify aspects of the application.  SCFNZ will inform communities of the need for a site visit one-month following receipt of the application.

The re-application should include:

• Letter of Intent signed by the Mayor.
• Application fee (NZ$3000 + GST) paid to SCFNZ. The application fee covers the WHO CCCSP fee, peer review process, travel expenses associated with site visit & designation ceremony (including the provision of a flag and plaque).
• Community Outline/Internet Summary- form B in the international WHO CCCSP guidelines (template available to complete on SCFNZ & WHO CCCSP website).
• Form A of the international WHO CCCSP guidelines (template on SCFNZ & WHO CCCSP website).
• An application report (incorporating information contained in form A) but also describing the collaborative partnerships safety promotion/injury/crime prevention activities in the “community” organised around each of the seven criteria.  .  As part of the peer-review process, specific attention is placed on criteria 5 (evaluation).  Please provide evidence on what changes have occurred within your community as a result of your ISC efforts. SCFNZ is available to provide advice to communities as they develop this application.
• Send five hard copies, including all appendices, of which one is to be unbound and one electronic copy (including appendices) of the application to:

Safe Communities Foundation New Zealand, a Certifying Centre of the
WHO Collaborating Centre on Community Safety Promotion.
Box 331399, Takapuna, North Shore 0740, New Zealand
contact@scfnz.org

Site visit: If required, a representative from SCFNZ will make the on-site visit to review your programme and application.  Emphasis is given to how your community has achieved each of the seven criteria and needs to include a meeting with your ISC coalition group, and a field visit to review safety programmes currently operating in your community.

Once all the above have been satisfactorily completed, a designation ceremony can be arranged at a time and place suitable to both your community and the SCFNZ representative.  If a site visit has not been held, then it is essential that the Certifying Centre representatives have an opportunity to meet with your ISC coalition group as part of the designation ceremony.  It is also strongly advised that your community showcase selected safety initiatives as part of the designation ceremony.  Experience has also highlighted the benefits of combining your designation ceremony with a related community event and issuing a media release announcing your ISC re-designation status.

In addition, your community needs to agree to work with SCFNZ staff as part of their ongoing commitment to the ISC network (www.phs.ki.se/csp) and the regional Pan Pacific Safe Community Network (www.ppscn.org) and to complete the SC annual report activities template to SCFNZ.