Police as contributors to healthy communities: Aiken, South Carolina

In Aiken, South Carolina, community policing has led to numerous innovative programs that have contributed to a healthy community. The MOMS and COPS ( Managing Our Maternity System with Community Oriented Policing System) prog ram has played a significant part in the county's 50% decrease in infant mo rtality since 1989 and contributed to Aiken's designation as an All-America City in 1997. Other programs include a mentoring program for at-risk teen girls; instant crime reporting with donated cellular phones; seminars for s eniors to alert them to seams and common crimes; demolition of unsafe homes ; free installation of smoke detectors; a child ID program; and parental ed ucation on child brain development.