| Ward Core Teams
Ward Core Teams came into existence in July of 2000 when the former Office of Neighborhood Services was piloted in Wards 1 and 7. The remaining wards began work in December of 2000.
The mission of the core teams is to better coordinate the delivery of services and partner with the community to resolve problem areas in each ward. Although the front line employees work in a particular division in their agency, they are empowered to access all division in their agency to assist in resolving persistent problem areas. Each ward has a Core Team with representatives from the participating agencies (for a full list, see Participating Agencies). Since the District has moved to geographic based delivery of service, the Core Team representatives are experts in their wards because they work in the ward everyday. Agencies that work closely with the Core Teams but are not regular Core Team members include The Office of Tax and Revenue, the District of Columbia Public Schools, and the US Attorney's Office.
Making neighborhoods clean and safe was the first goal of Neighborhood Services. As Neighborhood Services incorporated "healthy" into clean and safe, the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Department of Mental Health (DMH) and the Department of Employment Services joined the Core Teams. Core Teams meet weekly to discuss progress on work plans as they are implemented, discuss obstacles or alternate methods to achieve success in the wards. Core Team members assist each other in resolving problems and working together to deliver services to each ward. Often citizens will see Core Teams as they walk through neighborhoods to evaluate the needs of that particular neighborhood before creating a work plan.
For more information, see the following:
| 
