Acutely elevated risk
A situation negatively affecting the health or safety of an individual, family, or specific group of people where there is a high probability of imminent and significant harm to self or others (for example, offending or being victimized, lapsing on a treatment plan, overt mental health crisis situation, etc.). In these situations, agencies and organizations may be permitted in legislation to share personal information in order to prevent imminent harm. This often involves circumstances that indicate an extremely high probability of the occurrence of victimization from crime or social disorder, where left unattended, such situations will require targeted enforcement or other emergency, incident response.
Collaboration
Individuals, agencies or organizations, working together for a common purpose; acknowledging shared responsibility for reaching consensus in the interest of mutual outcomes; contributing complementary capabilities; willing to learn from each other; and benefiting from diverse perspectives, methods and approaches to common problems.
Community engagement
The process of inviting, encouraging and supporting individuals, human services agencies, community-based organizations and government offices and services to collaborate in achieving community safety and well-being.
Community safety and well-being
The ideal state of a sustainable community where everyone is safe, has a sense of belonging, opportunities to participate, and where individuals and families are able to meet their needs for education, health care, food, housing, income, and social and cultural expression.
Crime prevention
The anticipation, recognition and appraisal of a crime risk and the actions taken – including the integrated community leadership required – to remove or reduce it.
Evidence-based
Policies, programs and/or initiatives that are derived from or informed by the most current and valid empirical research or practice that is supported by data and measurement.
Partners
Agencies, organizations, individuals from all sectors, and government which agree to a common association toward mutual goals of betterment through shared responsibilities, complementary capabilities, transparent relationships, and joint decision-making.
Protective factors
Positive characteristics or conditions that can moderate the negative effects of risk factors and foster healthier individuals, families and communities, thereby increasing personal and/or community safety and well-being.
Risk factors
Negative characteristics or conditions in individuals, families, communities or society that may increase social disorder, crime or fear of crime, or the likelihood of harms or victimization to persons or property.
Social determinants of health
The conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. These are protective factors of health and well-being including access to income, education, employment and job security, safe and healthy working conditions, early childhood development, food security, quality housing, social inclusion, cohesive social safety network, health services, and equal access to all of the qualities, conditions and benefits of life without regard to any socio-demographic differences. The social determinants of health are the same factors which affect individual, family and community safety and well-being.