The mission of the national Weed and Seed program is to weed out crime in communities and seed them with positive community services. There are four essential elements to the Northwest Detroit Weed and Seed strategy: Prevention, Neighborhood Restoration, Law Enforcement, Community Policing. Since its inception, in 1996, Northwest Detroit Weed and Seed has served as an effective link between the community and the police. The Weed and Seed strategy has been effective in helping to revitalize and strengthen the community outreach efforts of the Northwest Area Police Precincts.

The prevention component encompasses the "seeding" aspect of the Northwest Detroit Weed and Seed program and involves providing a broad array of human services to residents in the Target Area. Northwest Detroit Weed and Seed has developed and caused to come into existence, several "seeding" initiatives within the Target Area focused on empowering youth, residents, and stakeholders to live crime free and productive lives, including providing grants to conducting youth leadership programs.

In addition, Northwest Detroit Weed and Seed's prevention strategy has included the Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) Program which consists of two phases. Phase I begins with a 6-day summer camp experience which includes intensive anti-drug and anti-gang education; self-esteem development; peer leadership; and physical education. Phase II consists of mentoring and learning activities after the camp with adult volunteer mentors and law enforcement officers.

Northwest Detroit Weed and Seed has also hosted elementary schools on tours of the police precincts during its "Police Officers Are Your Friends" program. This program is committed to providing prevention information to youth and establishing a positive connection between young students and the police.

In response to meeting the needs of school-age youth, in 2000, Northwest Detroit Weed and Seed established a Youth Development Committee. The Youth Development Committee is a group, made up of adults and youth, that serves as a think tank for the design of new youth initiatives and programming. It is structurally youth-led and youth-driven with adult representation.

In addition, Northwest Detroit Weed and Seed is committed to providing after school programming at northwest area safe havens with a commitment toward providing a safe, stimulating, and active place for youth after school. In addition to character development, homework assistance, and violence prevention, the after school programs provide health-enhancing physical activity and opportunities for youth to remain active.