KOBAN is a non-profit organization established in 1995 by then Columbia Police Chief Charles P. Austin. The word "KOBAN" is Japanese and refers to the concept of community interdependence and policing.

The program, funded in part by The Milton S. Eisenhower Foundation in Washington , DC , is a unique partnership between the Columbia Police Department, KOBAN Columbia, Inc. and the Columbia Housing Authority. KOBAN Columbia operates two programs in the city of Columbia : the KOBAN - Youth Safe Haven, Police Mini-station Program (KOBAN), and the Quantum Opportunities Program (QOP).

KOBAN sites are police mini-stations and youth safe-havens located directly in the communities they serves. Full time police officers provide increased community policing and a safe haven for children and adults.

Working closely with a youth oriented community organization gives the KOBAN an additional resource, in this case the KOBAN, Inc., and Columbia Housing Authority. By being located in the community, The KOBAN staff can also get to know the residents better, as well as make use of other community resources. Community problems, especially those related to crime, delinquency, drug and alcohol abuse etc., can be referred to the Housing Authority, a social worker or to the KOBAN staff. Four KOBAN sites operate in Columbia.

Two Quantum Opportunities Program (QOP) sites operate in Columbia under KOBAN. QOP is designed to help educationally disadvantaged and high risk youth improve their academic performance in school, graduate from high school and go on to college or advanced skills training. QOP is a balanced four-year, year round program for randomly selected entering ninth graders.

Participants receive a sequence of 250 hours each annually of education, development and service activities. Services are delivered by caring adult counselors who serve as mentors, role models, disciplinarians, advocates and problem solvers. QOP is linked by a system of financial incentives including stipends and bonuses for participation hours and matching contributions to individual accrual accounts to be utilized for post-secondary education or advanced skills training.

The program is supported by the best education tools and technologies, pre-structured activities for development and services, as well as added packages for college selection, current events, and cultural development. Two QOP sites operate in Columbia.