The Houston Health Department’s initiative My Brother’s Keeper Houston, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department are teaming up to reduce crime, violence and recidivism.

My Brother’s Keeper Houston designed two programs tackling the challenges of reducing youth violence. The programs coincide with Mayor Sylvester Turner’s proclamation of June 2 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

MBK Houston and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office will assist children whose parents are incarcerated through case management and care coordination. The aim is to prevent them from repeating the same or similar offenses, breaking the cycle of crime, violence and incarceration in their families. Statistics show that 70 percent of children with one incarcerated parent will one day be incarcerated and are five times more likely than their peers to commit crimes.

MBK Houston, the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department and the Harris County Juvenile Justice Center will help pre and post adjudicated youth through the ReDirect Juvenile Diversion Program. ReDirect offers boys of color intensive case management, cognitive behavioral life skills training, mentoring and restorative justice practices designed to reduce recidivism.