The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD is excited to announce the grand opening of the Youth Diversion Center in Houston. The Youth Diversion Center is a collaborative effort between the Harris County Resources for Children & Adults, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, and the Kinder Institute of Urban Research at Rice University. A ribbon cutting will be held on Monday, May 15, at noon.

The center is designed to provide a safe, normalized, and supportive venue for, psychological, and social interventions targeted at the current crisis being experienced by the youth, while fostering community and family reintegration.

The Youth Diversion Center officially opened its doors on May 1, 2023. The center is staffed by a team of highly trained professionals, including social workers, counselors, and youth advocates, who will work with young people and their families to develop individualized diversion plans. The Youth Diversion Center serves youth between the ages of 13 and 17 who have engaged in low- level offenses in need of temporary respite care due to a mental health crisis often exemplified by family conflict that cannot be readily de-escalated on scene. Referrals to the center will come from Harris County Juvenile Probation Department.

“The Youth Diversion Center is another example of our commitment to be smart, not just tough, in the way we tackle crime,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. “The wraparound services will impact around 600 youth annually. We know that treatment, not incarceration, can improve the lives of kids who find themselves in the criminal justice system, and ultimately makes us all safer.”

"We are proud to work with all of our partners to bring the Youth Diversion Center to our community," said Wayne Young, CEO of The Harris Center. "This center is an important step towards building a safer, healthier and more resilient for all citizens. We are excited about the opportunity to transform lives by intervening at a critical point of in the lives of these young people."

The grand opening of the Youth Diversion Center will take place on May 15, 2023, at 12:00pm.

We encourage you to come out and learn more about this innovative new program and how it is helping to build a brighter future for young people.

For more information on the Youth Diversion Center, please contact 713.970.7940 or YDCintakes@theharriscenter.org.

To learn more about The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, visit TheHarrisCenter.org.

If you or someone you know needs professional mental or behavioral health support, you can reach The

Harris Center Crisis Line at (713) 970-7000 or the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8.