About

Community Health and Violence Prevention Services

Community Health and Violence Prevention Services (CHVPS) Division uses public health approaches to prevent violence in Harris County and is comprised of two programs — the Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART) program and the Relentless Interrupters Serving Everyone (RISE) program (absorbing the former Community and Hospital violence prevention programs)

For More Information

Email: [email protected]
Phone: (713) 274-4877

Harris County Data Disclaimer

While a good-faith effort is made to post accurate information, neither Harris County nor Harris County Public Health (HCPH) makes any representations whatsoever as to the quality, content, accuracy, or completeness of any information being posted to this website or application and contained herein, nor does it guarantee that any such information is current or correct. Harris County and HCPH make no warranties, express or implied, as to the fitness of any such information for any purpose, or with respect to results obtained by individuals or other entities resulting from the use of any purpose, or with respect to results obtained by individuals or other entities resulting from the use of any such information. Neither Harris County nor the HCPH assumes any responsibility for the use, dissemination, distribution, or reliance upon by third parties of any such information. Further, Harris County and HCPH do not endorse any website that has a link to or from this website or application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: We have law enforcement, why do we need additional violence prevention programs?

A: In Harris County, the zip codes with the highest rates of gun violence also have the greatest social challenges: generational poverty, insufficient or no health insurance, lack of access to healthy food, underemployment, and economic insecurity. 

As a public health department, Harris County Public Health (HCPH) views violence as a health issue. Violent behavior does not happen in a vacuum, but in environments suffering from systemic and chronic social stressors. The “public health approach” to addressing violence focuses on prevention through addressing the known factors that increase or decrease the likelihood of violence

Q: How did these violence prevention programs come about?

A. Violent crime is increasing nationally and locally. In August 2021, Harris County Commissioner’s Court approved Harris County Public Health (HCPH) to establish its Community Health and Violence Prevention Services Division to administer programs that use a public health approach to violence prevention. Considering the needs of some of the County’s most violent communities, and researching other successful programs throughout the country, HCPH created the program structure, selected the pilot communities and the prevention strategies to use in each pilot.

Q: Who will operate the Violence Prevention Program?

A. HCPH will operate the program through its Community Health and Violence Prevention Division.

Q: What are the goals of the program?

A. The goals are to prevent violence and improve the health, wellbeing, and self-sufficiency of Harris County community members. Violence victimizes entire communities: claiming lives, ripping apart families, robbing community members of their sense of security, and destroying their neighborhood economies. The program offers resources that are complimentary to law enforcement and addresses unmet needs.

Q: Will these programs be used in all Harris County communities?

The programs were launched in Spring 2022 in two pilot communities, Cypress Station in unincorporated Harris County and Sunnyside, in the City of Houston. We look forward to expanding to reach more of Harris County.

Q: How does the Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART) work?

The Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART) will launch in some areas of Cypress Station, in unincorporated Harris County. This is a new model for responding to non-violent 911 calls.

  • Not all 911 calls require a deputy or police officer. If someone calls 911 regarding a homeless person, or with an urgent mental health issue, law enforcement may not be needed.
  • When this program launched, Sheriff’s Department Dispatchers now have a new option for responding to non-violent, 911 calls in parts of Cypress Station.
  • Dispatchers will determine which incidents are appropriate to send a HART unit to.
  • These are teams of trained social workers, behavioral health, and medical professionals.  They are not armed and will be in uniforms and vehicles identifying them as HART.
  • Their training allows them to effectively assist someone in distress and connect them to the appropriate resources for help.
  • If people get help with housing, mental or physical health issues, they may not repeat the behavior that resulted in a 911 call.
  • HART provides resources that are complimentary to law enforcement and frees up law enforcement officers to focus on violent crime.
  • These resources are provided by (HCPH) and don’t require law enforcement funding.
  • The HART program is administered by HCPH’s Community Health and Violence Prevention Services Division.
Q: Is there evidence these two programs will work?

A: Both the Community Violence Interruption Program and HART are currently being used successfully in dozens of U.S. cities, including in Texas. It has reduced the number of calls requiring law enforcement, connected people in distress with needed resources and freed up law enforcement to deal with violence, which is increasing locally and nationally.