Collaborating for a Safer Houston by Design: Built Environment Interventions to Prevent Youth Violence

Given the range and complexity of the factors that affect violence, no single agency can prevent violence on its own; collaboration is vital. This session describes how the Houston Department of Health and Human Services adapted grassroots organizing techniques to recruit youth, community partners and other city agencies in joining a collaborative effort to prevent violence. Schools, social services, libraries, juvenile probation, public works and other agencies all have unique contributions and a stake in preventing violence. Learn which outcomes and measures appeal most to other sectors, and how local public health departments can leverage data to expand its partnerships and comprehensively address violence. The STRYVE Houston project is piloting Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED), based upon the theory that the proper design and effective use of the built environment can reduce crime, reduce the fear of crime, and improve the quality of life. Built environment implementations of CPTED seek to dissuade offenders from committing crimes by manipulating the built environment in which those crimes proceed from or occur.