Sometimes, government combines to do good things. Mayor Sheila Dixon announced Wednesday efforts to combine resources of a city and state program that watches over troubled youth. The city's Operation Safe Kids run by the Health Department is joining with the state's Violence Prevenion Initiative.

Both programs locate and keep close tabs on youths regarded as the next victim or suspect in a homicide, as well as other problems. The idea is that by combing lists -- some names may or may not overlap -- officials will get a better idea of what they're up against.

The news comes during national Youth Violence Prevention Week and a day after a teenager was charged with fatally shooting a pizza deliverer.

Here's the statement from Dixon's office:

Mayor Sheila Dixon and Donald W. DeVore, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) today announced the merger of DJS’ Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI) and the Baltimore City Health Department's Operation Safe Kids (OSK) to serve the city’s most at-risk youth.  Together, the VPI’s use of increased supervision and OSK’s case management will help serve 200 youth at a high risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of violence.

“The merger of Operation Safe Kids and the Violence Prevention Initiative will allow the City and State to maximize resources, avoid duplication of services and provide the highest level of care to those youth most in need,” said Mayor Dixon.  “I want to thank Secretary DeVore and Governor O’Malley for their commitment to this partnership.  I look forward to continuing the City’s strong relationship with the Department of Juvenile Services in our campaign to make Baltimore safer.”

The VPI provides services to youth identified as most at risk of being victims or perpetrators of crimes of violence.  Enhanced supervision is provided during non-traditional hours (such as nights and weekends) as a means to engage youth and families and to ensure that these youth are in compliance with their conditions of their probation. 

“During these difficult economic times it’s very important for the State and City to pull their resources together, ensure the programs that are working continue and that they are being use for the most vulnerable population” said Secretary DeVore. “Crises intervention for the youth we serve is critical to not only their success but often their survival.  This program saves lives, so it makes sense to use it for our most vulnerable youth."

OSK is a youth violence prevention program that provides community-based case management and increased monitoring of juvenile offenders.  The program provides informal counseling, works to improve school attendance and compliance with other terms of probation, assists youth to access mental health and substance abuse treatment services, and assists families in accessing other services, such as housing and mental health treatment.  OSK and DJS work closely together to develop treatment plans and coordinate responses to problems and crises, as well as to both enforce the terms of probation and to encourage compliance with rehabilitative services.

OSK has been serving DJS youth but this a more targeted approach to ensure the youth with the greatest needs receive this service.  This is also an expansion to the program that will allow for additional youth to be served.