SEATTLE — Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Brent Jones and Seattle Police Department Interim Chief Sue Rahr announced plans Thursday for a $14.55 million investment in resources for students and families as the city and district work to reduce youth violence.
The funding comes after Seattle students rallied for more mental health supports.
Of that multi-million investment, $12.25 million comes from the City of Seattle and $2.3 million is from Seattle Public Schools.
Mayor Harrell said the money will be spent on a three-pronged strategy, with the bulk of funding going toward staffing to support mental health and violence interruption programs in schools.
Rainier Beach High School senior Ray Proctor Jr. said he's had a positive high school experience in the sense that he's formed strong friendships, been educated on sports medicine — now a potential career choice — through International Baccalaureate programs, and gotten involved with a number of impactful programs.
But he's also lost people he cares about to violence, and said he hopes to see change.
"I was really excited when I heard of it because that's something we need in the community," Proctor said. "We need more support, we need more programs, and we need more funding to get the programs we need."
The first goal focuses on school-based measures, putting more than half of the funding toward more counselors, crisis responders and telehealth services for students. The second item adds to violence interrupters and partnerships, and the third establishes a strategy to increase SPD presence and visibility around campuses, starting on the first day of school.
Harrell said this is not a standalone plan, but rather an adaptable investment that serves as part of a holistic approach. If the city receives feedback to show investments aren't moving the needle, changes may be made.
"We will grow, we will evolve, we will learn and we will listen to you," Harrell said.
Initially, the funding will target 11 schools: Rainier Beach, Garfield, Chief Sealth International, Franklin and Ingraham high schools as well as their feeder schools.
Ricole Jones is the Targeted Program director at the southeast network of the Boys & Girls Club and works with the Seattle Community Safety Initiative. She stood in support of the investments Thursday, but said change will require ongoing assessment and additional resources.
"We recognize everyone's plan sounds great until we roll it out, sounds great until our young people experience it, and part of ensuring we're navigating and getting this right is being able to pivot when it doesn't work for our community," Jones said.