Mayor Harrell Expands Efforts to Support Student Safety and Mental Health in Partnership with Seattle Public Schools

Building on the 100 Days of Action initiative with King County and Mayor Harrell's Executive Order to Address Gun Violence in Schools and Protect Youth, these new investments will go into effect throughout 2024-2025 school year to address immediate and long-term student and community safety priorities.

The City's $12.25 million investment in mental health and violence prevention, as well a new family resource fund, are part of a pilot strategy focused on middle and high schools with elevated levels and higher risks of gun violence.

Seattle - Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell and Seattle Public Schools (SPS) Superintendent Brent Jones announced new investments from the city and school district to align, strengthen, and expand student safety and mental health support for the 2024-2025 school year.

The strategy includes a new $14.55 million investment - $12.25 million from the City of Seattle and $2.3 million from Seattle Public Schools - to expand resources for students and families. This includes increased access to mental health support, enhanced school security, additional school staffing, and expanded violence prevention and intervention services through community-based providers. The new investments build on the City's annual $36.9 million investment in violence interruption, community-based services addressing root causes of violence, and youth enrichment programs like mentorship, academic support, sports, leadership development, and teen life centers.

"Students and young people need to feel safe to learn and to grow - this comprehensive set of programs, investments, and actions will support the safety of our youth and community," said Mayor Harrell. "Advancing the work of our Executive Order on youth safety, this effort is informed by in-depth research on best practices, community and student voices, and will only be effective because of a One Seattle collaboration across governments, schools, and community partners. By strengthening access to mental health care, improving safe passages to and from school, and enhancing community-based supports, we are both acting on the priorities of our city's young people and taking proactive steps to support their safety and wellbeing."

The City and SPS will pilot a three-pronged strategy - school-based measures, violence intervention and community partnerships, and law enforcement support - to promote school safety, reduce school violence, and support student mental health. Focused interventions will be piloted at 11 high schools and middle schools with the highest rates of violence in and around their campuses:

• High Schools: Rainier Beach, Garfield, Chief Sealth International, Franklin, and Ingraham.

• Middle Schools: Aki Kurose, Washington, Denny, Mercer, Robert Eagle Staff, and Meany.

"Seattle is coming together to make critical safety investments because we collectively believe life's opportunities begin in Seattle Public Schools for our nearly 50,000 students. It made the difference for our mayor and for me," said Dr. Brent Jones, Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools. "Through sustained support starting with what we are bringing forward today, we have the power to protect and transform lives of our students today and for years to come."

To support these efforts in the 2024-2025 school year, the city is investing:

• $5.6 million towards hiring additional mental health counselors and care coordinator positions in 21 school-based health centers managed by Public Health - Seattle & King County. These 42 new positions will provide in-person support to students who need clinical interventions while also being able to make referrals to other services as needed. This new investment builds on the over $51 million the City funds in school-based health centers through the seven-year Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy.

• $2.4 million to expand access to telehealth therapy services to over 2,000 students - improving the capacity in the youth mental health system and providing a better representation of race, ethnicity, and language of providers - key challenges identified in the City's comprehensive report on the youth mental health landscape.

The City will invest $4.25 million to fund community-based partners to provide a range of interventions as part of this pilot. Services will be equitably implemented over the course of the school year at focus high schools and middle schools. City funding will:

• Fund new Violence Intervention specialists to work inside focus schools to build relationships with current school staff and students who are most at risk of being impacted by gun violence.

• Expand safe passage programs to all 11 focus schools in partnership with community-based organizations. Safe Passage programs connect students with trusted individuals who can offer immediate safety interventions, get students safely home or wherever they're going next, and provide a reliable, long-term presence for support.

• Expand case management for students directly impacted by gun violence and their families. Case managers will help students and families navigate state and federal support programs and connect to other service providers, including the new Family Resource Fund if needed.

• Establish a new Family Resource Fund - a flexiblepool of funds designed to support students and their families at highest risk of gun violence who are participating in case management at focus schools. This fund will serve as a tool for providers to mitigate risk factors for students, offering assistance with essentials like clothing, food, utilities, and transportation, to alleviate the burden on students to provide for themselves and address behavioral health challenges related to unmet basic needs.

SPS will invest $2.3 million to add staffing capacity, evolve operations, and upgrade school infrastructure through upgrading cameras, access control systems, perimeter fencing and gate improvements, and interior classroom door lock enhancements.

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) will focus patrol officers, during critical times such as before school, during lunch, and after school, as staffing allows for the five focus high schools: Rainier Beach, Garfield, Chief Sealth International, Franklin, and Ingraham. SPS will also deploy additional school-based safety specialists and hire an Executive Director of Student and Community Safety to improve collaboration with first responders and law enforcement agencies to implement a unified student safety plan.

"Keeping students safe is the top priority for everyone in our community. Police can't do it alone and schools can't do it alone. It is crucial that our entire community steps up and works together," said Interim Chief of Police Sue Rahr.

Student mental health and wellbeing are closely connected with their sense of safety and support. In, 2023, 50% of SPS 8th graders and 71% of 12th grade students reported experiencing feelings of anxiety, with one in three 12th graders reported feelings of depression. Although Seattle has historically had lower rates of homicide and juvenile crime compared to other cities, about 14% of all reported violent crimes in 2023 and 2024 involved juveniles. Juvenile involved violence has remained higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic in Seattle, and nationally student mental health challenges have risen over the past decade and were further exacerbated during the pandemic.

With a focus on prevention and early identification of behavioral health challenges, the Reach Out Seattle initiative, launched by Mayor Harrell in 2023, provides free, accessible training and resources to adults to help them intervene and offer care and support to young people in distress. The initiative continues its public awareness campaign to destigmatize the conversation around asking for help with mental health and amplify existing resources, including the 9-8-8 lifeline.

New and expanded interventions implemented over the course of the 2024-2025 school year will be evaluated to understand impact and scaled to more schools and neighborhoods based on data, available resources, and successful outcomes.

What People Are Saying:

Councilmember Maritza Rivera, Seattle City Council, District 4

"As a mother whose children have been impacted by gun violence in schools, I firmly believe that we need to work together to keep our children safe - both physically and mentally. These steps taken by the city, SPS and SPD will help us do that. The Council unanimously passed $12.25 million to allow the city to implement evidence-based mental health support; increase student access to therapists; and address violence prevention in and around the schools. It is important that students start this school year feeling safe and supported."

Councilmember Bob Kettle, Seattle City Council, District 7

"Keeping our students safe, on and off-campus, requires a strong and focused partnership between the City of Seattle and Seattle Public Schools. This announcement is an encouraging step in the right direction. Nothing could be more important that the safety of our kids in our schools and neighborhoods."

Tanya Kim, Director, Seattle Human Services Department

"To truly thrive, young people need to feel safe and have access to supports like trusted adults in school and life. These thoughtful, intentional investments in school safety and mental health services at this critical time make clear our values as a city. This collaborative effort epitomizes the One Seattle approach to addressing our most pressing challenges. Thank you to Mayor Harrell for your leadership and I look forward to continued partnership with the County, Seattle Public Schools, City Council, and City departments to successfully move this essential work forward."

Annie Patu, Principal, Rainier Beach high School

"Instructional Excellence and student learning starts with keeping our students safe and connected with their communities. The school-based, mental health, and community supports that the superintendent and mayor are proposing are already making a difference for our students at Rainier Beach High School, and we are excited about their expansion. These initiatives are exactly what it will take to meet our students where they are, keep them connected to community, and engaged in high school and beyond. Our kids deserve this!"

Dr. Dwane Chappelle, Director, Department of Education and Early Learning

"DEEL is eager to begin expanding our investments in student mental health supports to meet the needs of Seattle's youth. We look forward to a 2024-2025 school year that fosters rich learning in classrooms, as well as healing and safety through relationships with trusted adults and health care professionals."

Dr. Faisal Khan, Director, Public Health - Seattle & King County

"Expanding easy-to-access mental health resources is a key component to supporting our youth, who in recent years are facing increasing mental health challenges. The school-based health centers overseen by Public Health - Seattle & King County offer comprehensive mental and behavioral healthcare, in addition to primary medical care. Thanks to additional funding from the City of Seattle, the school-based health centers in Seattle's middle and high schools will be able to double their mental health services capacity."

Marty Jackson, Executive Director, SE Network SafetyNet, Boy & Girls Club of King County

"Community-based violence intervention programs apply an effective, localized approach to gun violence prevention in communities disproportionately affected by gun violence. These programs play a crucial role in combating gun violence but can only thrive when properly funded and sustained. But more importantly, these programs work, since implementation Rainier Beach has seen a 30% reduction in violent crimes."

Emily Pesce, CEO, Joon

"At Joon, our mission is to make effective, safe, and affirming mental health care easily accessible to all. But, too often the cost of therapy or availability of a therapist gets in the way, especially to our most vulnerable friends, classmates and neighbors. Through a growing partnership with the City of Seattle, driven by their commitment to supporting youth mental health, Joon can now offer our clinically proven teen and young adult focused therapy without the burden of cost. That's right, for free! We're grateful and excited to work with Seattle's wonderful, diverse community, especially because it's our community too - Joon was founded and is based right here."

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