Access Project outlines intake, peer mediation and youth outreach programs to prevent violence

Lynnwood — Wally Webster, founder of the Access Project, briefed the City Council on May 21 about a county-focused prevention effort that combines intake referrals, sustained outreach and partner referrals to reduce youth violence and improve access to services.

Webster said the project grew from community meetings and now operates sports-based outreach (police-versus-youth basketball and post-game circles) and an intake-referral system that aims to engage youth before incidents escalate. He described three components: self-referral outreach, a patient intake process with repeated engagement, and coordinated referrals to partner organizations for services.

Why it matters: The Access Project seeks to reduce violent incidents and school expulsions by reaching youth early, building trust and connecting them to services including arts therapy, job pathways and peer mediation. The group described initial measurable outcomes in schools and said the peer mediation program has trained more than 60 high-school mediators across several schools.

Program details cited - Intake and referral model: The project solicits self-referrals and referrals from schools and community partners, conducts repeated intake conversations until trust is built, and then links youth to partner organizations (Boys & Girls Club, Compass and others). - Peer mediation: Over 60 high-school students were trained in five schools to mediate peer conflicts, the project reported; participants have not resulted in expulsions so far, the project said. - Sports and relationship building: Police officers and community volunteers run basketball events where officers build rapport through playing, then form circles to offer contact and mentoring to youth. - School partnerships: The Access Project said it has memoranda of agreement with the Edmonds School District and Everett Public Schools and accepts district "threat level 2" students for off-campus interventions to keep them aligned with their cohort.

Funding and support Webster described initial ARPA funding that helped seed the program along with philanthropic donations from local donors and support from the city. He credited city staff and volunteers, including police officers and city employees, for operational assistance and urged continuing partnerships and referrals from elected leaders and departments.

Council reaction and next steps Council members asked about program scale and sustainability. Webster said the group is focused on South Snohomish County first and aims to expand countywide over five years. He asked elected leaders to coordinate across school districts and departments to avoid siloed services and to support referrals from city staff and departments.

Ending note Council members praised the Access Project's combination of outreach, mediation training and partnership-building and asked staff to discuss coordination and possible summer programming support.