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Everett expands youth job training and substance-use prevention; council questions wellness center subsidy
Summary
The city's new Youth Development & Enrichment department increased its job-training request and is using settlement and ARPA funds for a youth substance-use prevention post; councillors pressed the director on the wellness center contract and the fact the city subsidizes the facility.
John Russillo, director of the newly reorganized Youth Development & Enrichment department, presented program results and FY25 requests, describing a push to scale a job-training program and to expand substance-use prevention work supported by settlement funds.
Russillo said the city is seeking to grow its job-training program (the request moves funding from HR to the youth office) from 23 to about 30 participants and to provide career-development workshops, resume coaching and employer placements. He said some program salary lines are currently covered by ARPA or settlement funds while the department seeks sustainable funding.
On the wellness center, Russillo and councilors reviewed contract figures: the vendor contract runs about $395,000, while current revenue from the wellness center is reported around $250,000, leaving a city subsidy to cover the gap. "That is allocated for the vendor contract; this year, $114,000 of that got utilized," Russillo said, noting the facility brings in revenue but does not fully cover vendor contract costs.
Russillo told councilors the youth office is coordinating weekly with Health Department staff on opioid-settlement funds; the settlement is described as a five-year allocation to support prevention efforts. Councilors asked about oversight and the department said it is the city's liaison to the vendor and will work to improve revenue capture and program alignment.
Next steps: The committee moved favorable action on the department's FY25 budget; Russillo will continue coordinating with Health and Finance to confirm ARPA/settlement funding details and to track vendor performance at the wellness center.
