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Access Project praises Everett Police referrals and outlines youth services
Summary
Wally Webster of the Access Project praised Everett Police referrals to the program, outlined services for youth ages roughly 13-17 (assessments, peer mediation, e-learning re-enrollment) and thanked Chief DeRasi and Lieutenant Carr for collaboration.
Wally Webster, president and founder of the Access Project, spoke to council on Nov. 19 to thank Everett Police for referrals of youth experiencing mental-health and behavioral challenges and to summarize the nonprofits services.
Webster said the Access Project launched in early 2023 and targets youth roughly ages 13 to 17 so participants can request help without parental consent in some cases. He described three program components: intake/referral (including a police in-car electronic referral form and QR code), multi-interview assessments to identify root causes, and linkage to community services that provide ongoing support. Webster said the program pledged to contact referred youth and families within 24 hours and cited early examples of multiple referrals sent by Everett officers in the programs initial week.
He also described a Peer Mediators Program in local school districts (including Everett) that trains students to resolve peer conflicts before they escalate; the Access Project partners with the VOA dispute-resolution center to deliver mediator training and provides e-learning and tutoring options to reconnect youth who have dropped out. Webster thanked Chief DeRasi and Lieutenant Carr for their "creative and innovative" referral pathways.
Next steps: council acknowledged the presentation; no formal action was taken.
