EVERETT — The Snohomish County Health Department is set to create a new council to help prevent violence with a grant from Washington state.
The Snohomish County Council unanimously approved on Wednesday an interagency agreement with the Washington State Department of Commerce for its Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative.
As part of the agreement, Snohomish County received a nearly $100,000 grant to form a Community Safety Council.
The money is part of a $4 million grant awarded to the Washington Commerce Department by the U.S. Department of Justice — in fiscal year 2023 — to distribute in support of evidence-based violence intervention and prevention strategies.
The safety council will carry out a three-phase initiative to help prevent gun violence.
In phase one, the safety council will gather gun violence data in Snohomish County, create a map displaying violence-reduction community resources, and listen to community members who have been impacted by gun violence.
“We need the stories of those in our community who are most impacted by gun violence,” Healthy Communities Specialist Carlie Deatherage said in an email.
In phase two, the Community Safety Council will create a gun violence prevention plan. Once the Washington Department of Commerce approves the plan, an additional grant of up to $275,000 could be awarded to support its implementation.
The safety council will complete the plan by Sep. 30, 2026.
During phase three, the safety council will transition from analysis and planning to managing grants awarded to entities carrying out the community violence reduction plan.
The Snohomish County Health Department has discussed continued funding after 2026 for the Community Safety Council, according to spokesperson Jeff Hodson. Nothing yet has been secured.
Taylor Scott Richmond: 425-339-3046; taylor.richmond@heraldnet.com; X: @BTayOkay
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