1

Seattle Youth Opportunity Initiative

A Strategic Plan

Published by the City of Seattle

for the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention

October 2015

Contents Page

Acknowledgments 2

Principles 2

Vision 3

Background 3

Findings from the Planning Year 10

Goals 13

Outcomes 17

Strategies and Indicators 17

Partner Roles and Responsibilities 28

Appendix 30

Glossary 32
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Acknowledgments

The City of Seattle submits to the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention, its Seattle 

Youth Opportunity Initiative strategic plan. This plan is the result of many community 

stakeholders providing their input on the priority needs of youth and young adults, what service 

gaps exist and what strategies are recommended to address them. 

This dialogue is on-going in the community and the many of issues raised are longstanding. 

What the City of Seattle believes to be a new practice to addressing these issues is the 

intentional gathering and organizing of the information across the prevention continuum to 

ensure that strategies cover prevention, intervention, enforcement and reentry. This process 

led to the establishment of a strategic plan with specific goals and lead partners to implement 

them. Partners who have contributed to the thinking that went into this plan are listed in the 

Appendix. 

Principles

1. Race and Social Justice: Violence does not affect all Seattle communities equally. The City’s 

efforts will address the social inequities that make violence more likely in certain 

communities and/or groups of people. Additionally, this plan prioritizes a focus on actively 

working to create a safer and more equitable city, especially for communities of color and 

the most vulnerable residents.

2. Community Engagement: It takes a community to care for its youth, and the success of a 

community depends on including those most affected by violence in defining the problem 

and shaping priorities. To date, the development of Seattle’s plan has included bringing 

together affected individuals and communities to find solutions that will protect children 

and young people, unite communities and build a safer world for us all. This value will 

continue to guide the implementation phase of the strategic plan. 

3. Shared Leadership: Community leadership ensures that violence prevention strategies fit 

with local culture, history and context. There is overwhelming support in Seattle for a

community-led process. This aligns with the acknowledgment that a community is best able 

to meet the needs of young people through strong partnerships with local organizations 

and groups that have deep roots in the communities they serve. 

4. Multi-Sector Collaboration: The value that more can be achieved together than alone, is 

reflected in this plan, along with the expertise and wisdom of more than 20 city, county, 

and state agencies and numerous community stakeholders. By leveraging relationships 
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among various sectors and drawing upon our collective knowledge, Seattle’s goal is to 

create safe communities where youth can thrive. 

5. An Integrated Approach: Seattle’s commitment to preventing violence and creating 

opportunities for youth and young adults of color is supported by three national initiatives: 

My Brother’s Keeper, Cities United and the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention. 

Comprehensive, mutually-supportive strategies have greater long-term impact, and the 

activities presented in this National Forum plan are designed to integrate seamlessly with 

the other two initiatives. Look for these icons for the plan’s strategies and indicators in 

common with My Brother's Keeper and Cities United, respectively. By working in tandem, 

these three initiatives can make Seattle a prosperous city for all. 

6. Efforts across the Prevention Continuum: Through the Seattle Youth Opportunity Initiative, 

the City of Seattle is committed to ensuring that our strategies to support youth and young 

adults’ successful transition to adulthood cover the continuum of prevention, intervention, 

enforcement and reentry. A review of current investments highlights gaps in the 

continuum. These gaps have been prioritized in this plan, and will be the areas that the City 

will make an intentional focus for decisions about additional resources as well as 

coordination and alignment. 

Vision

To ensure that all youth within the City of Seattle have access to the resources needed to 

transition successfully to adulthood.

Background

The Seattle Youth Opportunity Initiative represents a comprehensive approach to ensuring all 

youth transition successfully to adulthood healthy and violence free. The plan was developed 

by first reviewing input and recommendations from workgroups from prior years to check for 

changes in the issues and data. This review informed the convening of a Community Planning 

Committee to design and hold the Mayor’s Youth Opportunity Summit in April 2015. The 

Summit was designed to gather information directly from the participants that would identify 

strengths of current efforts, gaps in those efforts, and recommendations for action. The City of 

Seattle is grateful to the more than 400 participants who attended the Summit and provided us 

with valuable ideas that have strongly informed this plan. Additionally, learnings gathered from 
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Figure 1. Map of Incidents for Violent Crime, Weapons and 

Harassment, All Ages, 2012 to 2014. This map illustrates hot 

spots in the three neighborhoods where SYVPI works.

focus groups, community meetings and interviews, and written and face-to-face comments

have been incorporated into this plan. Additionally, a community assessment of youth and 

young adult violence was completed in 2015 and data from this assessment is aligned with the 

plan’s goals.

The Seattle Youth Opportunity Initiative is a Mayoral priority, and will use a citywide approach 

to focus on those neighborhoods and communities most impacted by violence and inequitable 

access to resources. It leverages the current Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, 

providing a framework for alignment of resources in the City’s Human Services Department as 

well as future alignment with resources in other City departments such as Libraries, Parks, and 

Police. 

In Seattle, the injury or death of even one young person is too many. Nearly half of all violent 

crime in the city happens in the Southeast, Central and Southwest, exposing residents to fear, 

trauma and physical harm (see 

Figure 1). Approximately 170 

children and youth ages 11 to 24 

were assaulted, robbed on the 

street, or were threatened with a 

handgun in these three 

neighborhoods in 2013, and many 

more were affected by the killings of 

18 people in their community that 

year. In launching the Seattle Youth 

Violence Prevention Initiative

(SYVPI) in 2009, the City’s current 

strategy to address youth violence, 

it established three neighborhood 

networks in Southeast, Central and 

Southwest Seattle in 2009. Each 

network included a communitybased hub to work intensively with 

young people ages 12-17. 

From the beginning, SYVPI 

embraced the values of community 

leadership in setting priorities and drew upon local data from various sources to make 

decisions. Originally designed to serve 800 youth, 
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SYVPI served 1,700 young people in 2014 in the three focus neighborhoods where youth 

violence is highest (based on data from the Seattle Police Department). Since the establishment 

of SYVPI in 2009, juvenile violent crime indicators have decreased. Arrests of youth for violence 

have dropped by 41% from 2008 to 2014 compared to a 22% reduction for the rest of Seattle. 

Juvenile court referrals for violence were cut by half from 2008 to 2013, a noticeably greater

decrease than in the rest of the city. 

In the Seattle Youth Opportunity Initiative, the City of Seattle seeks to broaden the scope to the 

fulfillment of youth potential through the age of 24 and to address unmet needs. It has 

conducted a scan of youth and young adult indicators and investments. Between 2012 and 

2014, 18-24 year olds were the largest youth violent crime offender group. Nearly two thirds 

were male. Forty one percent of all youth violent crime incidents were domestic violence (DV)-

related, most likely involving a family member and not an intimate partner. Seventy-four 

percent of youth homicides in Seattle involved a firearm. An important aspect to note is that

68% of firearm deaths in King County were suicides.

Notably, while the City funds more than 180 programs with an emphasis on youth and an 

investment of close to $90 million, those over 18 years old were eligible for only 27% of these 

and some required youth be parents or enroll in college. Clearly, the allocation of youth 

investments must be fully analyzed to ensure all needs are being addressed. For example, 

providing services for vulnerable young adults returning from detention was a top 

recommendation of the Safe Communities Initiative Policy Team in 2013, which included 

representatives from more than 20 city, county and state agencies. 

In recent years, a clear gap emerged where youth found themselves no longer eligible for 

much-needed services and support because they were considered too old. For example, they 

might return to the community from juvenile detention, ready to make the most of their 

second chance, only to discover that their trusted mentors and case managers aren’t supposed 

to help them once they turned 18. The community hub they relied on as teens was no longer a 

place they felt they belonged. Too often, these young people are cut loose from what they 

know and left to fend for themselves during one of the toughest life transitions. There is clear 

consensus across city agencies and the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration that the most 

pressing unmet need in youth violence prevention was for a support network of services for 18 

to 24 year olds. 

This plan to support youth transitioning into adulthood and prevent violence has strategies all 

along the Prevention Continuum: prevention, intervention, enforcement and re-entry. The plan 
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outlines how the City will take a deep dive analysis into the current investments and evaluate 

them to ensure we are focusing our efforts for maximum impact. 

Seattle has heavily invested in prevention and intervention over the years, through its policies 

as well as funding (See Figure 2 for some examples), and SYVPI and its partners have honed 

intervention, enforcement and re-entry strategies for youth ages 12 to 17 years old. This plan 

adapts these successful strategies for an older youth population, strengthens Seattle's re-entry 

strategies for a truly comprehensive approach (see Figure 2) and builds in continuous 

improvement to ensure we adapt to changing conditions. With support from the National 

Forum on Youth Violence Prevention, the City of Seattle seeks to implement a comprehensive 

approach that reaches young people ages 12 to 24 years old in coordination with other related 

city, county and community investments. 

 
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Figure 2: Seattle Youth Opportunity Initiative
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Seattle Youth Opportunity Initiative Chart (Figure 2) Detail

The chart above maps programs and initiatives that address issues related to youth opportunity 

gaps and violence reduction efforts at the City (lightest color shade), County/Region (medium 

color shade) and National/Federal levels (darkest color shade). 

Description Lead Agency

Youth and Young Adults Achieve Academic Success

The Nurse-Family Partnership sends trained nurses to visit expectant 

young mothers and new parents at home, discuss positive parenting 

practice and provide other family support services. Est. 2002

Seattle-King County 

Public Health Dept.

The Seattle Preschool Program will provide preschool to an additional 

2,000 children in 100 classrooms, so they are ready for school and start 

developing social-emotional skills early. Est. 2014

Department of 

Education & Early 

Learning (DEEL)

The Family and Education Levy taxes property to generate funds that 

support high school graduation and help close the achievement gap 

between students of color and white students. Est. 1990

DEEL, Levy 

Oversight 

Committee, City 

Council

The Roadmap Project is a community-wide effort aimed at driving 

dramatic improvement in student achievement from cradle to college 

and career in South King County and South Seattle. Est. 2010

Center for 

Community 

Education Results

Reconnecting Youth is a United Way, community-wide approach to 

helping opportunity youth complete their education and achieve viable 

career paths. Est. 2015

United Way of King 

County

Youth and Young Adults Transition to Adulthood

The Mayor’s Youth Employment Initiative creates thousands of jobs and 

internships for young people ages 14-24, including those who have 

dropped out of school. Est. 2014

Human Services 

Dept. 

100,000 Opportunities is a coalition of leading U.S.-based companies 

committed to training and hiring 100,000 Americans between the ages of 

16-24 who are out of school and not working by 2018. Est. 2015

100,000 

Opportunities

Youth and Young Adults are Safe and Free from Justice System 

Involvement

The Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative coordinates 

community-based services for young people at risk of perpetuating or 

being a victim of violence. Services include community-based service 

coordination, street outreach workers, case management, employment, 

recreation, School Emphasis Officers, mentoring and Aggression 

Replacement Training. Est. 2009

Human Services 

Dept.

Micro-Community Policing Plans are developed from the ground up by 

the Seattle Police Department with direct collaboration from residents, 

business leaders, stakeholders and police officers on the beat. Est. 2015

Seattle Police 

Department

Strategic Positive Policing includes programs for youth and community: 

Donut Dialogues, Know Your Rights, Explorers Program, SPD Youth 

Seattle Police 

Department
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Employment Program, School Emphasis Officers, The If Project, Ethnic 

Advisory Committees. Est. multiple years, starting 1990’s

Seattle Women’s Second Chance Project will focus on females that are 

incarcerated and reentering Seattle. Est. 2016

Seattle Police 

Department

Juvenile Justice Equity Steering Committee is charged with 

recommending solutions to a growing racial disparity in the regional 

juvenile justice system. Est. 2015

King County

Communities That Care University of Washington-led community-change 

process for reducing youth violence, alcohol and tobacco use and 

delinquency. Est. 2014

Univ of WA 

Cities United a national initiative to reduce black male homicide staffed 

by the National League of Cities. Est. 2011

Nat’l League of 

Cities, Casey Family 

Programs, 70+ 

cities/mayors

National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention created under the 

direction of President Obama, the Forum is a network of communities 

and federal agencies working together to prevent and reduce youth 

violence. Est. 201

OJJDP

My Brother’s Keeper A White House initiative established to address 

persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and 

ensure that all young people can reach their full potential. Est. 2014

The White House

Youth and Young Adults are Healthy, physically, socially, emotionally

Family Support and Affordability programs create ease of access to 

programs and services funded or provided by the City of Seattle that 

make life economically sustainable for city residents. Est. multiple years

Human Services 

Dept.

All Home is a community-wide partnership to make homelessness in King 

County rare, brief and one-time in a coordinated effort that responds to 

the immediate crisis of homeless individuals and addresses the root 

causes of the problem. Est. 2005

King County

Best Starts for Kids King County initiative to bring early intervention 

strategies to families. Est. 2015

King County

Food Access Strategy helps improve the health and nutritional status of 

children while promoting the development of good eating habits. Est. 

multiple years

Human Services 

Dept.
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Findings from the Planning Year

Over the past year, the City of Seattle has learned that there are many opportunities to 

leverage and build on work to date in designing the Seattle Youth Opportunity Initiative. Key 

areas of strength to build upon in order to accomplish the vision and goals described in this 

plan include 1) engaged youth, 2) high-level leadership, 3) multi-sector collaboration, and 4) 

regional and national initiatives aligned with the plan’s goals.

Engaged Youth: Constituent input has shaped the Youth Opportunity Initiative, informed the 

design of SYVPI, and will continue to be a key part of our plan implementation and 

development. Most recently, more than 400 young people, service providers, policymakers, 

educators and community residents participated in the Mayor's Youth Opportunity Summit. 

City leaders and community-based organization partners heard directly from youth in April 

2015 what’s working well, ongoing unmet needs, and gaps in existing programs. The themes 

from the Youth Opportunity Summit laid the foundation for this strategic plan, and this 

document is just one manifestation of how deeply Seattle values youth voices and gives weight 

to their recommendations. 

Summit feedback was analyzed by Development Services Group (DSG), OJJDP’s provider of its 

Youth Violence Prevention Coordinated Technical Assistance Program. DSG’s analysis indicated 

common themes including the need for improved education and reconnection with school; the 

need for skills training to prepare for the workforce; access to internships and other 

employment opportunities; and mentoring and supports such as childcare. Additionally, the 

need for youth outreach and coordination of services were also identified as priorities. The 

goals and strategies in the Seattle Youth Opportunity Initiative reflect these themes and 

priorities.

High-Level Leadership: Since taking office in 2014, Mayor Ed Murray has prioritized young 

people, especially youth of color and the city’s most vulnerable populations. An example of 

these values in action is the direction given the City’s newly formed Innovation Team, a high 

level group of analysts funded through a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Mayor 

charged the team with finding a way to reduce disparities in education, employment and justice 

for brown and black young men ages 14-24. The team is working closely with the Youth 

Opportunity Initiative to ensure that we align and maximize our assets.

A recent scan by Seattle’s Innovation Team of City General Fund investments identified close to

$90 million invested in programs primarily serving youth this year. With this level of 

investment, both the Mayor and City Council are committed to ensuring that these resources 
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are allocated in a coordinated manner that maximizes impact on stated outcomes. This year, 

the Mayor committed to continuing and expanding youth employment as part of the City's 

comprehensive approach to preventing violence. Next year’s proposed budget includes 

resources to once again double youth employment numbers. 

In 2016, the Mayor will integrate the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative into the 

Human Services Department to more closely align the City’s youth investments (See Figure 3). 

The governance structure for youth violence prevention and meeting youth needs starts with 

the Mayor who provides leadership to the City’s youth investment strategies. SYVPI reports to 

the Mayor, City Council and the community on its outcomes and is charged with developing an 

annual report to the community. A multi-sector team of public and private sector stakeholders 

led by the SYVPI Director, includes youth service provides, law enforcement, school and juvenile 

court systems. This team meets monthly to determine protocols and best practices, increase 

professional development and share resources to meet youth needs.

Multi-Sector Collaboration: Changing the lives and life paths of Seattle’s most vulnerable youth 

and young adults is a daunting challenge that no one agency or organization can tackle alone. It 

requires a collaborative effort that brings together multiple partners from the public and

private sectors. The Youth Opportunity Initiative represents an array of multi-sector strategies 

that span the continuum of prevention, intervention, enforcement and reentry. The Initiative 

incorporates City departments such as Human Services, Seattle Police, Economic Development, 

Education and Early Learning, Neighborhoods, Parks and Recreation as well as Seattle-King 

County Public Health, King County Superior Court and many community-based organizations. 

Starting in 2016, an Interdepartmental Team will be established to further develop the Seattle 

Youth Opportunity Initiative, monitor its implementation and support community outreach and 

engagement in the process. Implementation committees organized by each goal will include 

City, County, community agency and youth representatives as well as subject matter experts 

who will serve in an advisory role.

Regional and National Initiatives: In addition to the City’s robust investments in youth, we are 

fortunate to partner with regional and national efforts that align with the Seattle Youth 

Opportunity Initiative. At the County level, Best Starts for Kids is designed to bring early 

intervention strategies to families and efforts are underway to address the school-to-prison 

pipeline. Other regional community initiatives include the Roadmap Project aimed at dramatic 

improvement in student achievement in low performing areas; and Reconnecting Youth which 

helps disconnected youth to complete their education and achieve viable career goals. At the 
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national level, the City of Seattle has joined Cities United to focus on decreasing black male 

homicide and My Brother’s Keeper to close the opportunity gap for young people of color. 

Figure 3. Current Governance Structure for Youth Violence Prevention*

*This organizational chart represents the multi-sector coordination of current youth violence prevention 

efforts. It is anticipated that this will evolve to encompass more robust internal and external 

accountability structures.
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Goals

The Seattle Youth Opportunity Initiative strategic plan lays out five primary goals. They are to 

ensure that: 

1. Youth and Young Adults transition to adulthood

2. Youth and Young Adults achieve academic success 

3. Youth and Young Adults are safe from violence and free from justice system involvement

4. Youth and Young Adults are healthy, physically, socially and emotionally

5. The Seattle Community is mobilized in support of these goals

No one factor alone causes or prevents violence, so the goals and strategies presented in this 

plan address the priority risk and resilience factors in Seattle’s most impacted communities. 

Risk factors increase the likelihood of violence, while resilience factors buffer against risk 

factors and protect against violence. Seattle’s plan will address the following risk and reliance 

factors affecting youth: 

Risk Factors Resilience Factors

 Neighborhood poverty

 Low educational achievement and 

achievement gap between students of 

color and white students 

 Experiencing and witnessing violence

 Employment and economic opportunities

 Community support and connectedness

 Coordination of resources and services 

among community agencies

Goal 1: Youth and Young Adults Transition to Adulthood

Employment opportunities for young people not only provide needed income and skills 

training, they can result in healthier, safer lives for youth. The Washington Policy Center reports 

that Washington State has long had one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the 

country. Here, as in the rest of the nation, low‐income youth and young people of color are 

disproportionately represented in these unemployment statistics. According to a 2010 report 

from Measure of America, 1 in 7 youth in the Seattle metropolitan area ages 16-24 was 

disconnected from education and employment. Employment and economic opportunities 

would make all the difference for these young people and for the three focus neighborhoods. 

Participants in the Youth Opportunity Summit affirmed a need for job training, employment 

and mentoring for youth and young adults. 

Through Mayor Murray's Youth Employment Initiative, the city doubled the number of paid job 

and internship opportunities to 2,000 this year. For the first time youth up to age 24 were able 

to gain work experience that aligns with their career interests either within city government or 

in the private sector. Private sector partners include JP Morgan Chase, Russell Investments, 

Russell Wilson's Why Not You Foundation and Starbucks, and Mayor Murray has challenged 

more employers to participate. SYVPI is a partner in the Youth Employment Initiative and has a 
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robust youth employment and job readiness component that weaves together a wide variety of 

community-based group projects and leadership development opportunities with stipends, 

paid internships and summer jobs. These opportunities attract and engage youth and serve as 

an entryway to the development of comprehensive service goal plans based on individual risk 

assessments. 

Goal 2: Youth and Young Adults Achieve Academic Success

Bringing up the high school graduation rate to the national average would increase the number 

of young people prepared for economic success and self-sufficiency. Black male students are 

suspended at a much higher rate than their other students. Additionally, young people 

returning to community after detention often do not have the necessary educational or training 

qualifications to secure employment.

The City of Seattle has a longstanding commitment to supporting educational achievement of 

young people. Through the Family and Education Levy, first initiated in 1990, the City provides 

funding to improve academic achievement of students most in need, operate school-based 

health centers, and provide early childhood education and assistance. This year, Mayor Murray, 

deepened this commitment by establishing the Department of Education and Early Learning to 

ensure that all Seattle children have the greatest opportunity to succeed in school and life, and 

to graduate from school ready for college or a career. In addition to managing all of the Family 

and Education Levy investments, the Department has expanded its programs for early 

childhood education and support and oversees the implementation of the new Seattle 

Preschool Program. Research indicates that high quality preschool supports future academic 

achievement and decreases risky behaviors.

The department's added new focus on higher education will help address the needs of the 18-

24 year old population that include getting connected or re-connected to education. To this 

end, the opportunity to leverage Seattle’s major training partner, the Seattle College District to 

build talent pipelines that support major policy areas will support this plan.

Goal 3: Youth and Young Adults are safe from violence and free from justice system 

involvement

Gun violence continues to disrupt our neighborhoods and cause irreparable harm to our 

community. Seattle-King County Public Health Department data indicate that young adults ages 

18-29 comprise about half of both firearm victims and suspects. According to Washington 

Ceasefire, in Washington State, nearly 6,000 people have been killed by guns in the past 

decade. Based on data from the Seattle Police Department, in Seattle, the majority of youth 

violent crime, regardless of crime type, involved young adults between 18-24 years old. Suicide 

is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10-24.

The City's coordinated approach to public safety strategically uses law enforcement, mobilizes 

resources to change our built environment, activates our public spaces and provides jobs for 

our youth and young adults. Our approach is built on the belief that public safety is achieved 

when government and the community come together with a collective effort. In one example, 
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the City of Seattle has launched a series of "Find It Fix It" walks to engage community residents 

with City staff to identify and quickly address public safety concerns, especially in the built 

environment. Hundreds of community stakeholders have participated in these walks that have 

resulted in graffiti removal, sidewalk repair, fixed lighting, filled potholes and the revitalization 

of parks, basketball courts, murals and other public amenities making their neighborhoods safer 

and more welcoming. Through a place-based, youth crime prevention project funded by a DOJ 

Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation grant, SYVPI is piloting community-oriented, non-arrest 

strategies in youth crime hot spots. This year, Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole launched 

the Micro Community Policing planning process in collaboration with neighborhood residents 

who contribute their local knowledge and experience to developing community-based safety 

plans.

Additionally, Seattle City Council has taken the lead in the issue of violence prevention by 

recently passing by unanimous vote, two pieces of legislation to address gun violence. The first 

establishes a gun violence tax on firearms and ammunitions sellers. The second requires 

mandatory reporting of lost or stolen firearms to the Seattle Police Department. Mandatory 

reporting requirements promote gun safety by enabling law enforcement to better track guns 

used in crimes, return lost guns to their rightful owners, and protect gun owners from being 

falsely implicated in crimes committed with stolen guns.

Goal 4: Youth and Young Adults are healthy, physically, socially and emotionally

A key to the physical, social and emotional well-being of our youth and young adults is 

equitable access not just to health services but also to a safe, violence free, healthy 

environment and nutritious food. According to the Healthy Youth Survey, as recently as 2012, 

14 percent of Seattle 10th graders reported that their families had to cut or skip meals in the 

last year because there was no money for food. The Seattle Youth Opportunity Initiative aims to 

ensure that all young people grow up and transition to adulthood with nurturing families, 

caring community adults and supportive systems. 

Lack of hope and connection has dire consequences; one in four students reported feeling 

hopeless for more than two weeks in the last year, and young adults ages 18 to 24 in King 

County have the highest rate of hospitalization from suicide attempts of all age groups. More 

than half of gun deaths in Washington are suicides, and firearms have been involved in a 

growing proportion violent crimes in recent years. Rallying communities in support of youth can 

renew a sense of hope and connectedness in neighborhoods affected by violence. Ensuring 

their access to the health services and basic needs such as nutritious food and shelter can 

provide the security they need in order to pursue their dreams.

Youth and young adults interact with numerous other systems and adults in their daily lives. 

Many youth have experienced contact with one or more systems such as child welfare, law 

enforcement, justice and education and have been negatively impacted by those experiences. 

The City of Seattle partners with some of those very systems to achieve positive outcomes for 

youth and connect them to the many caring adults working within to improve them and their 

impacts on young people. Connection to caring adults is critical for young adults who have been 
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in detention and disconnected from community and support networks. Individuals reentering 

community from detention are especially impacted by lack of coordination among systems they 

must navigate for basic needs such as housing, social services and employment. Research 

shows that providing wrap-around services for young people returning to the community from 

detention improves outcomes and reduces the likelihood of future incarceration.

Goal 5: The Seattle community is mobilized in support of these goals

Implementing goals to ensure youth and young adults reach their academic and career goals 

will take alignment and coordination of community, City and County partners. Community 

engagement is foundational to all City practices and coordination across agencies matters when 

preventing violence. In one study, researchers at UCLA interviewed the mayor, public health 

commissioner, police chief and schools superintendent in a sample of 15 large U.S. cities. Places 

where these four key sectors communicated with each other and coordinated efforts to create 

safe communities also had the lowest rates of youth violence. 

The City of Seattle has built city-school collaboration on establishing universal preschool 

education and implementing Family and Education Levy programs in schools. The City also 

works closely with King County on critical issues such as homelessness prevention and juvenile 

detention. Throughout government agencies and community-based organizations, people are 

engaged in collaborative dialogue and agree that much more must be done to break down silos

and address systemic inequities.
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Outcomes

Seattle's city-wide comprehensive approach to youth violence, through the strategies identified 

below, will:

 Reduce juvenile court referrals for violence

 Reduce Superior Court referrals for violence for young adults 18-24

 Increase youth and young adults in school or employed

 Increase youth and young adults connected to school or their community 

 Reduce recidivism rate among young adults 18 to 24 years old who are system-involved

Strategies and Indicators

The Goals, Strategies and Indicators in this section have been developed to achieve the overall 

outcomes above. Each strategy is marked to identify where it falls on the prevention continuum as 

follows:

P prevention

I intervention

E enforcement

R reentry

Additionally, the City seeks to integrate the Seattle Youth Opportunity Initiative with its 

planning strategies for the President’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative and the national Cities 

United initiative. Strategies are also coded to identify overlap and synergy with these national 

initiatives.

My Brother’s Keeper

 Cities United

Output indicators refer to activities, or “what we do”. Outcome indicators refer to short, 

medium and long term results of these activities.
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Goal 1: Youth and Young Adults Transition to Adulthood

Outcomes: 

 Increase youth and young adults in school or employed

 Reduce recidivism rate among young adults 18 to 24 years old who are system-involved

Objective: Increase youth employment and maintain eligibility age up to 24 years old

Impact Indicator: Increased number of youth and young adults in jobs they find meaningful and 

that pay a living wage

Strategies:

1. Expand the Mayor’s Youth Employment Initiative to double the number of paid 

apprenticeships, training pathways, internships and jobs for youth, especially youth of color, 

opportunity youth, and young adults returning to community from detention

2. Reduce barriers to employment and training, such as lack of reliable transportation, lack of 

official identification like a driver’s license, unstable housing, lack of child care and criminal 

history

Strategy and Partners Output Indicators Outcome Indicators

1. Expand the Mayor’s Youth Employment 

Initiative to double the number of paid 

apprenticeships, training pathways,

internships and jobs for youth, especially 

youth of color, opportunity youth, and 

young adults returning to the community 

from detention

Lead: HSD

Partners: OED, DPR, OAC

I

Increased number of 

companies in and 

coming to the city 

guaranteeing 

employment to local 

youth and young adults 

with a criminal record by 

10%

Increased number of 

youth re-engagement 

training programs at 

Seattle Colleges by 10%

Doubled number of 

youth and young adults 

employed by 2017

Increased number of 

City-funded year-round, 

high quality jobs for 

youth with wrap-around 

services by 2017

Increased number of 

paid summer internships 

in the private sector by 

2017

Increased number of exoffenders securing 

employment by 2020

Increased number of 

college certifications by 
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2020

2. Reduce barriers to employment and 

training, such as lack of reliable 

transportation, lack of official 

identification like a driver’s license, 

unstable housing, lack of child care, and 

criminal history

Lead: HSD

Partners: City Attorney’s Office, Office of 

Intergovernmental Affairs, Chamber of 

Commerce

I

Decreased number of 

youth and young adults 

reporting barriers to 

employment by 10%

Expansion of Ban the 

Box to private sector 

employers 

Policy change to make 

juvenile records 

confidential by 2020

Increased percent of 

people ages 18-24 who 

employed by 2020

Decreased number of 

“opportunity youth,” 

(i.e., system/formerly 

system-involved young 

people ages 16 to 24 

who are not in school or 

working) by 2020

Goal 2: Youth and Young Adults achieve academic success

Outcomes:

 Increase youth and young adults in school or employed

 Increase youth and young adults connected to school or their community 

Objective: Connect youth and young adults to academic and vocational education 

opportunities that lead to living-wage careers 

Impact Indicator: Increased number of youth and young adults enrolled in certification 

programs and Career Bridge, especially those returning to community from detention

Strategies

1. Increase vocational training opportunities

2. Connect opportunity youth and young adults returning to community from detention with 

pathways to education and careers

3. Expand Career Bridge program to increase participants, especially opportunity youth and 

young adults

4. Increase high school graduates enrolled in college

Strategy and Partners Output Indicators Outcome Indicators
20

1. Increase vocational training 

opportunities.

Lead: OED

Partners: DEEL, FAS, YouthBuild, Industrial 

Manufacturing Academy, Aerospace Joint 

Apprenticeship Council, Community 

Colleges

I

Increased number of 

participants in trade 

skills programs (i.e.,

YouthBuild, YearUp and 

others) by 25%

Increased number of 

graduates from trade 

skills programs (i.e., 

YouthBuild, YearUp and 

others) by 15%

Increased number of 

former offenders 

graduating from trade 

skills programs by 15%

Increased number of 

youth and young adults 

who are connected to 

relevant high-quality 

support services and 

programs by 2020

Increased number of 

young people returning 

to the community from 

detention who are 

connected to relevant 

high-quality support 

services and programs 

by 2020

2. Connect opportunity youth and young 

adults returning to community from 

detention with pathways to education 

and careers

Lead: OED

Partners: DEEL, CCER, Community 

Colleges, Seattle Public Schools

I

Increase the number of 

partnerships between 

community colleges and 

industries for linked 

learning by two

Increase by 25% percent 

of Seattle schools with 

disciplinary policies that 

incorporate restorative 

practices, create 

alternatives to 

suspension, and 

institute accountability 

mechanisms to ensure 

students are not pushed 

out of school and that 

discipline policies do not 

disproportionately affect 

students of color

Percent of former 

offenders enrolling in 

educational institutions

increases by 2020

School District goals for 

2020:

Percent of Interagency 

(alternative school) 

youth graduating

Reductions in 

suspension and 

expulsion rates (with a 

focus on youth of color)

Percent of youth of color 

graduating high school

3. Expand Career Bridge program to 

increase participants, especially young 

adults

Lead: HSD

Partners: Urban League of Metropolitan 

Increase by 25% the 

number of Career Bridge 

graduates 18-24 by 2017

Increase by 15 the 

number of Career Bridge 

young adults who secure 

employment by 2018.

Increase enrollment by 

15 the number of Career 
21

Seattle

I, R

Bridge young adults in 

South Seattle 

Community College by 

2017.

For 15 young adults, 

especially for those 

exiting the justice 

system, increased 

connection to caring 

adults and supporters

who are successful 

people of color and role 

models by 2017

Goal 3: Youth and Young Adults are safe from violence and free from justice system 

involvement

Outcomes: 

 Reduce juvenile court referrals for violence

 Reduce Superior Court referrals for violence for young adults 18-24

 Increase youth and young adults in school or employed

 Increase youth and young adults connected to school or their community 

 Reduce recidivism rate among young adults 18 to 24 years old who are system-involved

Objective: Reduce youth and young adult involvement in the justice system and increase 

neighborhood safety

Impact Indicator: Decreased arrests and court referrals for shootings and homicides involving 

youth and young adults

Strategies

1. Promote positive changes with the justice system, such as promoting community policing 

and alternatives to arrest, providing alternate ways to clear court debt through community 

service, job training and waiving debt and interest based on ability to pay.

2. Place-based strategies, such as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), 

land use policy, Safe Passage, community engagement in problem solving 

3. Activation of public spaces for youth-focused activities such as clubs, events, meetings, 

creative learning
22

4. Implement Micro Community Policing Plans, developed with direct collaboration from 

residents, business leaders, stakeholders and police officers on the beat

Strategy and Partners Output Indicators Outcome Indicators

1. Promote positive changes with the 

justice system to provide alternate 

ways to clear court debt through 

community service, job training and/or

waiving debt and interest based on 

ability to pay

Lead: HSD

Partners: King County Superior Court, SPD, 

Office of the King County Prosecuting 

Attorney

I

Increased law 

enforcement diversion 

(e.g., LEAD) for youth by 

50% by 2020

By 2020, eliminate legal 

financial obligations for 

incarcerated and 

formerly incarcerated 

young people by the 

time they are 18 

Eliminate recidivism 

for previously 

incarcerated youth as 

a result of 

outstanding 

warrants, debts by 

2020

2. Place-based strategies, such as CPTED, 

land use policy, Safe Passage, community 

engagement in problem solving (e.g., 

Byrne project/Rainier Beach: A Beautiful 

Safe Place for Youth)

Lead: HSD, SPD

Partners: DPD, DON, SPD, SDOT

P, I

Increased accounts of 

CPTED strategies used 

by City agencies by 25%

Numbers of complaints 

in neighborhoods 

affected by violence 

related to illegal 

dumping, abandoned 

cars and properties, 

vacant lots, graffiti, and 

code violations 

decreased by 10%

Extend Safe Passage 

intervention in South 

Seattle through school 

year 2015-2016 

Establish Safe Passage 

in SW Seattle for school 

year 2015-2016

Decreased crime 

incidents in historical 

crime hot spots by 

50% by 2020.

Improved 

perceptions of safety 

within communities 

highly affected by 

violence (e.g., Rainier 

Beach) by 2017.

3. Activation of public spaces for youthfocused activities such as clubs, events, 

meetings, creative learning

Increased number of 

activation activities in 

crime hot spots by 25%

Increased perception 

of safety in historical 

crime hot spots (e.g., 
23

Lead: Parks and Recreation 

Partners: HSD, SPD, Office of Arts and 

Culture, Seattle Neighborhood Group, 

community based organizations

P

in 2016

Increased number of 

arts events in public 

spaces by 25% in 2016

Rainier Beach) by 

2017.

4. Implement Micro Community Policing 

Plans, including youth-focused plans, 

developed from the ground up with direct 

collaboration from residents, business 

leaders, stakeholders and police officers 

on the beat

Lead: SPD

Partners: DON

P, I, E

Develop 5-10 identityand youth-based Micro 

Policing Plans that will 

engage race and ethnic 

communities and youth 

concerns.

Increased community 

perception of police 

legitimacy by 2020

Increased percent of 

residents who report 

a sense of 

community support 

and connectedness 

by 2020

Increased percent of 

residents who say 

they know and trust 

their neighbors by 

2020

Goal 4: Youth and Young Adults are healthy, physically, socially and emotionally

Outcomes:

 Increase youth and young adults in school or employed

 Increase youth and young adults connected to school or their community 

Objective: Ensure that youth and young adults have access to stable affordable housing, 

nutritious food, and culturally responsive and trauma-informed services

Impact Indicator: Increased trauma-informed skills and practices in systems impacting young 

people such as justice, law enforcement and education

Strategies:

1. Expand training opportunities on trauma-informed practices for professionals serving youth 

and young adults 
24

2. Increase community support for parents, families and young people, including resources for 

financial empowerment, affordability programs, domestic violence prevention and 

intervention, probation, successful re-entry and preventing suicide 

3. Increase police-youth/community dialogues and collaborative safety planning

Strategy and Partners Output Indicators Outcome Indicators

1. Expand training opportunities on 

trauma-informed practices for 

professionals serving youth and young 

adults

Lead: HSD

Partners: SPS

P

Increased number of 

institutions 

implementing traumainformed care and 

protocols by ten

Hold minimum of ten of 

trauma-informed care 

trainings in 2016

Number of youthserving professionals 

who receive Traumainformed care training

to exceed 100

Increased number of 

young people who 

experience systems 

contacts feel seen, 

heard, supported as 

reported by 

participating agencies

Increased percent of 

youth in targeted 

systems accessing

available support 

services by 2020

2. Increase community support for 

parents, families and young people, 

including resources for financial 

empowerment, affordability programs,

domestic violence prevention and 

intervention, probation, successful reentry and preventing suicide

Lead: HSD

Partners: Community based 

organizations, King County 

P, I

Number of families 

served in Family 

Resource Centers

Number of families and 

individuals served in 

Financial Empowerment 

Centers increased by 

10%

Number of people 

accessing affordability 

programs such as the

utility discount program

increased by 25%

Resource directory for 

young adults 

transitioning out of 

detention created

Service connections and 

Increased family stability

by 2020 as reported by 

Family Resource Center 

staff

Reduced recidivism 

among previously 

incarcerated young 

adults by 50% by 2020

Reduced homelessness 

for young adults after 

re-entry into the 

community by 2020

Reduced suicide rates 

among young adults by 

25% by 2020
25

human support provided 

to young adults 

transitioning out of 

detention

Hold two suicide 

prevention trainings

4. Increase police-youth/community 

dialogues and collaborative safety 

planning

Lead: SPD

Partners: HSD, DEEL, SPS

P, I, E

Number of police-youth 

dialogues, activities and 

events increased by 10%

Increased youth

participation by 50% in 

Police Officer Training 

related to working with 

youth by 2017.

Increased positive 

perception of police 

among youth and young 

adults decreased 

juvenile and young adult 

crime by 2020 as 

reported by DOJ 

monitor.

Goal 5. The Seattle Community is mobilized in support of these goals

Outcomes:

 Reduce juvenile court referrals for violence

 Reduce Superior Court referrals for violence for young adults 18-24

 Increase youth and young adults in school or employed

 Increase youth and young adults connected to school or their community 

 Reduce recidivism rate among young adults 18 to 24 years old who are system-involved

Objective: Development of community and City accountability system that sustains on-going 

stakeholder engagement for the Plan’s goals across the continuum of prevention, intervention, 

enforcement and re-entry. 

Impact Indicator: Establishment of internal and external processes to support and monitor plan 

implementation 

Strategies:

1. Enhancement of accountability structure to include critical stakeholders for 18-24 year old 

population

2. Identify common objectives and goals for 18-24 year old population and align and 

coordinate efforts and initiatives across City, County and community based organizations
26

3. Coordinate strategies and share information across the continuum of City /County programs 

such as Nurse Family Partnership, Universal Pre-K, Family & Education Levy programs, 

SYVPI, Mayor’s Youth Employment Initiative, Career Bridge

4. Link learning between schools, industry, social services and other support agencies 

Strategy and Partners Output Indicators Outcome Indicators

1. Enhancement of accountability 

structure to include critical 

stakeholders for 18-24 year old 

population

Lead: HSD

Partners: DEEL, Parks and Recreation, 

King County, SPD, OCR, community 

based organizations

P

Number of stakeholders 

participating in 

accountability structure

to reach 25

Improved coordination 

of services and supports 

for 18-24 year old 

population through 

articulation agreements 

and MOUs.

2. Identify common objectives and goals 

for 18-24 year old population and align 

and coordinate efforts and initiatives

across City, County and community based 

organizations

Lead: HSD

Partners: DEEL, Parks and Recreation, 

King County, community based 

organizations

P

Increased number of 

collaborative programs 

and initiatives for young 

people during the 

summer months when 

violence tends to spike 

to 5 each in SE, SW and 

Central area of Seattle

Increased number of 

agencies that 

systematically consider 

safety and preventing 

violence as they make 

decisions about 

programs and services.

Decrease by 25% in 

youth and young adult 

violent offending by 

2020

Double youth and young 

adult employment by 

2016 with incremental 

increases through 2020

Increase in educational 

attainment for 

opportunity youth, 

especially 18-24 by 2020

3. Coordinate strategies and share 

information across the continuum of City 

/County programs such as Nurse Family 

Partnership, Universal Pre-K, Family & 

Education Levy programs, SYVPI, Mayor’s 

Youth Employment Initiative, Career 

Bridge

Lead: Mayor’s Office

Increase in funding to 

non-profits in 

neighborhoods most 

affected by violence

Establishment of MOUs 

between and among 

these programs 

outlining the articulation 

Decrease in youth and 

young adult violent 

offending by 25% by 

2020

Double youth and young 

adult employment by 

2016 with incremental 

increases through 2020
27

Partners: HSD, Seattle-King County Public 

Health, DEEL

between programs and 

populations served

Established agreement 

to share crime data

Increase in educational 

attainment by 25% for 

opportunity youth, 

especially 18-24 by 2020

4. Link learning between schools, 

industry, social services and other support 

agencies

Lead: OED

Partners: Community Colleges, Seattle 

Public Schools

Increased articulation 

agreements between 

industry and education 

institutions

Establishment of skillbased certifications 

(e.g., badge system)

Increased numbers of 

youth and young adults 

enrolled in job training 

programs and placed in 

living wage jobs by 2020

Increased coordination 

between workforce 

development programs 

and local industries, 

including pipeline 

strategies by 2020
28

Partner Roles and Responsibilities

The governance structure for the Seattle Youth Opportunity Initiative includes participation 

from community, City and County representatives who are most relevant to the specific 

function of each committee as well as subject matter experts. The structure is designed to 

ensure multi-sector engagement, access to best practices and published research and to enable 

decision-making through shared leadership. 

THE CO-CHAIRS from City government and a community-based organization will provide 

oversight and policy guidance, and will be accountable for moving the work forward. City leads 

from related departments will plan and facilitate monthly meetings, to assess the 

implementation progress, receive updated assessments, review committee reports and provide 

strategic direction to the Citywide Coordinating Committee. 

THE CITYWIDE COORDINATING COMMITTEE is comprised of representatives from multiple 

sectors that represent prevention, intervention, enforcement, and re-entry strategies, including 

community and faith-based organizations, City Staff, and the Youth Opportunity Initiative

Subcabinet. The Citywide Coordinating Committee includes significant representation from the

provider agencies delivering services to fulfill the goals of the YFE Outcomes Framework. The 

citywide coordinating committee will meet quarterly and will be responsible for coordinating all 

aspects of implementation, evaluation, and monitoring at the neighborhood and citywide 

levels. 

THE YOUTH OPPORTUNITY INITIATIVE SUBCABINET is comprised of key City agencies within

the Citywide Coordinating Committee who will provide on-the-ground, day-to-day 

coordination for all aspects of implementation, evaluation, monitoring of indicators and 

outcomes. The Subcabinet will also make any needed changes to the plan based on input from 

the Implementation Committees (see below). This Core Coordinating Committee will also be 

the lead on Goal 5: The Seattle Community is mobilized in support of these goals, ensuring the 

community stakeholder engagement in all other committees. The Core Coordinating 

Committee will meet monthly.

THE DATA AND EVALUATION TEAM will track key outcome indicators and will work on 

developing outcome driven programs, as well as evaluating current programs for impact.

IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEES will be organized to support Goals 1-4. They will be cochaired by a City and a community representative. Each will include subject matter experts who 

will play an advisory role to the committees, relevant agencies and community-based 

organizations and youth representatives.

1. Youth and Young Adults transition to adulthood: Will include partners from the City 

and County agencies that focus on youth and young adult employment, Seattle 

Community College system and its workforce development representatives, public and 

private sector employers, youth service providers and the juvenile justice system.

2. Youth and Young Adults achieve academic success: Will include partners from the City 

and County agencies that focus on education and academic achievement, the Seattle 
29

Public Schools, Seattle-King County Public Health Department which oversees schoolbased health clinics, research partners and PBIS consultants.

3. Youth and Young Adults are safe from violence and free from justice system 

involvement: Will include partners from the City and County agencies that focus on 

violence reduction and justice system involvement including King County Superior Court, 

Seattle Police Department, King County Prosecutor’s Office, Office of the Public 

Defender, Washington Office of Probation Services and research partners.

4. Youth and Young Adults are healthy, physically, socially and emotionally: Will include 

partners from the City and County agencies that focus on youth and young adult health 

and wellbeing including Seattle-King County Public Health Department and its Injury 

Prevention division, Teen Feed, Washington Department of Social and Health Services,

behavioral health providers, and research partners.
30

Appendix 

PLANNING COMMITTEES AND PARTICIPATING PARTNER GROUPS

Youth Opportunity Community Planning Committee: 

Ali Ayoub Al Karim - Islamic Center of Rainier Valley

Alex Bautista, El Centro de la Raza

Deputy Chief Carmen Best, Seattle Police Department

Shalom Cook, YMCA

Angela Davis, Restorative Justice

Jaime Garcia, Consejo Counseling & Referral Service

Wyking Garrett, Umoja P.E.A.C.E. Center

Gerald Hankerson, Seattle King County NAACP

Heidi Henderson-Lewis, Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club

Donte Johnson, Arts Corps & Youth Speaks

Pastor Lawrence Willis, United Black Clergy

Eleuthera Lisch, YMCA 

Solynn McCurdy, Seattle University

Nicole McGrath, TeamChild

BG Nabors-Glass, Goodwill Job Training & Education Center

Michael Neguse, Seattle Neighborhood Group

Bernardo Ruiz, Seattle Public Schools

Brandon Shell, YMCA Alive & Free Program

Anthony Shoecraft, Community Center for Education Results / Road Map Project

Sorya Svy, SafeFutures

Hassan Wadere, Horn of Africa

Jeffery Wallace, LeadersUp 

Chris Webb, The Breakfast Group

Safe Communities Task Force: 

City Agencies

Office of Arts and Culture

Office of Economic Development

Department of Education and Early Learning

Human Services Department

Law Department 

Office of Intergovernmental Relations

Mayor’s Office

Department of Neighborhoods

Seattle Police Department

Public Health—Seattle & King County
31

Seattle Public Schools Interagency Academy 

Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative

Community Agencies

YouthCare

YMCA Alive and Free Program

County, State and Other Agencies

King County Executive’s Office

King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

King County Department of Community and Human Services

King County Sheriff’s Department

Washington State Department of Corrections

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Juvenile Justice & Rehabilitation 

Administration

University of Washington

Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative Partners

4C Coalition

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound

Boys & Girls Club of King County

Consejo Counseling & Referral Service

Department of Parks & Recreation

El Centro de la Raza

Human Services Department

King County Superior Court

Powerful Voices

SafeFutures Youth Center

SeaMar Community Health Centers

Seattle Neighborhood Group

Seattle Police Department

Seattle Public Schools

Southwest Youth & Family Services

Therapeutic Health Services

Urban Family

YMCA
32

Glossary

CCER: Center for Community Education Results

DEEL: Department of Education and Early Learning

DON: Department of Neighborhoods

DPR: Department of Parks and Recreation

FAS: Facilities and Administrative Services 

HSD: Human Services Department

OAC: Office of Arts and Culture

OCR: Office of Civil Rights

OED: Office of Economic Development

SPD: Seattle Police Department

SPS: Seattle Public Schools

SYVPI: Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative