Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined with the Northwest Educational Service District 189 (NWESD 189) to announce a multi-million-dollar federal Department of Education grant to support a comprehensive approach to better ensure Skagit County Children are safe and have access community and school support systems dedicated to their health and safety.

Larsen congratulated the district and praised its leaders for a successful, three-year effort to secure the grant.

“As far as federal grants go, this is one of the biggest I’ve seen from the Department of Education,” Rep. Larsen noted. “It is clear that the federal government recognizes the importance of programs like this that ensure safer schools and healthier students.”

Ms. Lori Stolee, Prevention Center Director, said about the grant: “This is a very highly sought- after grant, and we are thrilled that after three years of hard work and collaboration we received the award.”

Specifically, the NWESD 189 should receive $2,638,966.00 each year for three years, totaling $7,916,898.00. 

The project supported by the funds represents a partnership between the NWESD 189; seven Skagit County School Districts including Anacortes, Burlington-Edison, Concrete, Conway, LaConner, Mount Vernon, and Sedro-Woolley;  Skagit County Youth and Family Services;  North Sound Mental Health Administration; Skagit County Health Department; Skagit County law enforcement agencies; and Skagit County Child and Family Consortium.  All partners are committed to meeting the goals of the comprehensive Safe Schools/Healthy Students Plan.  These goals include:

1. Providing and maintaining safe and drug-free school environments;
2. Providing appropriate mental health treatment, case management and support services to school age children;
3. Providing early childhood staff training and parent education as well as family support services to high-risk new mothers to improve the social/emotional development of children;
4. Increasing community-based organization and individual participation in school, community and Consortium prevention activities.

They will achieve this by:

- Hiring 10 Prevention/Intervention Counselors;
- Providing and teaching the use of Best Practices Prevention Curriculum and Programs;
- Enlisting parents and guardians in drug, alcohol, and violence prevention;
- Providing school and community-based mental health prevention, screening, assessment, early intervention and follow-up services to children and families from early childhood through grade twelve;
- Hiring three Early Learning Specialists;
- Hiring one Welcome Baby Coordinator;
- And creating the Nurse-Family Partnership Program.

Dr. Jerry W. Jenkins, Superintendent of NWESD 189, commented on the opportunity: “This is a wonderful opportunity for Skagit County youth to receive a multitude of services, and Northwest ESD 189 is proud to be the lead agency.”

Mr. Bill Nutting, Executive Director of Business and Operations for Mount Vernon School District, said:  “The Prevention Center at NWESD 189 has always provided excellent support to Mount Vernon School District and we are happy to be part of this new project.”

Ms. Lyndie Case, Prevention Center Coordinator, stated:  “This grant is providing the opportunity to pull both traditional and non-traditional agencies together to provide services to children birth through grade 12.  I am thrilled to be part of this project.”

NWESD 189’s overall mission is to promote violence-free schools and communities across Skagit County school districts by significantly decreasing risk factors and increasing protective factors that impact the safety, educational achievement and health of 27,100 children.