Judge Larson: state grant will continue peer navigation in municipal court, but funding cut reduces outreach site

Judge Dave Larson asked the council Sept. 2 to authorize acceptance of a Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts grant that will fund the municipal court’s embedded peer navigator program. The council approved the interagency agreement unanimously.

Larson said the court has been a statewide leader in embedding peer navigators to connect defendants and residents to treatment, housing and other services. He noted the grant award was reduced by about $90,000 this year, forcing the court to discontinue an off-site resource center it had operated in partnership with the Federal Way Public Library. "Because of the cuts, we had to... move community court back to the courthouse," Larson said, adding that peer-navigation services will continue but with fewer staff hours.

Larson described how peer navigators can immediately link people in court to treatment and services and recounted a case where quick action allowed a person to enter inpatient treatment within days. Councilors praised the program and asked about staffing and costs; Larson said the equivalent of one full peer navigator is funded but that reductions forced by the grant cut back previous 1.6 FTE support.

The council moved and seconded approval of grant acceptance and the interagency agreement; the motion passed unanimously. Larson said he intends to retire at the end of the year and thanked council for support of the program.