Diversion in Action: Spokane, Washington

illustration of spotlight with text Diversion in Action Spotlight Series Spokane County Washington

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This summer, we hope you join us for our “Diversion in Action” spotlight series! We’ll be showcasing how CYJ Fellows across the country are building effective, locally tailored diversion programs through their Capstone Projects. These stories highlight the power of cross-system collaboration, community leadership, and data-informed strategies. If you’re looking to strengthen or expand diversion efforts in your jurisdiction, don’t miss this opportunity to learn what’s working–check out our Diversion in Youth Justice Certificate Program, now accepting applications!

Spokane County, Washington

To reduce disproportionality in arrests and school discipline, the Spokane County, Washington team sought to develop a school-based restorative diversion program for students who commit arrestable offenses within the jurisdiction of Campus Resource Officers.

In 2020, Spokane Public Schools’ Department of Family and Community Engagement developed and implemented the Restorative Interventions for Suspensions and Expulsions program (RISE), a school-based diversion program aimed at preventing future disciplinary action and enhancing schools’ capacity to address youth violence through community partnerships. The team secured a three-year federal grant to pilot this program in five out of six local high schools.

The pilot included one diversion liaison and three school community specialists who provided one-on-one support to youth and facilitated diversion agreements that connected youth with prosocial activities, mental health and substance use evaluations, and harm reduction services.

Referrals for participants were received from counselors and administrators. After receiving a referral, RISE mentors worked with students at least weekly and connected with family members as needed to identify potential stressors, community resources, and future goals. This work helped lead to 100% of RISE seniors graduating from high school in 2022, and 14 out of 16 RISE seniors graduating in 2023.

In 2024, the team began work on a new grant to implement RISE in four local middle schools. Building on the previous pilot, the RISE mentors offer group social-emotional learning opportunities. The team is also exploring how to best navigate intergenerational trauma through offering resources and mentoring to family members of youth in the RISE program.To date, both RISE pilots have served over 200 youth.