Sabrina Firicano

At the Everett City Council Budget Hearing (Small Departments) on May 20, 2026, Sabrina Firicano, director of the Health & Human Services Department, gave an overview of the department’s budget and operations. She opened by saying, “Good evening,” and told the council she had “a couple of comments and an overview.” Firicano said she wanted to highlight the department’s ongoing work and reported that the department was staffed with 21 school nurses out of 22 budgeted positions, serving approximately 7,000 students across the district.

She said improved staffing had allowed field trips to be reinstated, adding, “I’m very happy to report that.” Firicano explained that the department would continue daily student health services while also expanding population health initiatives. She described plans to add screenings, vaccines, community education, and strengthened partnerships, including more substance abuse programming. She specifically said the department wanted to increase “diabetic screenings, cancer screenings, cholesterol, triglyceride screenings,” and other services it could offer in-house to residents.

Firicano addressed staffing and funding questions during the hearing. She explained that Eric’s substance abuse prevention role is split, with half his salary paid by the health department and half by youth. She clarified that outside nursing staff are used for hearing and vision screenings, postural screenings, covering nurse absences, and helping with field trips. She also noted that the youth substance prevention coordinator is currently funded part-time and vacant, and said the mayor wanted to keep that position to allow flexibility in structuring services. When discussing another position, she said it is charged to the fire department and currently vacant.

Firicano said the health and wellness coordinator and the health and human services equity officer positions were cut from the Health Department budget so the department could focus on public health nursing. On professional development, she explained the contract now includes three days instead of two, which increases costs for CPR training and continuing education. She said the DESE certification incentive is a one-time $5,000 payment and that the budget includes room for three certifications. She also confirmed that grant responsibilities will be handled by her and the public health nurse, and that the department is still planning to apply for additional grants.

No votes were taken involving Firicano during this portion of the hearing.