Unite! Washougal Newsletter

Our Unite!Washougal High School Ambassadors “Breathe Easy” team earned a scholarship to attend the 2024 WA State Spring Youth Forum May 8th. They presented with 40 other teams on prevention projects completed by youth in their communities across the state. The WHS Ambassadors project provides opportunities for leadership to youth. They work together to grow substance use prevention protective factors such as: Recognition for Prosocial Behaviors, Academic Success, Clear Expectations of Non-Use, Opportunities for Prosocial Behaviors, and Strong School/Peer Connections. As part of the Ambassadors, the Breathe Easy team has been addressing the gaps and misperceptions about substance misuse. They helped formulate an anonymous student survey at the high school in the fall. Then they analyzed the data, designed posters and outreach materials and built a positive community norms campaign. This campaign focuses around giving students the freedom to choose healthy behaviors by freeing them of the misperceptions around youth use of substances. Most of our youth are making healthy choices! This campaign encourages youth to make that choice for health by avoiding substance use. Breathe Easy did an outstanding job of presenting their project to the other youth at the state forum. They also mentored another coalition and encouraged other youth to continue the great prevention work in their community. Thank you team!!

Our volunteers did an amazing job helping us host our 15th Drug Take Back Event! 93 Participants, 291.5 lbs collected, 18 volunteers and a safer community and helping to keep our water and environment more healthy. Way to go team! Thanks so much to Washougal Police Department, Bethel Community Church, DEA, SWACH, Pat Suggs and coalition partners. Also special thanks to our team lead Trista for getting us all organized. Teamwork makes the Dream work!!

Our Canyon Creek and Jemtegaard Middles schools have been participating in a Positive Community Norms campaign this past school year. Last spring the students took part in an anonymous student survey. Poster, buttons, stickers, table tops were developed and phases of posters were displayed with the real facts about substance misuse and also how youth avoid substance use and make healthy choices. Most of our youth make healthy choices! How can we support them as a community to increase these positive behaviors?

Our Breath Easy Team presented at City Council and did outreaches and presentations at the local schools. Here is an article about their project:https://www.camaspostrecord.com/news/2024/may/09/washougal-students-launch-campaign-to-educate-about-underage-substance-abuse/

Here are some of the posters that our Breathe Easy team designed and displayed this year. In addition they provided resources for youth who want to quit vaping or need additional mental health support. https://unitewashougal.org/youth/

Elevate Youth Summit

Our own Xander Cook will be leading a youth Summit May 30th at the Water Resources Center. We will be taking youth from Canyon Creek and Jemtegaard Middle School. Please reach out to Wendy Butler to sign up for this free opportunity ASAP. wendy.butler@washougalsd.org

On Thursday, May 23rd @ 3:00 pm we will hold our May Unite!Washougal Full Coalition meeting at Children's Home Society. We will host Kathy Bussman from our community partner, the Rotary Club of Camas-Washougal. She will share about the importance of Mental Health. Just a reminder that the month of May is Mental Health Awareness month.

We will have tea/coffee and refreshments provided as usual. Come and join us!

Unite! Full Coalition Meeting

Thursday, May 23th @ 3:00 pm

Children's Home Society

1702 C Street

Washougal, WA 98671

Take the elevator to the 2nd floor and walk down the hall to see us.

See you all this Thursday!

Email us at washougalunite@gmail.com for more information.

Let’s have some fun while we work together for a healthy community!

Next month-We are celebrating YOU! Please check out our Facebook page for information about our Volunteer Celebration coming up in June!

Email: washougalunite@gmail.com
Website: http://unitewashougal.org/
Location: Washougal, WA, USA
Phone: 360-954-3203
Facebook: facebook.com/UniteWashougalCommunityCoalition/
Twitter: @UWashougal