COALITION NEWS

On May 30th, Prevent Coalition welcomed middle and high school students to the Elevate Youth Prevention Forum. The goal - bring youth together to build connections and elevate their awareness, elevate their prevention skills, and help them feel empowered to engage in prevention work in their school or communities, and have fun doing it!

Participants engaged in activities relevant to substance use prevention, wellness, and youth leadership. Youth found a space to form meaningful connections with other caring youth and feel empowered as an agent of change and a leader in their community. The all-day event was facilitated by Alexander Cook, Youth Engagement Coordinator with Unite! Washougal Coalition, and CADCA certified youth trainer.

"This event would not be possible without support and investment from southwest Washington coalition leaders, SAP's, chaperones and volunteers, and of course our awesome trainer," said event coordinator Paula Linden. She added, "We were pleased to see so many young people turn out and participate!"

Prevent Coalition would like to recognize the contributions of our fiscal agent Educational Service District 112, and funding provider Washington State Department of Health Youth Cannabis and Commercial Tobacco Prevention Program (YCCTPP). On behalf of the youth, THANK YOU!

More information about the event is available on the event website: www.preventcoalition.org/elevateyouthsummit

Drug-take-back events in southwest Washington collected 1,940 pounds of unused medications and 596 pounds of sharps/syringes. Approximately 633 residents (209 first time participants) in Clark and Klickitat counties participated in a multi-site event on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

Kelley Groen-Sieckmann, Community Prevention Coordinator with Central Vancouver Coalition, reported approximately 60,000 pounds of unused medications and 22,000 participants have taken part in drug-take-back events in the region since 2010. “I collaborate with amazing partners and volunteers. The success of these events wouldn’t be possible without each of them," said Groen-Sieckmann, then expressed additional gratitude for the Columbian ad sponsorship provided by the Vancouver Police Department.

The next Drug-take-back event is planned for October 2024. However, any day can be a drug-take-back day! There are medication disposal sites available year-round. Below are flyers with more information (by County):

- Clark Year-Round Disposal Flyer

- Klickitat Year-Round Disposal Flyer

- Skamania Year-Round Flyer

Prevent released their latest podcast, Season 2, Episode 3 - Tips for Working with Teens. Christopher leads a group discussion with Prevent Coalition staff members Paula Linden, Abigail Wells, and Matthew Cox. They share best practices, tips, and personal experience.

All Prevent Coalition podcasts can be found at preventcoalition.podbean.com or on Google Podcasts, the Apple Podcast app and other familiar streaming services. Episodes are also archived at preventcoalition.org/events/news/.

Season 2 Episodes:

• Episode 1 - Supporting Student Assistance Professionals
• Episode 2 - What's an ACH?
• Episode 3 - Tips for Working with Teens (NEW!)

Season 1 Episodes:

• Episode 0 - Welcome
• Episode 1 - Rural Network
• Episode 2 - Policy Change
• Episode 3 - Secure Your Cannabis
• Episode 4 - "Better You Bingo" with special guests from Clark County STASHA!
• Episode 5 - Sweet & Sour
• Episode 6 - New Coordinator Orientation

Consider adding the Prevent Coalition Podcast to your playlist! We're sharing stories and strategies to help coalitions and organizations reach their full potential.

The Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People amplifies the experiences of more than 18,000 LGBTQ+ young people ages 13 to 24 across the United States. For the sixth year, the U.S. National Survey uncovers the reality that there is a significant association between anti-LGBTQ+ victimization and disproportionately high rates of suicide risk — and that far too many young people struggle to access the mental health care they need.

The Trevor Project published a website with key survey findings displayed in easy-to-read tiles and charts. Visit thetrevorproject.org/survey-2024 to read all the survey findings and learn ways to support LGBTQ+ young people.

The tobacco industry has historically targeted groups that are economically and socially marginalized, including people with mental health conditions. Industry influence, combined with other factors, has contributed to a higher prevalence of tobacco use among people with mental health conditions compared to the general population. In a recent article, experts from This is Quitting, a text message based quit-vaping program by Truth Initiative, provided facts and busted myths about mental health and quitting nicotine use.

Click here to read the article.

In addition to preventing youth initiation and promoting cessation among people who use tobacco products, the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) is working to educate adults who smoke about the relative risks of tobacco products.

CTP launched a new webpage aimed at educating the public about the relative risks of tobacco products. It answers questions such as, "Are e-cigarettes a lower-risk alternative to cigarettes?" and "What options are available to adults who want to quit?" plus provides links to information about modified risk tobacco products, cessation education materials, and a link to the FDA's searchable tobacco products database which lists products that may be legally marketed in the United States.

Click here or on the image with this story to read more.

Washington State Community Connectors (WSCC) and partners developed a training to educate families about substance use disorder (SUD) and related treatment options across the state. This training is for parents, family members, and caregivers who are interested in learning how to support their loved ones with SUD.

Participants will learn up-to-date information about SUD, addiction and its effects on the adolescent brain, skills for families navigating their relationship with someone with SUD, and systems navigation. This training is grounded in research and information supported by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA), including their training and technical assistance partners.

Training details

Dates: July 15-18 or August 5-8

Meeting time: 9:00 am– 1:00 pm daily (PT)

Location: Online

Duration: A 16-hour course split into 4 days of 4-hour modules.

Attendance is required for all 4 days.

More information: SUD Family Navigator Training website

Registration: Register

Last year the major U.S. tobacco companies were required by a federal court to post "corrective statements" at over 200,000 stores across the country. These eye-catching signs tell the public the truth about the deadly consequences of smoking.

A recent report found that the signs are not displayed in at least 16% of the stores that are supposed to have them! To improve enforcement and hold the tobacco industry accountable, the public plays an important role in reporting violations. Community coalitions, prevention clubs, and individuals can help by doing the following:

1. Look for places where tobacco is sold, like gas stations, grocery and convenience stores.
2. Look for a corrective-statement sign near the tobacco products.
3. If there's no sign, report it at TobaccoSignTipline.com or text (877) 749-8477 and an auditor will look into it.

Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids provides social media resources to spread awareness about the corrective statements and runs the tipline for reporting noncompliance. Individuals can also report a violation to the Washington State LCB.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2024 Washington State Prevention Awards of Excellence! Making a nomination is easy, just complete the nomination survey by Wednesday, July 17, 2024.

You can nominate a colleague, young person, program, or organization in the following award categories:

• Tribal and urban Indian prevention efforts
• Youth leader
• Young adult leader
• Prevention professional, lifetime achievement, and/or community prevention supporter
• Community coalition and/or community prevention group
• Contributions to prevention by an organization, business, or agency
• Early career prevention professional

Award recipients will be announced and celebrated during the awards ceremony at the 2024 Prevention Summit in October. For more information, check out the overview document or visit the 2024 Prevention Awards of Excellence page at preventionsummit.org.

This event will be held in Esther Short Park, Vancouver, WA on Saturday, June 15th in celebration of the federal holiday. Events are planned from 10am-5pm including live music, kids activities, local vendors, art displays, food trucks, and community resources.

Join this event and celebrate the freedoms that strengthen our community. Visit the event website www.jfcvancouver.org to learn more!

Each June, SAMHSA honors Pride Month by offering emotional support and by providing mental health and substance use resources for LGBTQI+ individuals, friends, families, communities, providers, and more. SAMHSA provides a resource website with downloadable social media graphics and messaging.

Click here or on the graphic with this story to visit the website.

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) launched a new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline website that is specifically designed for people living in Washington state. 988 is the nationwide, three-digit dialing code that connects anyone experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis with a trained counselor.

The 988 Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7/365 via phone call, text, or online chat. DOH’s new website is part of the state’s larger 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Awareness Campaign and is designed to build upon and complement the existing national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline website.

Click here to read the full news release.

View the new Washington 988 website at wa988.org.

Are you searching for a one-stop of mental health and substance use treatment resources? The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides links to their most helpful resources on one website. These include FindTreatment.gov, FindSupport.gov, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Veterans Crisis Line, Disaster Distress Helpline, and many others.

Add www.samhsa.gov/find-help to your bookmarks!

Drug overdoses have dramatically increased over the last two decades, with deaths increasing more than 500% between 1999 and 2020. Drug overdose deaths can be prevented. The Center for Disease Control created guiding principles and strategic priorities to address the overdose crisis. They are a flexible framework to address the constantly evolving overdose epidemic, reduce health disparities, and ensure that all Americans are as healthy as possible.

The guiding principles can assist coalitions and prevention providers with building their own strategy to prevent overdose in their communities. Downloadable infographics and more information about the CDC strategy can be found on the CDC Overdose Prevention website.

The DEA created a website to raise awareness of fentanyl and test your knowledge. The quiz is comprised of ten multiple-choice questions. Links to resources about fentanyl are provided throughout the quiz. Visit justthinktwice.gov/quiz/fentanyl-quiz and challenge your knowledge.

This video series was prepared for the SW PTTC under an agreement from SAMHSA. It is comprised of short videos that address three communities: LGBTQ+, military individuals and families, and rural communities. In this video series, Dr. Beverly Triana-Tremain, Epidemiologist from the PTTC, discusses how to use data to swim upstream in an effort to address underlying risk factors. She explores LGBTQ+, rural, and military data sources to help you dive deeper into working with these special populations, including how to find and use it in your prevention work.

Before diving into the series, it is recommended to first watch the 3-minute overview video. All the videos in the Swimming Upstream with Data series can be accessed on the series channel found on Youtube.com.

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) provides a website with trusted information to help individuals and families stay healthy - MyHealthfinder. It features more than 100 plain language health topics and tools in English and Spanish — and an assessment tool with tailored recommendations for clinical preventive services (CPS) based on age, sex, and pregnancy status.

Check out their resources at health.gov/myhealthfinder.

The fundamental drivers of health inequity are systemic factors that shape people’s physical and social surroundings in ways that create barriers to health.

ChangeLab Solutions provides an interactive website to educate about the five fundamental drivers of health inequity and how ChangeLab Solutions addresses them. They provide real-world examples of how communities across the country have used equitable policymaking to confront the drivers of health inequity and create systems change.

Visit changelabsolutions.org/drivers-health-inequity to learn more.

Social media influencers put a twist on unboxing videos to demonstrate the dangers of vaping. This video and more like it were produced by Drug Free Connecticut Know Ur Vape prevention campaign.

Click here to view more unboxing videos on their Vimeo channel.

In 2023, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) launched the statewide vaping and commercial tobacco prevention and cessation campaign, Choose You. Informed by research with youth across the state, the campaign educates about the risks of using vapes, features healthy ways to deal with stress, and directs to resources for those who need help quitting.

Commercial tobacco prevention partners can access an online partner toolkit to assist with promoting the campaign in their communities. Current assets include videos, a radio ad, banner ads in multiple sizes, organic and paid social ads, posters, billboards, and campaign background materials (talking points, backgrounder, and style guide). Assets are available in English and Spanish.

You can check out the campaign at chooseyouwa.org and the partner toolkit resources are available at socialpresskit.com/choose-you.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and FDA/ETP recently released a fact sheet on how to safely dispose of e-cigarettes. They hope to educate the public about the importance of safe disposal of e-cigarettes.

The fact sheet is available for download on the EPA website. Click on the image with this story.

The Washington State Legislature wrapped up the 2024 session on March 7th. However, anytime is a good time to better understand the legislative process. Grant County Health District developed a toolkit just for that purpose with support and endorsement from the Youth Cannabis and Commercial Tobacco Prevention Program (YCCTPP).

This toolkit is meant to serve as an educational resource and includes a compilation of knowledge, definitions, experiences, and guidance from several well-known players on the WA State prevention scene.

Click here (or the image) to view the toolkit.

The Health Assessment and Evaluation (HAE) team at Clark County Public Health (CCPH) works to develop a comprehensive understanding of health in our community and to translate data into action.

Our Services:

• Design of, or feedback on, data collection tools (i.e. surveys and focus groups). We can provide guidance on the questions you ask, how you ask, and audience considerations.
• Identify, access, and understand data sources. We can help you better understand populations by finding data you can use when developing presentations, grant proposals, or program plans.
• Data analysis & reporting. We can make sense of the data - numbers or concepts - so you can do the community work you do best.
• Evaluation of your programs/initiatives to determine effectiveness and quality improvement. We can help you demonstrate the effectiveness, or explore intend impacts of, your program, initiative, or policy.
• Present a professional and well-structured document. We can assist you in ensuring your data makes sense to, and resonates with, your audience.
• Technical assistance. We can identify the best methods, approaches for your project, and answer other questions about research, assessment, planning, or evaluation.

Learn more at clark.wa.gov/public-health/health-assessment-and-evaluation

Email us at cntyhealthHAE@clark.wa.gov

The 2024 Rural Conference will take place on September 25 & 26, 2024 at the Yakima Convention Center, Yakima, WA. This will be the second Rural Conference and excitement is growing!

Registration and agenda are available now on the 2024 conference web page. Visit preventcoalition.org/ruralconference.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact us at preventcoalition@esd112.org.

Whether you have recently joined the Rural Network or are still thinking about it there is a resource available that will answer your commonly asked questions - our New Member Orientation Guide!

This guide describes our mission, vision, funding, 7 core principles, who we serve, and how to get involved. It also describes what our meetings are like and why you should join!

Learn all the details at smore.com/8eqhp

If you are interested in joining one or more activities below, please contact Abigail Wells, Rural Network Coordinator (abigail.wells@esd112.org) or preventcoalition@esd112.org. More information about these activities and the work of the Rural Network is available on the Rural Network website.

www.preventcoalition.org/rural

The full membership meets monthly on the last Tuesday from 2-3:30pm. This meeting is meant to engage network members, build connections across isolated communities, provide training to members and bring in guest speakers, we do policy work and have guest legislators come to meet rural volunteers, and we also do community-of-practice style activities where members share their experiences with one another or tackle tough issues collaboratively. These meetings are usually held virtually and open to the public, anyone is welcome to join.

This group meets monthly to prepare, design and plan for a statewide gathering of rural prevention professionals which happens every 2 years in Yakima, called the Rural Conference. We had our first ever conference last year convening our network members and the goal is to expand on that experience and make it even bigger and better than it already was. This committee gets to design theme, branding elements, activities that happen at the conference, agenda, speakers and more. This workgroup is hosted by the Rede Group, an event-planning subcontractor of Rural Network. The committee meets on a rotating schedule based on volunteer availability each month.

This is our newest Committee. It is tasked with reflecting and brainstorming about member engagement. The committee will discuss recruiting for opportunities, barriers to Rural Network participation, strategies and activities to build capacity and membership across rural communities, as well as feedback received about participation. In May the committee sent out a survey to assess engagement and will be reviewing the feedback in the coming month.

We are looking for more members! If you are interested in participating, please reach out to Abigail Wells at abigail.wells@esd112.org.

Our leadership team guides the work of the Rural Network, reflects on action plan progress, plans monthly meeting agenda, and evaluates the progress and outcomes of the program. We’re looking for more members to guide the work and get involved to increase our Steering capacity and keep the work sustained/strong. We meet monthly on the 1st Thursday from 10am-11:30am (PT) and are hoping to add 3-4 more members.

We have a Toolkit Workgroup meeting that is currently on pause due to funding delays and contract negotiations. This committee will eventually be run by the Montana Institute and is in charge of creating a Positive Community Norms (PCN) Campaign for rural communities statewide. Last year, this committee updated the Find Your Good campaign and created new messaging/media based on a rural youth survey they created and promoted.

Our staff holds a placeholder for an hour every month for people to come and brainstorm, bounce ideas off one another, or otherwise receive support or Technical Assistance from any/all our staff team. Sometimes you need a like-minded Coordinator to generate ideas, double check their action plan, troubleshoot a difficult sector representative, etc. We’re here to support you at these monthly time slots. Email Abigail Wells (abigail.wells@esd112.org) or preventcoalition@esd112.org to reserve this time with us.

Coalition Volunteer Appreciation Picnic

Date: Thursday, June 13, 2024

Hidden House, Vancouver, WA

This event celebrates the incredible ongoing efforts of coalition volunteers in southwest Washington. To learn more about attending or nominating a coalition volunteer for recognition please contact us at preventcoalition@esd112.org.

Rural Network Meeting

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

2-3:30 p.m.

Online conference call

Rural Steering Committee

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

10:00-11:30 a.m.

Online conference call

Develop the plan, guide the implementation, evaluate the results.

Rural Network Office Hours

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

1-2 p.m.

Online conference call

For Rural Network members to receive technical assistance

Rural Prevention Conference

September 25-26, 2024

In person, Yakima Convention Center, Yakima, WA

Event website: www.preventcoalition.org/ruralconference

Learn the latest science, data, and equity initiatives in rural prevention. Strategize and network with other rural prevention peers during this two-day event!

All times are Pacific Standard Time (PST)

Relevant events not sponsored by Prevent Coalition:

Northwest PTTC

Jump Starting Your Coalition

Webinar

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Cost: Free!

Registration: Click here to register on PTTC website

Northwest PTTC

Prevention Spotlight: A Deeper Dive with Prevention Certification

Webinar

Monday, June 24, 2024, from 3pm-4pm (PT)

Cost: Free!

Registration: Click here to register on PTTC website

In this webinar the presenter will take a deeper dive in the Region 10 CPP Certification processes, discuss what constitutes training in each of the competencies, what constitutes prevention experience, and preparation for the CPP exam.

The Montana Institute

Expanding the Circle: Creating Space for Hope, Health, and Connection

In-Person, Yellowstone Conference Center at the Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, Montana

Also available via livestream

July 16-19, 2024

Cost: In-Person: $1,095. Virtual only, $525

How to Register: Visit the Montana Institute website for more information

Reshape the way you approach community health and well-being. Learn how to foster hope, cultivate health, and strengthen connections to build healthier, safer, and more positive communities for all. Presenters include Dr. Jason Kilmer, Dr. Christina Bethell, Dr. Stacey Litam, and Dr. Jeff Linkenbach.

CADCA

2024 Mid-Year Training Institute

In-person, Hilton Hotel, Chicago, Illinois

July 14-18, 2024

Cost: member $845, non-member $1055

Registration and information: Visit event website

CADCA brings together industry leaders, federal partners, CADCA staff, master trainers, and coalition leaders to share cutting-edge strategies, best practices, and innovative solutions. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a passionate advocate, this event offers a unique opportunity to expand your knowledge, sharpen your skills, and network with like-minded peers.

Rede Group

ToPCon - A Commercial Tobacco Prevention Conference

Virtual

July 22-24, 2024

Cost: $150 ($100 Students)

Information and registration: Click here to view event website

This national conference features emerging topics in commercial tobacco prevention along with a separate day focusing on the fundamentals of the work. With dynamic content for professionals at any stage in their career, ToPCon will be a site for dialogue around prevention best practices, strategies for policy change, health equity, working with community, and much more.

National Prevention Network

NPN Conference 2024

In-person, Arizona Grand Resort, Phoenix, AZ

August 13-15, 2024

Cost: $899

Registration: Visit website: https://npnconference.org/

The purpose of the NPN Conference is to highlight the latest research in the substance use prevention field. It provides a forum for prevention professionals, coalition leaders, researchers, and federal partners to share research, best practices and promising evaluation results for the purpose of integrating research into prevention practice.

PTTC

2024 Northwest Prevention Leadership Academy

Virtual Sessions - 1pm-2:30pm (PT) on July 24, September 3 and 24

In-person, Tacoma, WA

September 11-12, 2024

Cost: Free!

Registration: Click here to learn more on PTTC website.

Participants must attend all virtual and in-person sessions to receive 20-hour certificate of participation. The academy will explore leadership principles for prevention coalitions using a set of Liberating Structures; practical methods and tools designed to foster active participation and create innovation among team members, collaborators, and communities.

Washington State Public Health Association

2024 Annual Conference

In-person, Yakima Valley, WA

October 9-11, 2024

Cost: Early bird rates, $450 member, $585 Non-member. Discounted rates available.

Registration and event information: Visit event website.

Did you know that this is WSPHA's 90th anniversary?! This year they will celebrate the roots of public health in social movements and collectively consider the past to pave the way for the future. This year's theme is, "Cultivating Social Justice: Past, Present, & Future". Attendees will find an engaging lineup of plenaries, workshops, and networking opportunities.

Washington State Prevention Summit 2024

In-person, The Westin Seattle, Seattle, WA

October 30-31, 2024

Registration and event information: Visit event website.

The Prevention Summit is an enriching training and networking opportunity for youth, volunteers, and professionals engaged in health promotion and the prevention of substance misuse, violence, and other high-risk behaviors, in a setting that promotes cultural humility. The Summit provides high-quality workshops, forums, and hands-on learning opportunities designed to meet a variety of needs, including professional development for prevention professionals. Summit includes a separate track for youth.

NW PTTC

Ethics in Prevention Foundations

(Virtually moderated 6-hour course)

Repeats monthly, visit website for next session!

No Fee, Limited Space Available

This two-week, asynchronous moderated course, adapted from the original SAMHSA Center for Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT) course, explores the six principles of the Prevention Code of Ethics. The course also introduces a decision-making process to help practitioners apply this code to a variety of ethical dilemmas, and an online discussion area to facilitate discussion with other course participants. Course meets requirements for prevention specialist credentialing.

View ongoing training and events at https://pttcnetwork.org.

NW PTTC

Special Topics in Prevention of Substance Misuse

(Self-paced courses)

A large selection of online, on-demand courses that explore special topics in prevention of substance misuse that will better-equip prevention professionals & coalitions to serve their communities.

Access the courses via the HealtheKnowledge.org website.

NW PTTC

Pharmacology for Prevention Professionals

(Self-paced course)

Explore the basics of how substances impact major brain regions and the acute and chronic symptoms associated with different substances. Certificates of 1.5 hours for each of the following four courses: Basics of Pharmacology and Alcohol, Basics of Pharmacology and Opioids, Basics of Pharmacology and Psychostimulants (Cocaine & Methamphetamine), and Basics of Pharmacology and Cannabis.

Learn more and enroll via the HealtheKnowledge.org website.

CADCA

Training and Events Website

Free!

Explore the library of webinars available, both archived and coming soon. Hosted by CADCA trainers covering topics related to starting and operating a community coalition, prevention, and more.

Visit the CADCA TRAINING & EVENTS website.

CADCA

Webinar Wednesday Series

Free!

Register for an upcoming Wednesday webinar or view archived recordings on your own schedule.

Visit the CADCA WEBINAR WEDNESDAY SERIES website.

Supported by fiscal agent ESD 112, Prevent Coalition is a regional coalition formed in 2003 to increase collaboration, awareness, and reduce youth substance use in Southwest Washington. Prevent Coalition also implements initiatives for rural communities across Washington state. As a community mobilizer, our coalition creates a culture promoting healthy choices; advocates for policies and regulations that protect, empower and nurture youth; and facilitates positive opportunities for youth to be involved and thrive.

Email: preventcoalition@esd112.org
Website: www.PreventCoalition.org
Location: 2500 NE 65th Ave., Vancouver, WA, USA
Phone: 360-952-3457
Facebook: Facebook.com/PreventCoalition
Twitter: @supportyouthnow