January Coalition Newsletter

You're invited!

Click here for the website event.

Click here for the Facebook event.

Click here to see the event flyer.

Who

Teens, and people who support teens.

When

Wednesday, January 15th, 2020

3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Where

ESD 112 Conference Center

2500 NE 65th Avenue, Vancouver WA 98661

More Info

Christopher Belisle, 60-952-3587, Christopher.belisle@esd112.org

Join us in reviewing six youth-directed and led short films (5-10 minute) about teen mental health. Reflect on the films and grapple with open questions about the experiences of teens in our community. Review local data and hear stories from our teens. Themes include depression, anxiety, eating disorders and bullying. Build capacity to talk with teens about such issues and collaborate as a community to support teens. Films are provided by the United Kingdom Into Films, Moving Minds series. www.intofilm.org.

Film details:

Animations on Mental Health

Youth discuss how mental health struggles can feel, sharing advice on coping. Teens talk vulnerability and how being honest with friends can help. Teens discuss judgement and caring for yourself by making small changes to your daily routine.

The Broken Rose

A young woman longs to connect with people and form friendships, but is isolated and scared. She finds courage to step outside only to be overwhelmed by the noise and bustle of modern living. Can she find belonging in this uncaring world?

Behind the Mask

We follow a day in the life of Taylor, an adolescent suffering from mental health struggles. Using a mask to conceal her emotions, we see her journey through a day of experiences that trigger social anxiety, which eventually leads to her breaking down to her parents and seeking professional help.

Panic

A-student, Brooke is starting to unravel under the pressure of exams. Desperate to escape her anxiety, she tries in vain to get her busy mother's attention. Her anxiety mounts as her exam approaches. The resulting experience leads to a way forward and a new understanding with her mother.

Paper Planes

With exams looming and pressure building, a student struggles to overcome her anxieties. This film provides a glimpse into the internal workings of a young person's mind as their mental health deteriorates. What will help her get perspective?

#Treatithesame

Noticing a mental health issue can be harder than noticing a physical health issue but this doesn't mean it should be treated any differently. When life feels tough we all need someone to offer us support.

Last year’s state legislative session saw many marijuana-related topics come up for debate and possible execution into law. This year’s sessions starts in January and will include multiple marijuana bills covering topics like flavors, lounges, advertising, taxation, social equity and business siting. You can share your opinions and knowledge on these topics by contacting your legislators and by providing testimony in hearings on the bills.

The legislature has tools to help you submit comments on the leg.wa.gov website. This site includes information on how to be involved in the legislative process as well as the steps in Washington for laws to be adopted.

Here are some tips to follow what is happening in the legislature and to contribute to discussion on a bill:

• Search for bills related to topics you are interested in using the Bill Information page;
• Add bills you are interested in watching progress through the rule-making process to a personalized Bill Tracker by creating an account and using the Bill Tracking functions:
• Once you have an account use the dark green “New” drop-down menu to name and create a folder,
• After you create a folder, you will need to select the “New” drop-down folder again to name a create a new list,
• You can then add bills to this list by their bill number and when you log in you will see the bills’ status.
• You can provide a comment, contact your legislator or got to the legislature to testify or talk to legislators:
• How to comment on a bill,
• How to find your legislators and contact information,
• Information to help you plan a trip to Olympia.

Make sure you understand your organization’s policies for commenting on legislation. Organizations that receive government funds have restrictions on influencing legislation. As a private citizen you can decide to share your voice in the manner you choose. Again, check with your organization on how to ensure you are not representing your employer in this case.

Testifying in front of a legislative committee can seem intimidating, but is an excellent way to share your voice and have an opportunity to respond to the committee members making decisions about a bill. Youth are encouraged to testify in Olympia and have a highly valued perspective, especially on marijuana-related topics. You can also share your review of legislation through social media, listserves and other ways you communicate with the partners and stakeholders of your organization.

"When it comes to stopping opioid abuse, it all begins with just one step. One act of courage. One honest conversation. When it comes to preventing opioid misuse, the one who can make a difference is YOU."

That's the message behind Starts with One, a campaign to inform and educate young adults, their parents and older adults about prescription drug misuse and safe storage, use, and disposal. The campaign was developed and funded by the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) in response to opioids being the leading cause of injury-related deaths in Washington State, where more people die from overdose than from car crashes.

Educational Service District 112 (ESD 112) has teamed up with Southwest Washington Accountable Community of Health (SWACH) to promote the Starts with One campaign in SW Washington and offer printed materials and resources to health providers, health educators and community organizations to help consumers make informed choices about the use, storage and disposal of prescription opioids. These efforts and resources are funded through a State Opioid Response Grant (SOR) awarded by the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA).

Together, ESD 112 and SWACH have been printing and distributing campaign materials available in 9 different languages to partnering organizations throughout Clark, Skamania and Klickitat counties. We’re able to offer organizations complementary printed materials until funding is exhausted or through September 2020, whichever comes first.

To get more info and your complementary Starts with One printed materials, contact Kelley Groen-Sieckmann at kelley.groen@esd112.org or 360-952-3461.

You may also learn more and download a Starts with One partner toolkit at getthefactrx.com.

Get involved: If you’d like to help prevent the misuse and abuse of opioids in your community, find a community coalition near you by clicking here.

As of January 1, 2020 it is illegal under Washington law to sell or give tobacco or vaping products to people under age 21. In March 2019 Washington State signed a bill to raise the legal sale age of tobacco and vapor products to 21 with a bipartisan vote of 33-12 in the Senate and 66-30 in the House of Representatives.

Click the links below for more information:
Tobacco & Vapor Q&A
Local Vapor Product Regulations in WA
Liquor & Cannabis Board Notice
Tobacco & Vapor Retailer FAQ

The City of Battle Ground is currently seeking applicants for the position of Prevent Together Program Coordinator. The position will remain open until filled, with a first review of applications set for January 21, 2020.

The gist:

• When parents are involved in teens’ lives, teens are less likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as underage marijuana use.
• Conversations are powerful and show that a parent cares. When a teen knows their parent, teacher, coach or other trusted adult is invested in their well-being, it can help encourage healthy choices later.
• Even when the conversations are “cringey” and/or it looks like teens are not listening, they care about the opinions expressed by trusted adults in their lives. Teens (especially younger teens) report that their parents are a primary resource for information on marijuana. Teens also report that their parents’ opinions influence their choices when it comes to marijuana use, and some choose to avoid using it for fear of disappointing them.
• Conversations — not lectures — are critical. Teens want to be respected and heard, and they may have many questions. Parents can be a resource for reliable information and help counter misinformation from friends and social media.
• For more information, visit the Start Talking Now website.

Click here to read the full article on ParentMap.

• On the “Administrators Resources” page, new webinar added, “Tools to Assist Schools in Navigating the Vaping Epidemic” presented by the Public Health Law Center. A discussion of current trends in youth use of e-cigarettes products, components of a model school policy including enforcement, and presentation of the American Lung Association’s “INDEPTH” alternative to suspension program.
• New articles posted to the “Vaping in the News” page! Including a great report from the folks at Truth Initiative, “Colorful and Close to Candy: Surveying How The Tobacco Industry Markets Flavored Products in Stores”.

Prevent Coalition events:

Coalition Coordinators Meeting

Thursday January 9th

9:30-11 am

ESD 112 Columbia Room

2500 NE 65th Ave. Vancouver, WA 98661

Youth Film Screening: Youth Made Films on Mental Health

Film screening and reflection discussions

Wednesday January 15th

3:30-5 pm

ESD 112 Conference Center

2500 NE 65th Ave. Vancouver, WA 98661

Youth Empowerment Project - Tobacco 21 Policy Change

Tuesday January 21st

3:30-5 pm

ESD 112 Skamania Room

2500 NE 65th Ave. Vancouver, WA 98661

Click for full calendar of coalition and community events.

SW Region CADCA Youth Leadership Institute

Three day training including Prevention Key Essentials & Photovoice

Monday June 22nd through Wednesday June 24th

All day and overnight event

Lewis & Clark College

0615 SW Palatine Hill Rd. Portland, OR

Registration coming soon. Expected cost: $500 per person, which includes meals, lodging, trainers and materials.

1/20/20 Prevention Policy Day in Olympia, WA

1/31/20 Webinar: The Vaping Epidemic Trends and Implications for Prevention & Policy

Online from 11 am - 12:30 pm.

3/17/20 Save the date! Teens Care Too Summit at WSU Vancouver from 10 am -3 pm

Our mission is connecting and supporting communities to build resilience and prevent youth substance use. We envision a healthy, thriving community free of substance abuse.

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: @preventcc112