February Coalition News

Gave up on your New Year’s resolutions already? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. It’s not too late to recommit — or even set a NEW goal in motion!

When making a New Year’s resolution or setting a goal, make sure it’s realistic, actionable, achievable and has a strong sense of purpose. Choose healthy, mindful goals that will become a normal part of your life.

If you choose to recommit, be intentional, put a plan in motion and work with a flexible timeline for achieving your goal. Recharge your goal with a positive mindset and have a clear understanding of your “why”. These are the drivers that will keep you focused and move you forward in achieving your goals.

If you choose a new resolution, know that setting a goal or changing a behavior does not require an overhaul of your entire life. You can build great momentum in creating change by choosing one small yet important behavior and focus all energy on shifting that change in behavior for the better. It does require forethought and proper planning to establish systems that support your new habit, like packing your lunch the night before work. Over time, even these routines require less and less effort until hardly any is required to maintain a new routine.

For those choosing to set a new goal, why not choose “Medication Safety” as your new resolution? Being intentional about safeguarding your medications can become a normal part of life and taking precautionary steps to manage your medicines displays a strong sense of purpose.

By taking an active role in safeguarding your medications you are choosing to protect yourself, your loved ones and the environment. Medicines help treat diseases, manage chronic conditions, and improve health and well-being when used according to a doctor’s instructions. Moreover, any medicine can come with adverse reactions when used with other medications, not taken as prescribed or when taken by someone other than who it was prescribed for. Likewise, when medications are not disposed of properly they can end up in the wrong hands and in our waterways and environment. All important reasons to make medication safety a normal part of your life. Ready to set your goal in motion?

Begin by taking these precautionary steps to safeguard your meds:

1. Speak with your pharmacist or physician about all the prescriptions and over-the-counter medications you’re taking for possible adverse reactions.
2. Follow medication instructions completely, even if you feel better. Speak with your physician if you feel your medication isn’t working or if you no longer wish to take a medication.
3. Never share or take a prescription that wasn’t prescribed for you. It’s dangerous and illegal.
4. Have honest conversations with friends and family about the dangers and risks of misusing prescription drugs.
5. Store medication in a secured location at home. For more information on safe storage, please click here.
6. Dispose of expired and unused medication for free at a take-back kiosk near you or use mail-back services to dispose of unwanted medicines. For more information on proper medication disposal using a kiosk or by mail, please click here. * Do not place medicines in the trash or recycling, and never flush them down the toilet for environmental and public safety reasons *

Whatever goals you set or resolutions you make, know that your goals are worth making time for any day of the year. Each day is an opportunity to grow, change and be better. Notice and accept when things go well and when they don't, then take note of those things and make adjustments for tomorrow. And remember, a positive mindset and a defined purpose will be the drivers that move you forward in achieving your goals.

If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction to opioids, now is the time to get help. Programs are available across Washington state to help you live an opioid-free life. Find out more at www.GetTheFactsRx.com.

* Article written by Kelley Groen-Sieckmann, Community Prevention Project Specialist.

On January 20th and 27th over 20 youth leaders learned how to use their voices and advocate for policy change in the community and at the state level. Southwest Washington Coalitions, Student Assistant Professionals and Schools brought youth to this two-day long advocacy training hosted by the Prevent Coalition. While this training normally takes place in person, this year the training was held via Zoom.

Students learned how laws are made, worked on public speaking skills and split into groups to craft messages on issues important to them. The groups discussed issues ranging from whether pineapple belongs on pizza to banning flavored vaping products, and even discussing whether temporary alcohol allowances due to COVID-19 should be made permanent or not.

On day two of the training, youth heard from Washington State Representative Paul Harris about the importance of youth advocacy and what prevention bills are currently moving through the state legislature. Washington Representative Monica Stonier also sent in a video recording for youth to watch where she discussed prevention related bills and how impactful youth voice can be on policy decisions.

Use Your Voice prepares youth to engage in conversations about policy change with any decision maker, but is specifically useful for advocacy days in Olympia, like Prevention Policy Day on February 15th, 2021.

Thank you to Jaelyn Sotelo and Kianne Bell for being our amazing youth facilitators for this event. Thank you to La Center United for providing technical assistance and support. Thank you, Prevent Together Battle Ground Coalition, DREAM Team, STASHA, and Cascadia Technical Academy for helping to recruit youth to attend this year’s event.

Below is an opportunity brought to you by the Clark County YWCA.

February is Black History Month and Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. The Clark County YWCA is collaborating with local Black-owned apparel brand Rogue Inspiration to host the Black Youth Creator Challenge. The creator of the winning design will receive a free t-shirt from the brand featuring their art. The t-shirt will be produced and sold for the month of February to raise awareness around Teen Dating Violence.

Art challenge rules:

1) Open to Black youth in Clark County ages 18 and under.

2) Must include orange and/or purple as one of the colors in your art.

(Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month colors are orange and purple)

3) Artwork must be submitted in the form of PDF or Vector file

4) Healthy relationships is the theme!

5) Submissions close on February 15, 2021.

If you have any questions contact Tanika Siscoe at tsiscoe@ywcaclarkcounty.org.

Submissions should be sent to tsiscoe@ywcaclarkcounty.org and include first and last

name, age, phone number, mailing address, and art.

Below is an opportunity brought to you by the Clark County YWCA.

Events for Adults:

In Their Shoes - Virtual Edition

Thursday, February 4

From WSCADV: “In Their Shoes is designed for experiential learning about teen dating violence. Participants become one of six characters based on the experiences of real teens including sexting, pregnancy, homophobia, and stalking. They make choices about their relationship and move through the scenario by reading about interactions with their dating partner, family, friends, counselors, police, and others.” Experience In Their Shoes followed up with a debrief of the activity.

Facilitators: Tanika Siscoe, Olivia Riley, Jessie Spinney, Madeline Thompson

tinyurl.com/y4nezdl7

How to Talk to Youth about Healthy Relationships

Thursday, February 18

This workshop will provide parents with information about some of the possible effects witnessing

DV has on youth and also address how to answer questions from youth about relationships, and

tips on how to start meaningful conversations. Presenters: Tanika Siscoe and Olivia Riley

tinyurl.com/yxme4xn5

Events for Youth Ages 13-17:

Teen Dating Violence 101

Wednesday, February 10

Interactive Workshop for youth on healthy and unhealthy relationships dynamics.

Presenters: Tanika Siscoe, Olivia Riley, Kit Kuran

tinyurl.com/y5t99r4h

Bystander Intervention for Youth

Wednesday, February 24

Discuss ways to hold your friends and loved one accountable in their relationships with others. We’ll chat about strategies youth can use to interrupt unhealthy and oppressive comments and behaviors.

tinyurl.com/y4getzd6

Events are from 6:00-7:30 pm via zoom. Please register for the zoom invite.

The “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign aims to reduce underage drinking and substance use among youths under the age of 21 by providing parents and caregivers with information and resources they need to address alcohol and other drug use with their children early.

Click here to access campaign tools and learn more.

The 2021-22 Washington State Legislative Session has begun. We encourage you to establish a connection with your elected officials, and share your voice for matters important to you.

Tools or Updates:

• Liquor & Cannabis Board Annual Report
  
• Accessing the Legislature Remotely
• How to Testify or Submit Comment Remotely
• How to Locate & Contact Your Legislators

Relevant Prevention Policies:

• Regulating Vaping & Tobacco Products
• Allowing Adult Residential Marijuana Agriculture (Home Grows)
• Establishing & Allowing Craft Cannabis License
• Taxation Changes to Medical Cannabis
• Establishing Health Equity Zones
• Clarifying WA Clean Air Act
• Replacing the Term "Marijuana" with "Cannabis"
• Concerning Possession of Vapor Products by Minors
• Arrest Protections for Users of Medical Cannabis

We have been working with Epidemiologists behind the scenes to collect, sort and analyze Healthy Youth Survey data from rural schools across the state. The Epidemiology team will present their report to you (Needs Assessment Part 2) and share an overview of what we discovered through an engaging online data-walk.

Rural Network Meeting

Tuesday February 23

2 - 3:30 p.m.

Click here to access meeting minutes from January.

Questions?

Email preventcoalition@esd112.org or learn more and to subscribe for meeting reminders.

• Toolkit: You voted to begin developing an online library of Rural Stock Photos. These will be used for prevention campaigns, media, communication, flyers, and more. Start submitting photos today! Click here to access the submission form. Any photos of youth submit will require parent/guardian approval.
• Toolkit: We will also begin developing a collection of success stories, lessons learned, and ways of adapting programs to rural areas in the Innovation & Creativity collection. Click here to access the submission form.
• Website: We've updated our Rural Partners page. Want to be featured? Let us know!
• Map: Visit the new website map of coalitions across Washington. We will soon be adding the latest round of Drug Free Community coalition grantees from December as well as Opioid grant recipients.
• Assessment: You will receive the second part of the Needs Assessment containing Healthy Youth Survey data near the end of January. In February, our meeting will be hosted by Clark County Public Health to discuss and share what they learned in an interactive format.
• Training: We are hosting an online data training in March to reflect on the Needs Assessment Part 2, learn how to analyze data, and how to collect/use qualitative data. See dates in the events part of this newsletter.
• Recruitment: We are always seeking new voices to join our network. We are especially interested in recruiting people who identify as Black/African American, Latinx, LGBTQ+, and most importantly YOUTH. Send new recruits the information about our upcoming Rural Network Orientation Day!

For a full grant progress timeline visit www.preventcoalition.org/rural/our-work/.

Prevent Coalition events:

Rural Network Orientation Day

Wednesday February 13

1-2 p.m.

Online rally event.

For newer or prospective members. This is a duplicate event with content from January.

Prevention Policy Day

Monday February 15

12-1 p.m.

Online conference call.

For youth groups, coalitions, and prevention supporters who want to implement policy change in the legislature.

Rural Toolkit Workgroup Meeting

Thursday February 18

10-11:30 a.m.

Online conference call.

For members interested in the toolkit task.

Rural Network Meeting

Tuesday February 23

2-3:30 p.m.

Online conference call.

For rural volunteers, representatives & leaders across Washington.

Coalition Coordinators Meeting

Thursday February 25

9:30-11 a.m.

Online conference call.

For Coalition Coordinators & staff in SW Washington.

Qualitative Data Training

Wednesday March 10

9-11 a.m.

Registration coming soon.

Online training on how to gather, sort, analyze, and publish qualitative data.

For rural network members and their community representatives.

Click for full calendar of coalition and community events.

Relevant events not sponsored by Prevent Coalition:

2/1 - 2/4 CADCA National Leadership Forum

2/9 Webinar: Effectively Communicating in a New Virtual World

2/10 Webinar: COVID-19 and alcohol policy

2/11 Clark County Food System Community Conversation

2/11 Webinar: Policy implications of COVID-19 on alcohol and marijuana use

2/16 Webinar: Adolescents, young adults and opioid use: When is it a problem? What to do?

2/22 Webinar: Cultural Awareness: Understanding, insight, and communication

2/23 Webinar: Improving Health Equity Among Today's Youth

3/4 Webinar: Who's Doing What?: The Epidemiology of Adolescent Substance Use

A coalition is a formal arrangement for collaboration among groups or sectors of a community, in which each group retains it's identity but all work together towards the common goal of a safe, healthy and drug-free community.

We are here to connect and support communities to build resilience and prevent youth 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