Students, prevention clubs, prevention professionals, coalitions, and lawmakers gathered at Excelsior High School on December 8th for the annual "Use Your Voice" training. This annual event is a youth-led, day long training for students in Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania and Klickitat counties. 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 January 15, 2024.

Local prevention group and peer educators Teens For Tomorrow led presentations and activities. Students learned how laws are made, worked on public speaking skills, and discussed issues important to them such as mental health, substance prevention, and how to make a difference even if they are not old enough to vote yet.

Washington State Representative Kevin Waters, R-Stevenson, was on hand to speak and answer questions from the students. "I think that was a highlight of the event" said event organizer Paula Linden, Prevention Coordinator for Prevent. She added, "We were grateful to have so many community members come out and support youth and this event." City council members assisted students with speech writing. Southwest Washington Coalitions and Student Assistant Professionals engaged with students and supported youth in being able to attend.

Thank you to Rep. Kevin Waters, Teens for Tomorrow, Washougal Unite!, volunteers, coalitions, and event organizers for supporting and working to make this a successful and wonderful event for our youth!

Prevent and ESD 112 is excited to welcome Abigail Wells to the team! Abigail joins us from her previous role as Prevention & Community Public Health Department Manager with Northwest Family Services in Portland, OR.

In her prior role, Abigail oversaw five staff + two coalitions. She coordinated coalitions using the Strategic Prevention Framework since 2013 and worked as a Prevention Specialist for several years prior to that. She has created prevention campaigns, developed advocacy toolkits, and organized resource fairs. She has also hosted documentary screenings, delivered naloxone trainings, facilitated community forums, unity clubs and more.

We are grateful to have Abilgail assume leadership of the Statewide Rural Network!

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) answers the question conclusively via its E-Cigarettes Authorized by the FDA list. To date, the FDA has authorized 23 e-cigarette devices and tobacco-flavored e-cigarette products. Logic would suggest that all others marketed or sold in the U.S. are illegal.

“It is illegal to sell, import, distribute, or offer for sale or distribution to U.S. consumers any e-cigarette that has not been authorized by FDA,” said Brian King, Ph.D., M.P.H., Director of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP).

The CTP conducts enforcement action against illegal marketing and sale of e-cigarettes. To date, they have sent over 400 warning letters and filed civil money complaints against more than 65 manufacturers and retailers. The Washington State Liquor & Cannabis Board (LCB) also conducts compliance checks on retailers. However, government agencies need help. Local prevention groups, and ordinary citizens, armed with this published list of products can assist the LCB and CTP by auditing retailers in their area and reporting potential violations.

Click here to download "E-Cigarettes Authorized by the FDA" document.

Click here to search for retailers in your area who received a CTP warning letters.

Click here to REPORT A VIOLATION.

In the face of declining cigarette sales and expanding restrictions on flavored e-cigarettes, some tobacco companies are rapidly expanding their oral nicotine product offerings with recreational products such as nicotine pouches, gum, tablets, lozenges, gummies, and more. Because oral nicotine products do not contain tobacco leaf, the FDA does not categorize them as smokeless tobacco products and they are not regulated as tightly.

Read the full story at truthinitiative.org/research-resources.

Prevention Policy Day is an opportunity to learn about what bills the legislature might consider that could impact prevention and public health. Additionally, it is an opportunity for participants to share stories about prevention, public health, community-organizing, and policy development. Individuals who come to the in-person gathering in Olympia can schedule time to meet with their legislators.

Who will be at the event?

Youth from across the state gather in the same place to promote prevention. Typically, coalitions bring youth groups to the capitol and schedule meetings with lawmakers. These meetings are 15 minutes long and usually youth are able to directly share stories, data, and their concerns about certain laws, issues or general topics they care about. This could range from securing more CPWI/grant funding to more general issues like bullying or mental health needs at schools.

Where will the event take place?

There will be an in-person gathering at Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs (200 Union Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501) beginning at 10 AM, followed by a statewide Prevention Policy Day rally event at 12pm at the Capitol Building (416 Sid Snyder Ave SW, Olympia, WA 98504). Participation is also available through Zoom.

What happens while you’re there?

They start with a kickoff at 10am, then typically youth groups spread out and go to their lawmaker meetings at various times. You can tour the capitol while you’re there, visit the store or museums, walk in and out of lawmaker buildings to demonstrate what the legislative process is like or maybe even get to sit in on committee hearings or voting, and then there is a rally from 12-1pm hosted by WASAVP. It’s optional how you spend your day, but it’s common for youth groups to repeat the same message with 2-4 lawmakers during their time at the capitol (15 minutes each).

How do I register?

To register for Prevention Policy Day, either click on this link Prevention Policy Day Registration or scan the QR code on the attached flyer. You can also visit wasavp.org/ or https://bit.ly/2024PPD.

Who is the lawmaker for my community?

Enter your address here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/

How can I prepare?

Below are links to some tools that will help youth with preparing to speak to a lawmaker:

• Speech writing template
• Guide to a successful interaction with your lawmaker
• 
  

Bills to watch:

Here are some policies we’re monitoring that were introduced to the legislature last year and will likely return this year. You could consider speaking towards these if your youth need ideas on what to talk about. You’re not limited to these issues, and we encourage you to have youth speak about whatever they’re most interested in (even if it’s not a current bill being considered). Thank you to Prevention Voices for putting this list together!

• SB 5363 (or the companion bill HB 1612 which is identical just starting in the other side of congress). This bill seeks to remove restrictions LCB has in place regarding advertising cannabis. It would allow external store signage that is not regulated, it would allow billboards, and would allow people to have signs as large as they want to advertise (whereas right now they are restricted). Last year the senate did pass this bill out of the house committee on regulating substances and gaming, but the legislative session ended before it could be voted into law. This is concerning and means we need to advocate. Since it was voted on last year, it may be pushed through faster.
• HB 1375 which continues to allow alcohol home delivery. This law rule was temporary to allow businesses to continue operating during the pandemic and now alcohol retailers want to make it the norm permanently. Prevention communities worry about the increased access or exposure this would provide to youth and have concerns about proper I.D.’ing or law enforcements ability to monitor that I.D. checking is happening during home deliveries.
• HB 1497 which removes penalty for youth under 18 for purchasing, using or possessing (PUP) tobacco products. Instead, this bill increases penalties for retailers who sell to minors. The goal with this bill is to prevent over-policing of minority populations. There are disparities between who is charged with legal penalties and who isn’t, even though those disparities do not exist in the data. This makes it so youth are not penalized and instead puts responsibility on retailers who are distributing products to youth.
• HB 1386 creates a youth development state grant program, including things like mentorship, skill building, connecting to community resources, etc.
• HB 1641 which introduces a number of restrictions on high-potency cannabis. This includes things like limiting marketing of those products, making sure retailers provide education to customers about what they’re purchasing, and allows for the state to make educational media about high potency products. This is relevant because potency has increased significantly since the 1990’s and prior. Products now have very small serving sizes and can be extremely potent (concentrated). With very small serving sizes that are not easily measured, or tinctures/dabs/concentrates that are intentionally excessively strong, there’s concerns about accidental overdose or higher chances of addiction or harmful effects.

For more information about Prevention Policy Day, please visit wasavp.org/.

--

The Clark County Youth Commission is seeking nominations to recognize 300 local youth that demonstrate personal growth and community contribution in one of thirteen categories of achievement. Youth will be recognized in categories such as arts, career development, citizenship, courage, diversifier, education, empathy, environmental stewardship, family life, inspiration, leadership, personal achievement, and sportsmanship.

Recognition is a powerful way to help young people feel valued and connected to their community. Youth development research demonstrates that having opportunities for positive involvement in the community, and being recognized for that involvement, helps young people be healthy, happy, and successful.

The Clark County Youth Commission is a youth advisory board for the Clark County Council and is comprised of 30 diverse youth, ages 11-19, representing different areas of the county.

Nomination forms are due by 5 pm, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. Nomination forms are available online at https://www.clark.wa.gov/community-services/youth-achievement. Honorees will be sent a certificate, commemorative pin, and video message from the Clark County Youth Commission by late May.

For more information about the Clark County Youth Achievement Awards or the Clark County Youth Commission, please contact Elizabeth Houston-Hill, program coordinator, at [email protected].

Speaking Up About Mental Health is an essay contest that challenges high school students ages 16-18 to raise awareness of mental health. The contest gives students a platform to share ways to eliminate and/or reduce mental health stigma faced by young people, especially in diverse communities.

Eligible Ages: 16-18

Submission Deadline: Tuesday, January 16,2024

Judging: February-May, 2024

Winners Announced: May 31, 2024

$15,000 in prizes will be awarded to up to 20 winners. Click here or on the graphic with this story to visit the contest website and find more information on essay submission rules, deadlines, and how to submit your essay.

SAMHSA's Center for Substance Use Prevention (CSAP) is seeking the best ideas from U.S. youth, aged 14-18, on a community strategy to increase youth awareness, education, and prevention around the dangers of fentanyl, especially the hidden dangers of fake pills and other contaminants that can lead to drug overdose deaths.

• Challenge Launch: December 1, 2023
• Submission Deadline: February 26, 2024, 6 p.m. ET
• Judging: February/March 2024
• Winner Announced: April 2024

The top 6 ideas will be awarded a $5,000 prize each, and up to 25 youth will receive a $2,000 honorable mention prize. To learn more or participate visit the FentAlert: Empowering Youth for Safer Choices youth challenge website.

The Teen Health Hub WA provides a collection of links to quality, accurate information on health topics that are important to teens. Each link is vetted by Washington State Department of Health's Adolescent and Young Adult Health Team and reviewed by the Youth Advisory Council.

Both teens and parents will find resources on mental and behavioral health, primary care, navigating the health care system, sexual and reproductive health, teen dating and violence prevention, and substance use prevention.

Visit doh.wa.gov/teenhealthhub to learn more.

Mental Health America (MHA) advances the mental health and well-being of all people living in the U.S. through public education, research, advocacy and public policy, and direct service.

They developed a 2023-2024 Back-to-School Toolkit, called Selfies, Social, & Screens - Navigating Virtual Spaces for Youth, which provides information, tips, and resources for young people, parents, caregivers, and school personnel on how to protect youth mental health in a digital world. The toolkit contains downloadable fact sheets, social media graphics, posters, and more.

Click here to access the MHA 2023-2024 Back to School Toolkit and other resources.

To access the toolkit resources, visit communitysuicideprevention.org.

Use the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) Kahoot quiz as a tool to help students understand the science of addiction, why stopping drug use can be difficult, and that help is available. Or just quiz yourself!

The National Coalition Institute (NCI) recently launched their new website which provides training, coalition development support, outreach, and evaluation and research services to support drug-free communities. It serves as a go-to resource hub, offering comprehensive support for community coalitions seeking training, guidance, and resources to take their prevention efforts to the next level.

1. Training
   National Coalition Academy (NCA), Graduate Coalition Academy (GCA), Beyond the NCA, Virtual NCA Bootcamp, and Coalition Launch Training.
   
2. Learning Labs
   Free webinars and past webinar recordings, including Webinar Wednesday, Research Into Action, Coalitions Helping Coalitions: Roundtable Sessions, and Building Coalitions for Success: Ask the Experts.
   
3. Technical Assistance
   For tailored, one-on-one support aligned with the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) model, reach out to the Coalition Development Support (CDS) team.

Access these resources and learn more at the website - nationalcoalitioninstitute.org

If you are new to prevention or new to using data, this series is for you! In this 4-part series, Dr. Hayden Center will take you on a data journey, beginning with an overview of the basic components of data literacy, then a deeper dive to learn more about data collection, data analysis and interpretation, and finally visualizing and communicating data to your partners. During this journey there will be discussion and practical tips from Dr. Center who has worked with local community prevention organizations to build capacity around working with data.

This is a recorded on-demand webinar series made available by the South Southwest PTTC.

Click here view the webinar series on YouTube.

Do you know youth who are interested in making change? The Foundation for Healthy Generations (Healthy Gen) created a Youth Engagement Guide to provide youth with an easy-to-use resource for becoming successful youth advocates. This guide is a powerful tool that empowers youth with communication strategies they can use to bring attention to issues important to them when talking to legislators and lawmakers. It contains suggestions from youth around the state-including updated information about voter registration.

Click here to view the Youth Engagement Guide.

2024 Draft Session Cutoff Calendar

Training resources

Learn about the legislative process from Prevention Voices WA and Foundation for Healthy Generations

Bill Information

Search by bill number, or list bills by many other methods from links. The bottom of each bill page has links to TVW video of hearings and floor action. See the Bill Report for a useful high-level summary of the bill policy, background, and hearing testimony.

Budget Information

LEAP budget website provides detail on budget proposals and links to Citizen’s Guides to WA State budgets.

Current Laws (RCWs) and Rules (WACs)

Find RCWs or WAC by number or by title.

Legislative Information Center

Useful resource on the legislative website. Click on the Classes & Tutorials link to find great handouts and videos and live class info.

Find your District & Legislators

2022 Election Results

2023 Election Results

Washington Lobbying Rules

Committee Information

Sign Up for Email Updates on Committee Hearing Schedules

Testifying in Committee or Submitting Comments

How to Read a Bill Video

Understanding the WA Legislative Process Video

How to Use the Legislative Website Video

How to Use the Legislative Website Advanced Tips Video

Watch Live Coverage - TVW

See unedited coverage of committee hearings, testimony, floor debate, press conferences, and much more. Search the archive for recorded events or tune in live!

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 [email protected]

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 still under development, however, the 2022 conference web page is still live and offers information to help anyone interested in learning more. Visit www.preventcoalition.org/ruralconference.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].

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 Christopher Belisle, Rural Network Coordinator ([email protected]) or [email protected]. 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.

Logan Morrow, Community Prevention Coordinator, is running a book club around cultural competency and equity, requested by our Steering Committee. The book we’re currently reading is “I Never Thought Of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times,” by Washington author Mónica Guzmán. We are currently reading the book on our own through the next month or so then meeting in October to review and reflect. We will bring the author in to a monthly network meeting in the Winter and if there is enough interest, we can host the Book Club again in Winter or Spring after meeting the Author. A book club reflection meeting will be scheduled after members have time to read the book.

This is our newest Committee. It is tasked with reflecting and brainstorming around network member engagement. They will tackle questions such as, “Do our network members feel regularly and routinely engaged?”, “Are people feeling satisfied with our work?”, “Do people know how to get involved?”, “How can we get more members?”, “Do we have the right people at the table?”, “What barriers to engagement can we remove?”, etc. They will examine ways to improve and increase our engagement across rural communities. This committee is led by Steering Committee member Tammy Maine and will begin in October or November. The committee has not created a set schedule yet.

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 Wednesday from 3-4:30 p.m. 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 Christopher Belisle ([email protected]) or [email protected] to reserve this time with us.

Coalition Coordinators Meeting

TBD-No Meetings Scheduled

Virtual conference call by invitation.

For southwest region coalition coordinators.

Regional Network Meeting

TBD-No Meetings Scheduled

Virtual conference call by invitation.

For southwest region coalition coordinators.

Rural Network Office Hours

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

1-2 p.m.

Online conference call

For Rural Network members to receive technical assistance

Rural Steering Committee

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

3-4:30 p.m.

Online conference call

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

Rural Network Meeting

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

2-3:30 p.m.

Online conference call

For Rural Network members by invitation

All times are Pacific Standard Time (PST)

Relevant events not sponsored by Prevent Coalition:

CADCA

National Leadership Forum

Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center, National Harbor, MD

January 29 thru February 1, 2024

Cost: Click here to visit the CADCA Forum 2024 website for more information

CADCA Forum provides training from top experts in the field, Information, tools and strategies to take your prevention work to the next level, the latest science, news and trends on substance misuse issues, the opportunity to network with thousands of advocates passionate about prevention, and specialized youth leadership training.

CannAct

Cannabis Action Conference

(Virtual)

January 30-31, 2024

Cost: $195 (adult early bird), $100 (student)

Visit www.ph-mjsummit.com for more information.

The annual CannAct Conference (formerly Public Health-Marijuana Summit) brings public health professionals, prevention specialists, equity advocates, public safety professionals, tobacco prevention professionals, partners, and other advocates together virtually to discuss the new and changing legalized cannabis landscape in our communities. The conference focus is policy, system and environmental change and youth prevention.

Stanford Medicine

5th Annual Teaching Cannabis Awareness & Prevention Virtual Conference

(Virtual)

April 17-18, 2024, 8am-2pm daily

Cost: $125 (adult early bird)

Visit the Conference Registration Webpage for more information.

The conference will focus on the intersection of cannabis, tobacco/nicotine, and vaping, both singular and co-use of these products by youth. Learn the latest research, reasons for use, health effects, and the latest available lessons for teaching cannabis, tobacco, and co-use education and prevention to elementary, middle- and high school-aged youth. This conference is for educators, TUPE Coordinators, community-based organizations, school administrators, healthcare providers, school resource officers, counselors, parents, and anyone else working with youth. Over 1400 attendees last year!

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: $995. Virtual only, $525

Visit: Montana Institute website for more information

Reshape the way you approach community health and well-being at the 2024 Montana Summer Institute. Join us onsite or online and learn how to foster hope, cultivate health, and strengthen connections to build healthier, safer, and more positive communities for all.

Pacific Southwest PTTC

Media in Prevention

(3-Part Webinar Series)

On-demand, click link below to view

No Fee

Webinar 1: Social Media Best Practices
Webinar 2: Media Literacy as a Practical and Transferrable Skill
Webinar 3: Using Media in Substance Misuse Prevention

This three-part webinar series aims to do this by helping participants better understand core concepts such as media literacy, social media strategies, and the role of advertising in substance use, and develop skills to think critically about social media, its’ messages, and its role in prevention.

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.

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: [email protected]
Website: www.PreventCoalition.org
Location: 2500 NE 65th Ave., Vancouver, WA, USA
Phone: 360-952-3457
Facebook: Facebook.com/PreventCoalition
Twitter: @supportyouthnow