May Coalition News

Leah Howard, a Youth Empowerment Project member and graduate from Eastern Washington University, is offering weekly mindfulness tools on the Youth Now Instagram page for teens.

Watch: www.Instagram.com/youth_now

Every Wednesday Leah is posting an activity, trick, tip or other mindfulness practice to the Instagram Story, which is saved on the "mindfulness" profile button. On Friday's, Leah is checking in with a question of the week and tidings for weekend enjoyment.

Click here to check out OSPI's most up-to-date resources for educators, parents, students, and seniors.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 75 percent of opioid misuse starts with people using medication that wasn't prescribed for them—usually taken from a friend or family member. As folks continue to be instructed to stay at home to slow the spread of COVID-19, it is important to recognize that the risk for opioid misuse can increase in our homes and in our community during this time.

During the governor’s order to stay home and travel only for essential activities, it’s more important than ever to store your medications in a safe and secure location. Medicines that languish in unsecured home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.

Safeguarding medications in the home is a simple, yet essential act that will diminish opportunities for easy access and keep loved ones safe from accidental poisonings. Likewise, waiting to properly dispose of unused, unwanted and expired medication is highly encouraged until the stay home ordinance is lifted. To reduce chemicals in the environment, please do not throw medication in the trash or flush medications down the toilet or drain. Instead, store your medications in a secured location until it’s safe for you to properly dispose of them at a take back location.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many medication take back locations are temporarily closed or have other restrictions. Transfer stations are seeing large crowds, putting workers and customers at risk. If you absolutely must dispose of medication now, below is an amended list of medication take back locations in SW Washington or you may download this flier. Calling ahead for availability is highly encouraged.

• Walgreens- Fisher’s Landing, (360) 885-2938, 1905 SE 164th Ave., Vancouver. Open: 24 hours/day - Call for availability Walgreens Salmon Creek

• Walgreens- Salmon Creek, (360) 574–0914, 2100 NE 139th St., Vancouver. Open: M-F, 8 am-10 pm, Sat, 9 am-6 pm, Sun, 10am-6pm, Call for availability.

• Central Transfer & Recycling Center, (360) 256-8482, 11034 NE 117th Ave., Vancouver. *Noncontrolled medications, inhalers and Sharps/syringes * accepted: Fri-Sun, 8 am-4 pm

• West Van Materials Recovery Center (360) 737-1727, 6601 NW Old Lower River Rd., Vancouver. *Noncontrolled medications, inhalers and Sharps/syringes * accepted: Sat, 8 am-4 pm

• Washougal Transfer Station, (360) 835-2500, 4020 S Grant St., Washougal. *Noncontrolled medications, inhalers and Sharps/syringes * accepted: The first and third Saturday of the month, 8 am-4 pm.

For other safe free medication drop-off locations across Washington State, visit TakeBackYourMeds.org. You can also visit Starts with One and Locks Save Lives to learn more about how to safely store medication, dispose of unused, unwanted and expired medication, and the importance of removing prescription opioid medications from homes.

Rural Network Meeting

May 28, 2020

1 - 2:30 p.m.

Click here for Zoom information and calendar invite.

Topic: Grant updates, member networking activity, developing strategy around Needs Assessment survey, mini focus-group.

Click here to access meeting minutes from April.

Questions?

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

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration) is accepting applications for the Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Grants (ROTA). The purpose of this program is to develop and disseminate training and technical assistance for rural communities on addressing opioid issues affecting these communities. Training and technical assistance can also be geared toward addressing stimulant issues in these communities.

SAMHSA plans to issue 5 awards of $550,000 for up to 2 years. Application Due Date: Friday, May 8, 2020

Click here for more information.

A full set of updates will be provided during the May meeting. Some highlights are below:

• Website: Our website is fully launched at www.preventcoalition.org/rural.
  
• Sector Representatives: We had 45 participants at our last meeting who collectively covered all four quadrants of Washington state. Incredible turnout! In May, we will begin identifying what sectors/groups our volunteers represent. Potential sectors include: youth, parents, business, media, schools, youth-serving organizations, law enforcement, civic/volunteer populations, religious/fraternal organizations, healthcare professionals, state/local/tribal government, and other substance abuse organizations. By involving all groups from the community we're able to develop a clear picture of why youth substance misuse is happening and what we can do to address it.
• Map: Click here for the rural map that will help recruit volunteers and survey-takers. This map is not intended to exclude any population and primarily serves as a guidepost. All who live/work/play in a rural community, serve a rural community, self-identify as rural, or are simply interested in learning more are welcome to participate. This map outlines one of many definitions of the word "rural" and is necessary to guide our efforts.
• Assessment: We're implementing a Needs Assessment during the month of May. This will help us understand more about what tools, resources and supports make sense for rural populations. Additionally, it will help us develop a shared understanding of what works and what doesn't in rural areas. By the time our next meeting is held, we will have conducted two focus groups and shared an online survey widely. The survey is currently being reviewed by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and will be emailed to Rural Network members once IRB exempt status is achieved.
• Sub-Contract: At the moment we're unable to access Healthy Youth Survey data in rural areas as part of the Needs Assessment because of COVID-19 data request delays. Instead, the sub-contracted Epidemiology team at Clark County Public Health is creating a report of other health indicators that are available to the public.

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

Is Prevent still operating during COVID-19?

Yes.

We fully believe in the science and power of prevention. That’s why Prevent Coalition is following social distancing guidelines during this global pandemic. Our staff are working remotely from home and creating innovative ways to conduct business, connect community and support youth through virtual means.

What does this mean for me?

• All coalition meetings will take place virtually.
• Large scale events that could not transition to virtual platforms are cancelled until the state provides clearance to meet again. This includes the SW Regional Youth Leadership Institute, Teens Care Too Summit and the Coalition Appreciation Picnic.
• Youth Empowerment Project meetings are postponed however new online engagement opportunities have been created in place of meetings.

Where can I learn more?

We will update the front page of our website and this newsletter when changes to these practices are made.

Visit the ESD 112 COVID-19 page for resources, and the Washington State COVID website for latest policies and research.

COVID-19 quickly escalated into a very serious pandemic. It has consumed media airwaves and changed us all. However, lurking along the sidelines a youth vaping pandemic still exists. Some new resources on vaping, lung health, and COVID-19 have been added to the Youth Now vaping resource pages:

• On the “Schools” main landing page is a new downloadable infographic “Give Your Lungs a Fighting Chance” from Stanford Medicine, makers of the Tobacco Prevention Toolkit.
• On the “Educator Resources” page you can find the recently updated “The Real Cost of Vaping” curriculum from Scholastic.
• On the “Counselor Resources” page, under “Cessation Resources” is an additional resource to quit vaping or smoking during COVID-19. Also added the telephone, text, and website contacts for the most up to date Washington State COVID-19 information and resources.
• On the “Vaping in the News” page a number of new articles about vaping and COVID-19, Food & Drug Administration regulatory actions, and a video on how to talk to kids about COVID-19.

For anyone looking for easy to implement from home vaping and tobacco prevention curriculum for their students, or for their own youth, visit the Youth Now Educator Resources and take a look at the curriculum from Scholastic, Tobacco Free Kids, Stanford Medicine, The Surgeon General, as well as the many interactive game like resources available!

National Prevention Week (NPW) is a public education platform that promotes prevention year-round through providing ideas, capacity building, tools, and resources to help individuals and communities make substance use prevention happen every day.

NPW culminates in May recognizing the important work that has been done in communities throughout the year to inspire action and prevent substance use and mental disorders.

SAMHSA’s next NPW is May 10 through 16, 2020. Each year around this observance, communities and organizations across the country come together to raise awareness about the importance of substance use prevention and positive mental health.

Send questions and requests to SAMHSA's NPW coordinator David Wilson at david.wilson@samhsa.hhs.gov.

Learn more about National Prevention Week.

Prevent Coalition events:

Rural Office Hours (Drop in for guidance/Technical Assistance. No formal agenda)

Wednesday May 6

1-2 p.m.

Online virtual conference call.

Coalition Coordinators Meeting (For Coalition staff in the SW Washington region)

Thursday May 7

9:30-11 a.m.

Online, link coming soon.

Rural Network Meeting (Collaboration of rural volunteers and leaders across Washington)

Thursday May 28

1-2:30 p.m.

Online virtual conference call.

Liquor & Cannabis Board Virtual Prevention Roundtable

Monday June 8

10 - 12 p.m.

Online virtual event. We were unable to meet in April however rescheduled for this virtual LCB opportunity.

Click for full calendar of coalition and community events.

Community events not sponsored by Prevent Coalition:

Previously recorded webinar: Partnering with School Systems- Understanding the Culture of Education Partners and Agencies

5/4 through 6/26 (Mondays and Fridays) A Series: Challenges and Opportunities of the COVID-19 Work Environment from 9-9:30 a.m. Topics include facilitating like a pro, virtual meeting tips, self care, working remotely and more.

5/8 Webinar: Alcohol & COVID-19, a Dangerous Mix from 11-12:30 a.m.

5/12 Webinar: Changing Behavior Through Social Norms, using Segmentation from 10-11:30 a.m.

5/13 Webinar: How Implicit Bias Affects the Work We Do In Mental Health and Wellness

from 3-4 p.m.

5/13 Webinar: Social Emotional Learning 101 & 201 at 10 a.m.and 3 p.m.

5/20 Webinar: Differing Shades of Shame in Substance Use Disorders at 10 a.m.

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.

Forward this newsletter to a friend, colleague or youth leader. You may also pass our news link along: bit.ly/preventnews.

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