PREVENT! received a statewide Exemplary Prevention Award at the Washington State Prevention Summit in Yakima on November 7. Members of the PREVENT! Steering Committee and staff attended the Summit and accepted the award.
“The PREVENT! coalition is comprised of a dedicated group of community members working together to reduce youth substance abuse,” said Deb Drandoff, Director of Prevention and Youth Services. “Our staff team has supported this work for ten years, resulting in funding growth from $100,000 per year to over $500,000 per year, the development of 4 new local coalitions, and most importantly, youth use rates of tobacco and alcohol have declined over those years. With the legalization of marijuana and the new threat we are seeing with youth use of vaping products, their work continues to be crucial.”
Administered by ESD 112, PREVENT! is a substance abuse prevention coalition focused in Clark County, and is our vehicle for all of our community prevention work that is funded with federal Drug Free Communities grants and state Tobacco and Marijuana grants.
ESD 112 equalizes educational opportunities for learning communities through innovative partnerships, responsive leadership, and exceptional programs.