Share your voice about Medicaid in schools
The Washington Health Care Authority (HCA), in partnership with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, is exploring ways to expand Medicaid reimbursements for local education agencies, including public school districts, educational service districts (ESDs), and tribal compact schools.
We want to hear from families, parents, caregivers, and students! Share your thoughts about improving access to Medicaid (Apple Health) at our upcoming feedback session on Wednesday, March 5, 3–4:30 p.m. Please register to attend and view the flyer for more information.
Your voice matters! Use it to help shape how Medicaid services are offered in schools, share your experiences and ideas, and ask questions to learn how these changes may affect you and your school.
HCA's substance use prevention and mental health promotion services funding opportunity announcement (FOA)
Last month, HCA released a FOA for organizations interested in implementing programming to address substance use disorder (SUD) prevention related to opioids and cannabis, mental health promotion, suicide prevention, and disordered eating prevention services in Washington.
The purpose of this project is to increase community capacity to implement direct prevention service programs to communities experiencing the highest need and risk.
HCA may award multiple contracts to public or private organizations, including tribal governments or urban Indian organizations, government agencies, and community coalitions. Please see the FOA for a full list of eligible applicants.
To view FOA details and apply, visit the FOA informational page. Questions? Please email Prevention, with "#2025PxPromo01 – Question" in the subject line.
Completed application packets are due Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Awards are contingent upon the availability of funding.
Retail alcohol product placement rulemaking is open!
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) is hosting two public stakeholder feedback sessions and one feedback session specifically for public health and prevention partners as part of its rulemaking on alcohol product placement. The sessions will cover new proposed draft rule language on retail alcohol product placement.
For more information about the upcoming public feedback sessions, including Zoom call in options, view the full announcement on The Athena Forum.
Public sessions
Public health and prevention session
- Friday, March 14, 10 to 11 a.m.
- If you'd like to attend this session, please email Kristen Haley and she'll send you the call-in information directly.
Feedback provided in this session will be collected and referenced as "feedback from public health and prevention partners" within our CR 102 document.
Please note, LCB will keep a list of names for those who attended, which is subject to public disclosure but doesn't intend to associate specific feedback with specific people. The LCB hopes this approach will allow folks with expertise and lived experiences related to retail alcohol product placement an opportunity to provide input and get clarity about the draft rule and the rulemaking process.
Registration for the March Learning Community Meeting (LCM) is coming soon!
HCA's Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) will host its next LCM on Wednesday, March 26, 9:05 a.m. to noon.
While the agenda is tentative, we plan to provide updates on legislative session, workforce development, evidence-based programs, the 2025 Coalition Leadership Institute, and more! We look forward to seeing you there!
A registration link will be available on the event information page soon! Please note, LCMs are required for community-based organization grantees, ESDs, and Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative (CPWI) coalition coordinators and fiscal agent staff.
Past LCM meeting notes and materials can be accessed on The Athena Forum's provider training and meetings page.
Learn more about gambling during Problem Gambling Awareness Month
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, a time to shine a spotlight on the risks of gambling and its growing impact on youth. As gambling becomes more accessible through online platforms and mobile apps, young people are increasingly exposed to the temptation of betting. This shift in how gambling is marketed and consumed presents a serious risk to their mental and emotional well-being.
In Washington, over 10 percent of students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grade report gambling on the 2023 Healthy Youth Survey. And numbers for all groups increased from the previous survey in 2021. Additionally, about 90,000 adults in Washington are at moderate or severe risk for problem gambling.
Read the full announcement on The Athena Forum to learn more!
National Poison Prevention Week
National Poison Prevention Week is observed annually, during the third week of March, to educate the public on the risks posed by poisonous substances and precautions people can take to keep their families safe.
This year, National Poison Prevention Week is March 16–22. The theme, "When the unexpected happens, Poison Help is here for you," raises awareness about the Poison Helpline (1-800-222-1222) and website (PoisonHelp.org). Both resources are available 24/7/365 for general questions and emergencies.
Getting involved is easy!
Promote prevention
- Save the Poison Helpline (1-800-222-1222) as a contact in your phone to prevent a poison emergency in case of an accidental exposure - and encourage your loved ones to do the same!
- Keep poisonous products and substances out of reach of children and older adults. Consider labeling these items with Mr. Yuk stickers to help prevent accidental poisonings.
Spread Awareness
Save the date: Saturday, April 26 is Take Back Day
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is held twice a year, on the last Saturdays of April and October, to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the potential misuse of medications. The next Take Back Day is Saturday, April 26.
HCA's Starts With One materials are available to help support your work. Check out the resources on the Starts with One webpage.
Have you started planning an event? Or want to share a past successful Drug Take Back event? Send your future plans or past event success story to Kersten Tano to be highlighted in the next newsletter!
Prevention spotlight: Soap Lake Prevention Coalition and Quincy Partnership for Youth
The amazing work of two Grant County CPWI coalitions - Soap Lake Prevention Coalition and Quincy Partnership for Youth - was highlighted in local media last month.
Ryan Boldman, coalition coordinator in Soap Lake, provided a thoughtful perspective after youth in the community were arrested for a cannabis shop burglary. In the Columbia Basin Herald article, Ryan is quoted as saying, “So, when situations like this arise, rather than simply condemning the offenders, shouldn’t we take a long, hard look at the environment that continues to produce them?” He urges the need to understand the 'why' of our community coalition work, and how Soap Lake is using a holistic approach to combat community issues. This human-centered approach is at the heart of coalition work.
Crystal Cruz and the Quincy Partnership for Youth coalition was profiled in the Quincy Valley Post-Register for their work in the community to decrease substance use among youth by way of their Strengthening Families Program. The current coalition president and former Strengthening Families Program participant, Maria Valle, says, "The program made a huge difference in how my son and I communicated,” showing their targeted protective factor, family communication, in action.
CPWI evaluation results published in peer-reviewed journal
Our colleagues from the Washington State University IMPACT Lab recently published key results from their evaluation of the CPWI model in a peer-reviewed journal, Community Development. View the article.
This evaluation used a quasi-experimental design comparing CPWI communities to demographically similar non-CPWI communities with propensity score weighting. Outcomes were measured using 2010-2016 Healthy Youth Survey data from 18 CPWI communities (n = 10,794) and 155 non-CPWI communities (n = 84,955). Results were largely favorable, especially for alcohol use outcomes, lifetime cannabis use, and two peer-individual risk factors (belief in the moral order and early initiation of substance use). As the authors discuss, the favorable pattern of outcomes across multiple domains is likely because the CPWI model aligns with all five Essential Components of Collective impact.
Join us for the 2025 Spring Youth Forum!
Mark your calendars for HCA's 2025 WA State Spring Youth Forum! HCA is planning to host this year's annual youth conference at the Great Wolf Lodge, tentatively, on Wednesday, May 7. Youth teams are encouraged to continue planning and implementing prevention projects in preparation for the scholarship application launch in March.
Be sure to join our mailing list to receive important announcements regarding the conference. To join, email conference chair Tony Edwards-Lenton.
For more information, visit us online at SpringYouthForum.org.
Registration for the Montana Summer Institute is now open!
Join the Montana Institute in Big Sky, MT, on June 17–20, for the 2025 Montana Summer Institute. This year's theme is "Reimagining community health: Uncovering positive norms and activating hidden protective factors." Through thought-provoking keynotes, interactive workshops, and engaging discussions, you’ll explore innovative strategies that leverage positive norms and amplify protective factors.
Learn to uncover hidden community strengths, identify untapped opportunities, and craft impactful communications that drive meaningful change. With insights from leading experts and experienced practitioners, you’ll gain practical tools to reimagine your approach to data, messaging, and the people you serve—all through a positive, effective frame.
Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your expertise, deepen your impact, and shape healthier, more resilient communities. Register today!
Mark your calendar: DBHR's 2025 Coalition Leadership Institute
Mark your calendar! HCA's DBHR is hosting the 2025 Coalition Leadership Institute (CLI) on June 24–25!
This year’s CLI will be held virtually on Zoom and will focus on Minerva 2.0 and how it supports our work in Washington state.
We’ll cover important updates for the new biennium, share insights from data dashboards, explore 'the whys' behind reporting requirements, and prepare for reporting and planning in the next biennium.
Attendance is required for CPWI coalition coordinators, CBO grantees, and young adult local service grantees. Day one is required for representatives from ESDs for school-based services. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, collaborate, and get ready for what’s ahead!
Agenda and registration links are coming soon!
|
