There’s no doubt that it’s certainly been quite the year. I see recurring themes of challenge, uncertainty, or worry. And still, during such adversity, I remain committed and inspired by stories of profound hope, monumental creativity, and meaningful connection throughout all our work.
We have faced significant changes, transitions, and losses in a field that is already complex. Despite any adjustments, I am constantly impressed by your resilience and adaptability, and I am reminded of why I do this work. Prevention isn’t just about a particular substance, program, or challenge; it’s about making things better. You all do that every single day.
I am grateful for the mentors who walk alongside our youth and help guide them towards whole health. I am grateful for the caregivers who are worried but ready to provide support. I am grateful for the coalition coordinators who navigate sticky situations in their communities and find resolutions. I am grateful for the community leaders who face budget and staffing challenges but find creative solutions. And I am so grateful for the young people who understand what’s at stake and consistently find ways to make our world better. I am thankful to our team, who work diligently to support these efforts. Without every one of you doing the little things (or the big things), we wouldn’t be able to make such a difference. And so, I thank you. Thank you for thinking about others. Thank you for caring. Thank you for taking a step ahead, then ten more, and even more until there is a path forward.
I don’t know yet what 2026 will bring, but I am excited to see what we can do together. You have proven time and time again that we can make a huge impact with your involvement and hard work. Please continue to push forward, ask questions, and trailblaze towards the future of prevention. Together we truly can make a better and healthier Washington.
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Legislative session begins
Legislative session is underway! This year is a “short session” meaning its half-way through the biennial budget approved last session. This session runs for 60 days from January 1 to March 12, 2026.
Be sure to attend the regularly scheduled Prevention Provider Meetings (the meeting formerly known as LCM) for updates on relevant bills that DBHR is tracking as well as third hour options to learn more!
Ready to strengthen what’s strong in your community? Join online for the 2026 Montana Winter Institute and learn the key skills for building positive, protective norms. Participants will gather January 26–30 for one action-packed online hour each day. Registration is $49 for all five sessions, including 90 days of replay access!
Seeking volunteers for the 2026 Prevention Awards of Excellence review team
Each year, the Prevention Awards of Excellence recognizes outstanding prevention professionals, community members, youth, and coalitions for their exemplary contributions to substance use disorder prevention and mental health promotion across Washington state.
The awards are made possible by a volunteer review team, which provides feedback on the past year’s nomination materials and process as well as reviews the current year’s nominations. This year, we're hoping to firm up the list of Review Team members by Friday, January 16, 2026.
Cannabis Safely campaign launched by Department of Health
The Washington State Department of Health is excited to announce the launch of a new adult education campaign, Cannabis Safely. While HCA’s CPWI program focuses primarily on promoting prevention messages to children and youth, this campaign is intended for those 21 and over. The purpose is to educate adults of legal age to consume cannabis about the risks, rules, and responsibilities of using cannabis in Washington state.
Informed by research with English and Spanish-speaking cannabis consumers and input from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, Washington State Traffic Safety Commission, other local health and safety partners, and industry representatives, the campaign reminds people to:
Properly secure cannabis products to prevent youth and pet access
The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is excited to announce the 2026 Tribal Public Health Webinar Series! This series is part of an ongoing commitment to build capacity, share resources, and support Tribal Nations and the public health workforce across Indian Country.
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) has published a new Youth Advocacy Toolkit that guides young leaders through government, legislation, and advocacy steps. Learn how to engage effectively at the local and state level.
Save the date: 2026 Connections in Prevention Conference
Mark your calendars for the next Connections in Prevention Conference, scheduled for October 29-30, 2026, in Springfield, IL.
Hosted by Prevention First, the Connections in Prevention Conference brings together the prevention field to strengthen our collective efforts, focusing on community-driven approaches and person-centered care. The goals are to encourage open dialogue about incorporating equity principles into prevention efforts, offer opportunities for professional development, facilitate networking for meaningful collaborations, and highlight innovative best practices.
The following resources under Resources on the State Resources page have been updated to remove outdated references to the access request form and replaced it with references to the new HCA ticketing portal. The documents were also updated for better use and readability.
Communication Access Real-time Transcription (CART) services, or live closed captioning, are available for events, on demand. Scheduling CART services requires a three-week lead-time.
To request this accommodation, please submit a request as soon as possible to: Codie Garza.
If you make your request less than a week in advance of the event, our language access manager cannot guarantee that a CART writer will be available.
