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!
Highlighting coalition work is an important step in gaining recognition for the difference you make. Johnny’s Ambassadors shares a great advocacy tip, encouraging coalitions to share educational prevention messaging with talk radio shows or podcasts.
Coalition members can make excellent prevention messengers. Use your knowledge to educate others on topics you’re passionate about. Call radio stations or podcast platforms and offer to be a guest to share your story, coalition mission, or local data.
We’ve created a sharing space where you can add ideas for outreach and education. Share tips, lessons learned, or success stories from your experiences engaging in decision-maker education
Register for the Montana Winter Institute 2026
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!
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will soon sponsor stipends for the next round of Communities Talk to Prevent Alcohol and Other Drug Misuse, an initiative focusing on alcohol and other drug misuse. Since 2006, the initiative has provided resources and stipends to thousands of community-based organizations, colleges, and universities. Stipends are available every year!
If your community participated last year, a unique invitation will be emailed to you. If you did not, you'll need to request an invitation.
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.
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.
A new cohort for the Prevention Leaders Masterclass, by Prevention Leaders Network, begins February 2026.
This training is a six-month opportunity for prevention professionals of all experience levels - from brand new coordinators to seasoned state leaders. Training includes two four-hour sessions per month.
By the end of six months, you will:
Have a clear understanding of your leadership identity and how to use it effectively.
Know how to facilitate conversations that build trust, collaboration, and buy-in.
Have a toolbox of strategies and templates you can use immediately.
Feel connected to a network of peers walking the same path.
Be confident leading your team and community through change.
Community spotlight: Guiding Good Choices Family Connection Summits
This Winter, four CPWI Coalitions and two DFC Coalitions in King County partnered with Seattle Public Schools, Highline School District, Seattle Parks and Recreation, UW Social Development Research Group and Seattle Children’s Research Institute to pilot an adaptation of Guiding Good Choices, hoping to increase family participation.
The team worked with developers to adapt the format to increase family engagement. They created a “Family Summit” model where kids and parents/caregivers came together on a Saturday for 4.5 hours to complete the Introduction and Refusal Skills sessions of GGC in one day, then 3 additional online follow up sessions were provided.
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.
