Register for the upcoming Healthy Youth Survey results webinar
The Healthy Youth Survey Planning Committee (HYSPC) is excited to announce the HYS results webinar on May 14 from 3-5 p.m. Register for the meeting.
HYSPC members will highlight key findings from the 2025 survey, describe how results can be used, and answer questions from attendees.
Live transcription will be available. Visit the HYS website to learn more and find the webinar recording after the event.
*Webinar date and time is subject to change based on the press release review timeline, which includes approval by the Governor’s office.
Day one agenda for the Coalition Leadership Institute is available!
The 2026 Coalition Leadership Institute will be held in-person in Evans Event Hall at Evergreen State College from June 22-24, 2026.
We're excited to share the tentative agenda for day one (June 22). Download a PDF version of the agenda.
Day one will have a hybrid option. Days two and three will only be held in-person; a hybrid option will not be available.
Full event attendance is required for CPWI Coalition Coordinators. Day one is required for Educational Service Districts attending for Task Order 2, school-based services.
Visit the Athena Forum website to review the full agenda and announcement.
Gear up for National Prevention Week May 10-16
National Prevention Week showcases the work of communities across the country preventing substance misuse and promoting positive mental health.
Join SAMHSA in celebrating the power of prevention, and those making a difference every day.
Learn more by visiting SAMHSA's National Prevention Week page.
Join the Community of Practice Meeting
HCA will host a Community of Practice Meeting during the third hour of Prevention Providers Meetings May through December 2026. This is a space for Prevention Professionals to foster new ideas and innovation, break down silos and connect across organizations, and enhance efficiency. Learn more and register on the Athena Forum.
Public health alert: rising teen overdoses from Diphenhydramine
Washington Poison Center identified a concerning and sustained increase in overdoses among youth involving diphenhydramine, a common over-the-counter medication (brand name Benadryl). This trend is linked to both intentional self-harm and substance misuse. Coordinated action across healthcare providers, schools, and community organizations is essential to reduce harm and prevent further increases.
Diphenhydramine is found in many over-the-counter sleep aids, cough and cold medications, and allergy medications. It is safe when used as directed, but taking large amounts can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening.
Read the full alert on the Washington Poison Center website.
Mental Health Awareness Month toolkit is here
Mental Health Awareness Month starts May 1. SAMHSA published a complete Mental Health Awareness Month Toolkit. Access the toolkit. The theme this year is: See the person. Support the journey.
Throughout May, SAMHSA will share resources you need to show up for this month, in your channels, your conversations, and your communities. The toolkit includes weekly themes, social media shareables, digital stickers, email signatures, virtual backgrounds and more.
Washington Poison Center solicits proposals for Overdose Awareness Series sessions
The Washington Poison Center is seeking speaker proposals to lead sessions during the seventh annual Overdose Awareness Series, taking place every Tuesday in August. Session formats include presentations, workshops, panel discussions, or any other format you would like to propose.
If you are interested in leading a session, please fill out an application. Proposals must be submitted by Monday, May 18. A nominal honorarium will be provided for speakers.
Read the full announcement on the Athena Forum.
New national suicide data dashboards
The Suicide Prevention Resource Center has released new data dashboards that visualize the latest data, in addition to free PowerPoint slides.
Understanding the scope of suicide in the U.S. and in your community can help you develop more effective prevention efforts. The dashboard includes recent national suicide data, data on suicide deaths and attempts, suicidal thoughts, and means of suicide (i.e., methods).
Visit the data dashboard website.
What prevention professionals should know about kratom
Join an upcoming webinar on May 11 brought to you by Northwest HIDTA, Cle Elem Cascade Prevention Coalition, West Spokane Wellness Partnership and WASAVP.
The webinar will describe kratom and 7-OH, address nationwide and state trends, and discuss evidence-informed strategies for prevention. It will conclude with a panel comprised of prevention professionals involved in successful kratom prevention legislation in Washington.
Learn more by visiting the event registration page.
Third annual Moment of Youth Summit
Lopez Island Family Resource Center, Lopez Youth Health Advocates, and the Coalition for Orcas Youth are excited to host The Moment of Youth Summit May 15-16, 2026 at Camp Moran, WA. The event is a youth-led leadership and prevention experience to inspire, empower, and connect. Created by youth for youth, the summit offers a dynamic blend of networking, skill-building, creative expression, and meaningful conversations.
This event is free and open to all youth leadership groups in Washington. For registration and full event details, visit the event website.
Read the full announcement on the Athena Forum.
Don't miss the CCSAP Annual Conference and Professional Development Meeting
Washington’s College Coalition on Substance misuse, Advocacy, and Prevention (CCSAP)’s annual conference and professional development meeting will be held virtually on Friday, May 8, 2026. Registration is open, at no cost. Learn more and register.
Refocus and Renew: Moving Towards Health series
SAMHSA published a new paper as part of the Technical Assistance Coalition’s Refocus and Renew: Moving Towards Health series, a ten-paper collection guiding state leaders on SMI and SED treatment, recovery, and whole-person health.
Women with serious mental illness (SMI) face significantly higher risks during pregnancy and the postpartum period, including being among those most affected by maternal mortality. Yet critical gaps in care persist across state mental health systems. Read the latest brief to see what can be done to help.
KEY Connection Coalition implements Second Step
The KEY Connection Coalition in Benton and Franklin counties is implementing Second Step with two elementary schools, who praised the program.
Cascade Elementary shared, "We love the Second Step program and it is an integral part of my schoolwide Tier 1 services. We can see that implementing the program reduces our referrals and high-risk student screeners are lower than schools that are not implementing some kind of consistent program."
Cottonwood Elementary shared, "Second Step has been such a gift to our students and our school community. The lessons are engaging and meaningful, and our students genuinely enjoy them. It has been so powerful to see them practicing the skills we teach, from emotion regulation to problem-solving and empathy, in their daily interactions."
More than a program: How Quincy Partnership for Youth serves the community
Quincy Partnership for Youth was recently featured with an incredible highlight on the Welcome to Quincy website. the article states, "Some of the most important things happening in a community are not always the loudest. They are the efforts happening in the background, the partnerships holding things together, the people trying to create safer, healthier paths for young people before problems grow bigger. That is where Quincy Partnership for Youth lives." Read the full article on the Welcome to Quincy website.
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