Prevention groups attend youth forum

The Wahkiakum Prevention team, Lucy Bosch, Kelsey Briscoe, Carmen Hilton, Abby Buennagel, Dylan Hansen, and Zach Calvert, along with 500 other youth and advisors, attended the Washington Prevention Spring Youth Forum on May 19–20 on a full scholarship with advisors Lisa Frink and Linda Hartung.

The Prevention team was split into two teams – Tobacco Prevention and Youth Trainers. The Tobacco Prevention team gave a presentation on their prevention efforts during the school year and the Youth Trainers gave a presentation on the Youth Mobilization Campaign: Youth to Youth Prevention “Boot Camp” for 8th graders located at Cispus Learning Center. Funding from Department of Health (Tobacco Prevention Program), Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Wahkiakum Community Network and Educational Service District 112 help to pay for a portion of salaries and/or program expenses.

The Spring Youth Forum provides youth prevention teams the opportunity to share and promote their successfully completed prevention projects. There was also an opportunity to earn a grand award of scholarship assistance to attend the 2010 CADCA Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. In addition, awards were given to five teams that scored highest in the five judging categories: 1) Innovation, 2) Sustainability, 3) Impact, 4) Presentation & Professionalism, and 5) Collaboration & Partnerships. The Spring Youth Forum is like State for students involved with prevention.

Out of the 42 teams in attendance, Wahkiakum Tobacco Prevention Club presenters Dylan Hansen and Zach Calvert, scored the highest and won the Presentation & Professionalism Award recognizing their leadership in developing the most professional and clearly communicated team project. The award was presented by David Dickinson, Director DBHR and Rob McKenna, Washington State Attorney General. They received a plaque and had their picture taken with David Dickinson as well as $150 to give a pizza celebration for their 30 member team back home.

The fall Washington State Prevention Summit will be held in Yakima from October 15 to 16, 2010.