Connect Events
October is Substance Use Prevention Month
October is Substance Use Prevention Month, an opportunity to highlight the importance and impact of prevention. Prevention has never been more important with the substance use and overdose challenges facing our country. This month, each of us can inspire action by sharing how prevention is improving lives in communities across our nation. Read the blog by CAPT Christopher Jones, Pharm.D., Dr.P.H., M.P.H., Director, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.
View our Substance Use Prevention Month Toolkit and join us as partners in prevention. Prevention Month lifts up the national conversation — to showcase prevention’s positive effects on communities across the country. Share the social media posts that vary each week, use the social media profile frame, and the social media badge. Website graphics and email signature graphics are also part of the toolkit.
Finally, join us for virtual events on prevention. On October 16, 3–4 p.m. ET, we will host a webinar on Bringing Prevention to the People: Success Stories. And on October 30, 3–4 p.m. ET, we will host a webinar on States Telling the Prevention Story. More information will be provided soon on the Substance Use Prevention Month website.
509TEEN – Ellensburg, WA
Connect tabled at and supported KCRCO at their 509TEEN event held at N. Alder Park on Saturday, August 24, 2024. An excellent turnout, incredible food, and terrific resources were made available to Kittitas Community youth. At the 509TEEN Event, The Connect team created a simple straightforward questionnaire distributed to teens. Teens wrote questions, in confidence, including their contact information, for us to return their inquiry regarding their questions surrounding addiction.
Leo Reyes our SUDP was given the completed questionnaires at the end of the event and will reach out to all those teens and youth who took the time to make an inquiry. The event was an amazing opportunity for Connect to meet and greet a demographic not commonly partnered with to share services and resources we provide.
INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARNESS DAY – KITTITAS COUNTY
Connect tabled at and supported KCHN at the International Overdose Awareness event held at the Hal Holmes Center on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. Pam T. Miles created a safe, welcoming venue for all that are affected by addiction, to commune with open-hearted open-minded support systems here in the Kittitas Valley. Our own Leo Reyes was invited as a guest speaker. Once we’re able to download the file, please take a moment of your time to view Leo’s touching and meaningful speech he shared with the community on this most auspicious occasion.
OVERDOSE AWARNESS DAY – YAKIMA COUNTY
Connect tabled at and supported Triumph and Gesa Credit Union at the International Overdose Awareness event held at Sarge Hubbard Park on Friday August 30, 2024. Our own Dr. Gillian Zuckerman spoke at this event amongst many different community partners and other event speakers sharing their resources, knowledge, and stories. The Connect team was honored to partner in this event where all were welcome, the space created was a safe environment to mourning, to discuss ways to support recovery and share stories of hope and new life.
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM – ELLENSBURG, WA
The Connect Team jumped at the opportunity provided by Lonnie Allphin of ESD105 to participate in the Strengthening Families New Facilitator Certification Training on September 4,5,6, 2024. The WSU extension training provided is age specific for youth of 10-14 years old and their families. Our Connect team can report that we now have a certified facilitator of this program. Jami-Lynn Tate our Liaison is now certified to help teach the Strengthening Families Program for parents and youth in the community. If you are interested in becoming a new certified facilitator for the Strengthening Families program, please contact Lonnie Allphin at lonnie.allphin@esd105.org.
ELLENSBURG HEALTHY YOUTH COALITION – ELLENSBURG, WA
Our Connect team has been invited to join, in support, and to collaborate with ESD105 Ellensburg’s Healthy Youth Coalition. Their Mission is to prevent underage substance use, enhance student performance and fostering community engagement. Connect will have representation at each meeting the second Wednesday of every Month at 1:15PM at EHS. Others at the table are KCHN, KCRCO, along with Tylene Carnell longtime LGBTQ activist and founder of Helen House. The coalition is made up of 12 community leaders now to include CHCW representation.
Project Pause Program.
The CHCW Connect team is proud to announce our collaboration, participation, and partnership with the Yakima County Department of Corrections & Department of Human Services Project Pause program.
The Project Pause program offers in-person bi-weekly 90 min. sessions and support to individuals identified as homeless within the Yakima justice system.
Project Pause Participants are given the opportunity to drive their own reentry plan ask questions of service providers gain an understanding of program requirements communicate transportation and clothing needs complete program forms and receive real-time system navigation support.
Community partners include:
Yakima Neighborhood Health
Yakima Union Gospel Mission
Camp Hope
Triumph Treatment Center
Merit Resource Center
Comprehensive Health Care
Rod’s House
OIC
Project Pause Program.
The CHCW Connect team is proud to announce our collaboration, participation, and partnership with the Yakima County Department of Corrections & Department of Human Services Project Pause program.
The Project Pause program offers in-person bi-weekly 90 min. sessions and support to individuals identified as homeless within the Yakima justice system.
Project Pause Participants are given the opportunity to drive their own reentry plan ask questions of service providers gain an understanding of program requirements communicate transportation and clothing needs complete program forms and receive real-time system navigation support.
Community partners include:
Yakima Neighborhood Health
Yakima Union Gospel Mission
Camp Hope
Triumph Treatment Center
Merit Resource Center
Comprehensive Health Care
Rod’s House
OIC
