We’re excited to share the Fall 2025 edition of our Let’s Collaborate eNewsletter - a seasonal roundup of youth-driven projects, community-led prevention efforts, and collaborative health initiatives from across our region.

As the school year gets underway and fall routines return, we're reflecting on the momentum built over the summer and looking ahead to the impactful work still to come. This issue highlights the creative ways our partners are engaging youth, supporting families, and promoting wellness through culturally responsive strategies, art, education, and advocacy.

Whether you're leading trainings, launching new campaigns, or simply showing up in your community, your work makes a difference. This newsletter is a space to celebrate those contributions and share tools to help us move forward - together.

This edition is brought to you by Anna Ramirez and Briseida Chavez, who are committed to advancing prevention through connection, equity, and community voice.

Thank you for continuing to be a vital part of this movement. Let’s keep the momentum going through fall and into the new year!

Wellness Journal 2.0 & Intersectional Health & Wellness Booklet – Next Steps

The submission period for the Youth Wellness Journal 2.0 closed on May 16, thank you to everyone who encouraged youth to contribute!

We’re now waiting on final word from DOH regarding printing and distribution through GMMB. Stay tuned for updates on when journals will be available.

If you’d like a digital or print copy (English and/or Spanish) when the journal and booklet is released, please reach out to Briseida Chavez at bchavez@esd123.org and Anna Ramirez at aramirez@esd123.org. 

CDC Funding Update

We have received the positive news we will be receiving CDC Funding this Fiscal Year 2025-2026 for our Commercial Tobacco Prevention and Cessation work. We are working to provide more details as soon as we receive more information, how that work will look like, and how you can be involved!

Washington Breathes Coalition

October 1st Coalition Meeting Summary: Members heard presentations from state and national experts on federal funding cuts, FDA staffing shifts, updates from the Washington Department of Health, and a preview of the 2026 legislative session. Following the presentations, coalition members engaged in breakout discussions on changes, challenges, and opportunities in commercial tobacco prevention. Guided by Mentimeter input, participants explored concerns such as flavored tobacco, youth vaping, provider engagement in cessation, and school capacity to address vaping waste. Ideas and strategies were recorded, which will help shape the coalition’s 2026 activity plans and collaborative projects. More information on meeting outcomes will be shared soon via Washington Breathes. If you’d like to join a workgroup or become a coalition member to be kept informed, visit https://washingtonbreathes.org/get-involved/. 

We want to feature you in upcoming newsletters! If your organization is hosting a prevention campaign, teen event, or wellness initiative, let us know! Email details to: bchavez@esd123.org and aramirez@esd123.org 

Prosser Thrive Café Mural – Complete!

We’re excited to share details about our upcoming Community Mural Project Recognition Night from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14. This special event will celebrate the creativity and collaboration of the youth who brought the mural to life. We’ll also be recognizing participants and sharing a commemorative postcard of the mural.

Follow their social media for event details and updates:
• Instagram: @thriveyouthcafe
• Facebook: @prosserthrivecoalition

We can’t wait to share the final masterpiece with you!

The Incredible Years: An evidenced-based parenting program 

Dates: Saturdays - October 25, November 1, 8, 15 and 22.
Time: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: 1203 Prosser Ave Prosser, WA 99350 (Old High School)
To receive certification you must attend 80% of the classes, but people are also invited to attend any class they would like.

Free lunch and childcare provided.
Available in English and Spanish!

Operation Parent Handbook - Beyond ‘Don’t Do It’

Real Talk About Youth Substance Use & Intervention: Telling kids to “just say no” isn’t enough - but what actually works? Join Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher from the Stanford REACH Lab for a real, research-backed conversation about youth substance use. Learn why kids and teens take risks, how scare tactics and punishments often fail, and what parents, schools, and communities can do instead. This webinar will give you practical, science-based strategies to help young people make healthier choices while also addressing their mental health and well-being.

Video Link: https://vimeo.com/showcase/11841108?video=1111696082 

English/Spanish Handout

Host a Youth Mental Health First Aid training

Do you want to host a Spanish Youth Mental Health First Aid training in your community? Please reach out to Jamie Ellis, jellis@esd123.org to schedule to host a course!

OCTOBER

Substance Use & Misuse Prevention Month: #MyPreventionStory is a way for us to acknowledge our mental health  and substance use and misuse prevention experiences. Year-round, we encourage individuals and organizations to create and share a prevention story on social media—whether it’s telling how they are helping to prevent substance use and misuse or sharing the ways they’re promoting mental health. Be a part of the national conversation that celebrates prevention by using the hashtag #MyPreventionStory! Upload your story to social media and use the hashtag #MyPreventionStory to join the online prevention conversation!

Red Ribbon Week - October 23-31: Life is a puzzle, Solve it Drug Free! Red Ribbon inspires our kids to Be Brave! Red Ribbon Week takes place each year from October 23 through 31st. Join us in our MISSION to help keep kids drug-free.https://www.redribbon.org/contest 

NOVEMBER

Lung Cancer Awareness Month: November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month—a time to raise awareness about lung cancer, share our stories and help make a difference. Fact Check: Among current youth e-cigarette users in 2024, flavored e-cigarette use was 87.6% among middle and high school students (https://www.lung.org/research/sotc/facts). Secondhand smoke causes more than 19,000 deaths in the U.S. each year (https://www.lung.org/research/sotc/facts).

DECEMBER

It’s that time of year when the days grow shorter, and the weight of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can feel heavier. Learn the signs and symptoms of SAD and how to get help if you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms: samhsa.gov/mental-health/seasonal-affective-disorder

This “cheerful” season can also be a difficult and stressful time. That's why it's so important to stop and listen to your own needs, too. Here are some ways to take care of yourself one small way each day: samhsa.gov/find-support/how-to-cope 

Help Us Share These Opportunities! We’d love your help in spreading the word about:

✍️ Health & Wellness Booklet submissions
🎨 Thrive Youth Mural Project
📅 Awareness campaigns and social media assets
🧠 Upcoming prevention trainings
📢 Partner projects you’d like us to highlight!

Together, we’re uplifting youth voices and building healthier, more connected communities.