We’re excited to bring you the Summer 2025 edition of our Let’s Collaborate Newsletter - a seasonal roundup of meaningful prevention efforts, creative youth projects, and community partnerships from across our region.

Summer is a time for growth, expression, and renewed connection. In this issue, we’re spotlighting the innovative ways our partners are supporting young people and families through culturally grounded wellness, public health messaging, and youth-driven campaigns.

Whether you're hosting community events, sharing youth opportunities, or showing up in everyday advocacy, your work continues to inspire. This space is meant to celebrate our collective impact and share tools to keep us moving forward.

This newsletter is brought to you by Anna Ramirez and Briseida Chavez, who remain dedicated to advancing prevention through collaboration, creativity and community voice.

Thanks for being an essential part of this movement. Let’s keep the momentum going through summer and beyond!

Wellness Journal 2.0 - Submissions Closed

We're excited to share that the submission period for the Youth Wellness Journal 2.0 closed on May 16th! Thanks to everyone who encouraged youth to contribute.

If you’d like a digital or print copy (English and/or Spanish) when the journal is released, please email Briseida Chavez.

Intersectional Health and Wellness Booklet – Submissions Open!

We’re partnering with DOH and prevention allies to co-create an interactive Intersectional Health & Wellness Booklet for youth ages 12–24. Youth contributors will be paid $25 per creative submission and featured alongside community health information.

Submission deadline: June 6, 2025

Youth can submit essays, poems, artwork, song recommendations, video reflections, or coloring pages based on prompts like:

• How do you practice self-care?
• What do health and wellbeing look like in your culture or community?
• How do parts of your identity shape how you think about health?
• What gives you strength in hard times?
• What does resilience mean to you?
• What does being healthy look or feel like for you?

Submit to:  bchavez@esd123.org and aramirez@esd123.org 

Click the link for full project information: Wellness Booklet PDF

A Note from Tammy Dee at Cascadia Youth Mental Health, PLLC: 

Thank you to everyone who joined the Substance Use Discipline Learning Network this year! Over eight sessions, held October through May, we explored how schools can take a more thoughtful, collaborative approach to substance use.

Topics included:

• Proactive messaging
• Student-centered interventions
• Staff engagement strategies
• Prevention-focused responses to challenges like vape detectors and bathroom closures

Session recordings are available through June 30. Email Tammy Dee if you need the links.

Key resources shared include:

• Motivational Interviewing Tips
• MTSS Key Terms
• Substance-Free Campus Messaging Toolkit

Our final meeting will be held from 1:30 to 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 12, on Zoom.

Click here to complete the feedback survey.

Thanks again for your partnership. I look forward to continuing this important work together!

- Tammy Dee, Cascadia Youth Mental Health, PLLC

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

Prosser Thrive Café Mural – It's Complete!

Our Youth-Led Mural Project is officially COMPLETE! From April 11–24, youth artists at the Thrive Youth Café in Prosser collaborated with Lisa Brouwer-Thompson from theESD 123 A.R.T.S. Department to design and paint a vibrant mural highlighting resilience, hope and substance use prevention. The mural, funded by Benton Franklin Health District, will be publicly unveiled soon - stay tuned!

Follow mural updates on Instagram @thriveyouthcafe and on Facebook @prosserthrivecoalition.

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

2025 NORTHEAST WASHINGTON REGIONAL SCHOOL SAFETY SUMMIT

Safety and Prevention: Navigating the Ever-Changing Landscape in Rural and Urban Schools

SAVE THE DATE! Join us on August 19 & 20, 2025, at the Spokane Convention Center for two days of invaluable expertise, proven best practices, and the latest evidence-based strategies in school safety and security.

Registration is $195.

Registration Link: bit.ly/4hsjUPE 

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 a course this Fall!

June
Pride Month - Celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and promoting equal rights.

July
BIPOC Mental Health Month - Each July, we honor the legacy of author, advocate and trailblazer Bebe Moore Campbell by recognizing Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. 

Using graphics or messaging in your day-to-day communications is a great way to raise awareness about BIPOC mental health throughout the month. Mental Health America has created sample text and graphics to make it easy for you. Don’t forget to tag them!

IG @mentalhealthamerica | X: @mentalhealtham Facebook: mentalhealthamerica | LinkedIn: mental-health-america

August
August 31 is recognized as International Overdose Awareness Day, the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember those we have lost to an overdose, acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind, and renew our commitment to end overdose and related harms. The campaign raises awareness of overdose, which is one of the world’s worst public health crises and stimulates action and discussion about evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policy.

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.