Healthy Choices Bulletin

National Recovery Month is an observance held every September to celebrate treatment and recovery from substance use and mental health challenges. People impacted by substance use and mental health issues can find wellness and recovery and lead meaningful, healthy and rewarding lives. PPS is honored to support this work and celebrate recovery and wellness. Below is a list of some of the innovative and exciting programming and supports that are offered here in the Portland area. Many are low cost or free.

Resources for Parents and Families:

• Youth Line
• Collective Roots APG (Alternative Peer Group)
• The Alano Club of Portland
• HelpingFamiliesHelp.com
• What's Up with Tess - An interactive graphic novel created by the CDC to help teens understand and navigate the connection between mental health and substance use.

Resources for Staff:

• A Teacher's Guide if you suspect that a student is using
• Nicotine (Skill Building Focus), Nicotine (With Videos) and Opioid -these mini-lessons are designed to be delivered by classroom teachers in advisory classes and are 10-20 minutes in length. Ideally, they would be taught every day for a 1-2 week period. For help or consultation about them, please feel free to reach out to Jennifer Siegel, CADC II. Jennifer designed the mini-lesson and is part of the amazing PPS CADC Team 💗
• What's Up with Tess - An interactive graphic novel created by the CDC to help teens understand and navigate the connection between mental health and substance use.
• Dangerous Vape Waste Management for Schools webinar - Thursday 10/15/26 at 10:00-11:30 Registration. Resource materials.

Have a Prevention Idea for Your School?

THRIVE PPS has limited funding available to support school based substance use prevention activities. There is up to $1,000 available per activity. Funding could support a prevention focused movie screening, youth resource fair with breakout sessions, family engagement fair centered around community resources and substance use prevention, student led prevention activity, or another idea that fits your unique school community.

The activity must have a clear connection to substance use prevention and cannot be a general school event or celebration.

Ready to get started?

Step 1: Meet with key school personnel to identify a prevention activity or event that makes sense for your school community and create a planning committee.

Step 2: Once your school has an idea, complete the THRIVE PPS School Funding Interest Form.

Please note: THRIVE PPS can provide funding, resources, connections, and support with the planning process, but the school is responsible for planning, coordinating, promoting, and facilitating the event.

[Complete the THRIVE PPS School Funding Interest Form]

Have questions? Reach out to Brittany Warren Tonkins at Bwarrentonkins@pps.net.

Join us for a Student Services Log-In & Learn on Wednesday, September 16th at 9:30 AM featuring the Oregon Health Authority. This session will focus on ZYN and other nicotine pouches, including what school staff should know about these products and what we are seeing with youth.

Following the presentation, we will transition into the first THRIVE PPS Coalition meeting of the 2026–27 school year. Student service providers are invited to stay and join us for the coalition meeting as well. 😊

No pre-registration required! We hope you can join us for all or part of the morning.

You can find the full 2026–27 Log-In & Learn schedule here.

Questions? Please reach out to Brittany Warren Tonkins at bwarrentonkins@pps.net.

PPS Student Services Resource Fair

Thursday, October 22, 2026 | 8:30–11:00 AM

Connect with 25+ community organizations and discover resources and supports for PPS students and families.

Drop in anytime!

THRIVE PPS is continuing our Trusted Adult Spotlight this school year! We want to recognize the caring adults in our schools and community who make a difference in the lives of young people.

Know a teacher, counselor, coach, school staff member, community partner, or other adult who goes above and beyond to support and connect with students? Nominate them (here) to be featured in an upcoming Healthy Choices Bulletin!

Your nomination is a simple way to recognize someone who helps young people feel supported, connected, and valued.

Have questions? Please reach out to Brittany Warren Tonkins at Bwarrentonkins@pps.net

Insight will resume on Wednesday 10-7-26 at 6:30

Insight is the district's primary response to Level A substance use violations. It is a psychoeducational and interactive format for students and a caring adult to review and learn new information and strategies. Topics will include;

• Adolescent brain development
• Information about specific substances
• Understanding more about adolescent addiction
• Strategies for healthy, positive communication

The referral process will remain the same.

1. Complete Level A meeting with student and parent or guardian.
2. Complete Insight referral form, located on the Student Services webpage.
3. Give family a printed copy of the Insight brochure.
4. Student Success & Health then sends a welcome email with the link to the class and instructions.

For PPS staff who were working with students who were not able to complete last year, students will be re-invited and given a new link to the class for this year.

Insight is offered in a virtual format.

Families are always welcome to join voluntarily. To help families join voluntarily complete the Insight referral form and indicate that it is non-disciplinary or contact Mary Krogh for assistance.