Welcome Alex Cook!
Unite! is so excited to welcome Alex Cook to our staff as our new Youth Engagement Trainer! From his roots founding a prevention club at his local high school called the DREAM Team, to his professional work as a Youth Trainer with CADCA, an international drug prevention organization, Alexander has been involved in positive community change for over a decade. Alex graduated from college with a degree in Biological Engineering, however he realized that the thing he loved doing most was working with youth and helping them understand their importance and role in positive community change. So here he is living his dream life working with Unite! Washougal Coalition as the Youth Engagement Coordinator.
Alex has already started making connections and working with our youth on Building Bridges at Canyon Creek, partnering with the Unite! Competitive Gaming Team, supporting Washougal High School youth leaders on their upcoming Mental Health Spirit Week in May and collaborating with other coalitions to bring us a chance to get to know youth from other coalitions for a Virtual Games night. Wow!
Please let Alex know if you have ideas of how to connect and support youth to healthy choices in our wonderful Washougal community! Contact him at alex.cook@washougalsd.org or call at 360-954-3203.
Megan Kanzler - Onto new projects!
We are very sad to say goodbye to our long-time coordinator Megan Kanzler. Megan has served our youth, coalition and community with much skill, and caring as a Youth Engagement Coordinator, S.T.O.P. Act Grant and Sources of Strength Coordinator. Megan has been the originator of all of these roles leaving behind a shining path for others to follow. During her service, she worked with youth to innovate Kindness Week at Washougal High School, organizing PEP Unite! with student leaders and initiating the “Click it bro!” campaign.
Megan worked to secure evidence-based mental wellness resources including Sources of Strength to promote messages of hope, health and strength. Megan collaborated with youth and local businesses for a Thank You Sticker Campaign to thank and remind community members NOT to provide alcohol to minors. Megan also brought her experience and creative genius as an anchoring part of our Positive Community Norms team to develop our “Love your Life!” Campaign and videos.
Megan’s relationship building, genuine caring and organization building skills helped Unite! build community partners and grow while also successfully decreasing substance use among both high school and middle school students. We will miss her greatly, yet we wish her well as she is on to new adventures!
Thank you for sharing your skills, talents and heart for health to empower youth!
CADCA TRAININGS
Would you like to learn more about how to use prevention science to make our community a healthy place? We have several training opportunities over the summer. We would love to help our community get more training about community connections, youth engagement and substance misuse prevention. https://www.cadca.org/myti2022 Reach out to us at washougalunite@gmail.com and let us know if you are interested!
Unite! Washougal swag!
Check out everything from stickers to water bottles, hats to totes in our “Love your Life Washougal” gear. Unique, positive and helps out our local community.
You can purchase your swag here!
FREE WORKSHOP
Free Parenting Workshop for Parents and Families of Toddlers coming in April! Connect with other families of young children. Learn more about helping your child learn and grow in healthy ways together. See how guided play can help you bond as a family. Expert facilitator who makes learning fun! Check our website or contact washougalunite@gmail.com for more information!
Please take our short survey and you could win!
Please take this short survey for a chance to win a $10 coffee card.
https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSfUj21kEPh3Jf.../viewform
Please share with friends and neighbors! Survey closes April 15th.
Download the new app - resources at your fingertips!
Get Informed. Increase awareness about underage drinking and other drug use,
Be Prepared. Introduce skill-building techniques and share available resources and tools.
Take Action. Increase actions to help prevent underage drinking and other drug use.
SAMHSA’s new “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign mobile app helps parents and caregivers prepare for some of the most important conversations they may ever have with their kids. It shows them how to turn everyday situations into opportunities to talk with their children about alcohol and other drugs, and equips them with the necessary skills, confidence, and knowledge to start and continue these conversations as their kids get older. The app also helps prepare communities to implement and promote the campaign locally and educators to engage student assistance professionals, school leaders, and families in supporting the needs of students who may be struggling with substance use, mental health, or school-related issues.
The “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign mobile app is available on the App Store, Google Play, and the Microsoft Store.
Learn more about the goals for these important conversations and find other tips and information to help prevent underage drinking and other drug use on the Parent Resources page.
Contact Unite! Washougal
Email: washougalunite@gmail.com
Website: http://unitewashougal.org/
Location: Washougal, WA, USA
Phone: 360-954-3203
Facebook: facebook.com/UniteWashougalCommunityCoalition/
Twitter: @UWashougal