About Prevention
Pend Oreille County’s Prevention program is part of Washington State’s Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative (CPWI). We are supported by grant funds from the Washington State Health Care Authority. CPWI is a partnership of state agencies, counties, schools, and local prevention coalitions supporting communities in preventing alcohol and other drug abuse and its negative consequences. CPWI priorities include reducing underage drinking, marijuana use, and opioid misuse/abuse among middle and high school aged youth.
Our Services
The purpose of this program is to link youth and community members to education, awareness, and intervention campaigns in order to prevent substance use and underage drinking. One specific goal is to decrease availability of opioids, alcohol, and marijuana and increase the perception of harm to adolescents. Our strategies include the National Prescription Take Back Day Events, The Starts with One Campaign, Town Halls, Community Education, Outreach Events, The Artscape Program, and Evidenced-Based programs such as Sport Prevention plus Wellness. These programs also help with our goal to reduce favorable attitudes towards use and build healthier communities.
For more information on each Coalition:
Youth Task Force Coalition
Beverly Sarles
Newport Coalition Coordinator
Selkirk Wellness Coalition
Helene Rasmussen
Selkirk Coalition Coordinator
Resources for Adults
- Start Talking before they Start Drinking or Using Marijuana
- Partnership for Drug Free Kids
- Safely Dispose Unused Prescription Medicines at Local Drug Take Back Sites
- Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
Resources for Teens
We welcome your suggestions and would love for you to join our efforts in prevention! If you are a parent, youth, business owner, health care worker, clergy, teacher, law enforcement, community member, volunteer, or friendly neighbor interested in reducing youth substance use in Pend Oreille County please contact us today!
Carrie McKinley, CPP
Prevention Services Program Managercmckinley [at] pendoreille.org
509-447-5651 or 509-447-6419