Highland Community Coalition and Student Assistance Services
The communities of Cowiche and Tieton are benefiting from a state grant of $65,455 to initiate and support the work of the Highland Community Coalition, which is focused on supporting activities and communicating messages designed to prevent or reduce the use of alcohol, marijuana and other drugs among youths. The coalition also promotes practices in helping young people make healthy life choices. The 82 community coalitions established in Washington State identify in their communities the highest prevention needs, plan and implement evidence-based strategies, leverage local resources and evaluate the impact of selected programs.
Lizbet Maceda is the Highland Community Prevention Coordinator. Based at Highland High School, Maceda’s role involves developing and guiding the coalition’s work in serving as a resource for the area’s parents, students, and other residents. She facilitates the coalition’s activities in offering training, technical assistance, and both community- and school-based prevention services. Coalition meetings with community members are held every month at the high school, and student-centered work focuses on youths in the middle school and high school grades.
Student Assistant Services are going well. Staci Beat, who replaced Student Assistant Professional Emily Nelson in September, is meeting with students individually
and will start an Intervention group for students on November 12th. This group will be for students that are at risk for using substances, to gain support and education to help them make healthy choices. She will also be starting a Newcomer group for students that are new to the school district and who want support and encouragement from peers that are also new to the school.
Red Ribbon Campaign, Oct. 21-25, was a success; we had over 150 students pledge to be substance free. We supported the National Prevention Awareness week by passing out red ribbons and had a drawing for students that pledged, coffee cards and candy bar were given for the prizes.
Prevention Club is in the process of registering with ASB to become an Official Club at Highland. The Club voted officers and is preparing to attend the Prevention Summit on November 5th and 6th. At the summit the students will learn Leadership skills to help them create their Prevention Project, which will be in a contest at the Spring Forum this Spring.
Staci has had the opportunity to attend 7th and 9th grade classes to introduce herself to the students. She was able to present one of the core topics of Project Success in 4 of Mrs. Matson's 7th grade classes. The students had fun learning about the harmful effects stress can have and learning skills to manage stress in healthy ways.