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COVID-19 and prevention support

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) appreciates your concern for Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) and its impact on your community. Please remember to take care of yourself as well as those you serve.

As leaders in the community, we know you are looking for innovative ways to continue prevention services and public awareness strategies, as well as provide factual and consistent communication about COVID-19. We hope to use this page to support your work and provide resources that enable you and coalitions to continue to serve communities.

Interested in receiving regular updates about COVID-19 resources? Join the Athena prevention newsletter! Click to subscribe.

One way you can assist your community during this uncertain time is to ensure you are sharing accurate and timely information. We suggest using the following resources:

DBHR call for behavioral health service providers

Bi-weekly service provider calls. Find dates and registration information on HCA COVID-19 webpage under "More provider materials" heading.

COVID-19 prevention provider calls

These calls will focus on questions and concerns from HCA Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery prevention providers related to contract deliverables, budgets, invoicing, etc. Others are welcome.

Date Registration link
April 8, 2020 Slides
April 22, 2020 Slides
May 6, 2020 Slides
May 21, 2020 Slides


COVID-19 prevention professionals support call

These calls are to support the prevention field. It is a time for those working in prevention to brainstorm, ask questions and connect with others doing similar work. No future calls are scheduled at thie time.

Upcoming webinars

As always, the Athena Forum Training Calendar is updated regularly with webinar trainings and professional development opportunities from partners across the state. The webinar listed below is supported by DBHR. There are no upcoming webinars at this time.

Recorded webinars

  • Webinar title: Learn about the Washington Service Corps - a potential path for you!
    Description: This webinar is for youth and their families. Participants will learn about the Washington Service Corps, how becoming an AmeriCorp member may be a fit for you in the future and see/hear from current/past AmeriCorps members and their experience!
    Recording and presentation resources: Presentation recording can be found here. Presentation slides and links to accompanying videos are also available. 
    Presenter contact information: Washington Service Corps at WSCemail@esd.wa.gov or at 1-888-713-6080.
     
  • Webinar title: Navigating your path after high school – presentation by the Washington Student Achievement Council
    Description: This webinar is for youth and their families. The Washington Student Achievement Council presents various pathways after high school, whether it’s college, trade school, etc. While the present is uncertain, one thing is certain and it is that you can control what path you would like to take after high school! 
    Recording and presentation resources: Presentation recording can be found here. Additional resources include 12th Year Campaign (financial aid information), Student & Family Resources | GEAR UP (wa.gov), junior year check list and senior year check list.
    Presenter contact information:  Annie Pocklington, Program Associate for Student Support Services, Washington State GEAR UP, Washington Student Achievement Council at AnnieP@wsac.wa.gov or at 360-485-1064.
     
  • Webinar title: COVID-19 and suicide prevention: Staying connected and promoting resources
    Description: In this COVID-19 world, how do we help our community members not experience social isolation while engaging in social distancing?  In this session, we will discuss the protective factor of connectedness for suicide prevention and how we, as prevention professionals, can promote connection.  We will discuss suicide prevention programs that have digital resources, safe messaging guidelines for social media and identify ways people can connect with their social networks and helping organizations.
    Presenter: Jen Hogge, MFT, Mental Health Promotion and Integration Supervisor, Washington State Health Care Authority, Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery
    Recording and presentation resources: Presentation slides can be found here. To receive CEHs, access the webinar recording through OWL E-Learning. If you do not wish to obtain CEHs, the recording is also available on YouTube
     
  • Webinar title: How to use social media to support your community
    Description: COVID-19 has changed how we live and work. We also know that times like these can test the protective factors we work so hard to build. Mallory Peak, PhD and Senior Account Director at the communications firm DH shares how social media can help support substance use prevention and promote mental health and wellness when our communities need it most. 
    Presenter: Mallory Peak, Ph.D., DH 
    Recording and presentation resources: Presentation slides can be found here. To receive CEHs, access the webinar recording through OWL E-Learning. If you do not wish to obtain CEHs, the recording is also available on YouTube.
     
  • Webinar title: Supporting your child’s emotional and behavioral needs during COVID-19 (birth to 5 yrs.)
    Description: This webinar reviews ten social and emotional needs every human has and how you can meet those needs for your young child, and explore ideas of how parents can meet their own social and emotional needs during times of stress.
    Presenter: Carol Good, LICSW, University of Washington, has been working with families with young children since 1992. Her practice has mainly focused on families that have been through trauma. She believes all parents want what is best for their children – and need to hear what they are doing well. 
    Recording and presentation resources: Presentation slides and documents can be found here. The recording is available on YouTube
     
  • Webinar title: Using telehealth in infant and early childhood services to support and maintain relationships with families
    Description: When circumstances do not allow for in-home, in-person services, telehealth technology offers possibilities for infant and early childhood professionals to support and maintain our relationships with families. This session presents relationship-based principles and practices to help us connect with families during these unprecedented times and beyond. Utilizing principles for practice can help structure our work and help focus on the needs of the children and families in our care. This session will offer strategies to ground ourselves during times of heightened stress and “hold” the families in our care as well as our multiple personal and professional responsibilities. 
    Presenter: Nucha Isarowong, PhD, LCSW, Director of Advanced Clinical Training Program at the Barnard Center for Infant Mental Health and Development at the University of Washington
    Recording and presentation resources: Presentation slides can be found here. To receive CEHs, access the webinar recording through OWL E-Learning. If you do not wish to obtain CEHs, the recording is also available on YouTube.
     
  • Webinar title: How to understand and use your Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative (CPWI) community survey reports
    Description: Come join us to learn about how to interpret and translate your 2019 community survey data into action. You will also learn about what’s new for the 2020 fall administration of the community survey and have the opportunity to provide your input.
    Presenter: Sandy Salivaras, MSc, MPH, Epidemiological Prevention Research and Evaluation Manager, Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Washington State Health Care Authority
    Recording and presentation resources: Presentation slides can be found hereRecording coming soon!
     
  • Webinar title: Online meeting facilitation - Part 1
    Description: Having a hard time keeping the attention of your coworkers, team, clients? Come learn some tips and tricks of Zoom along with general online meeting facilitation.
    Presenter: Missy Martin, Planning and Performance Division, Washington State Health Care Authority
    Recording: The recording is available on YouTube
     
  • Webinar title: A return to… normal? How trauma may affect prevention and how we can respond
    Description: Prevention services may have been altered or interrupted for now, but what happens when they resume? Will everything just go back to the way it was? It’s almost certain that the people we serve in prevention will have been through stress, hardship, and mental health challenges. This webinar will serve as an introduction to Trauma Informed Care as seen through the lens of prevention providers, and will help to explain some of the differences we may see and how we can prepare for them.
    Presenter:  Enos A. Mbajah, M.A., LMFT, MHP, CMHS, School Age Child, Youth, & Family Integrated Services Supervisor, Washington State Health Care Authority, Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery
    Recording and presentation resources: Presentation slides can be found here. The recording is available on YouTube
     
  • Webinar title: Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative (CPWI) Action Plan and Budget technical assistance.  (Specific to Cohorts 1-4.)
    Description: Last minute questions about a CPWI Action Plan or Budget for 2020-21?  Want a reminder of resources and documents that are helpful when working on an Action Plan or Budget?  This semi-structured webinar will provide you an opportunity to ask questions and hear from DBHR staff.
    Recording and presentation resources: Presentation slides can be found here. This webinar was held on June 4, 2020 and was not recorded. Please talk with your Prevention System Manager about specific questions you may have about your Action Plan and Budget for 2020-21.
     
  • Webinar titleThe 2019 Young Adult Health Survey
    Description: Dr. Jason Kilmer from the University of Washington will present on the Washington State Youth Adult Health Survey (YAHS) and its highlights over the last six years of data collection. The YAHS survey is an online survey of young adults aged 18-25 designed to examine effects of marijuana legalization and other substance use in Washington State. The survey is conducted by researchers at the University of Washington. Following Dr. Kilmer’s presentation Stefany Farino and Vince Andres from Neighborhood House, Seattle WA will present about their Most Steer Clear media campaign.  Most Steer Clear is a Positive Community Norms campaign that utilizes local King County data from the Washington Young Adult Health Survey.  Using social media posts, print ads, stickers, billboards, transit ads, movie theater trailers and YouTube videos, Most Steer Clear focuses on the fact that most young adults do not use marijuana and do not drive under the influence.
    Recording and presentation resources: Presentation slides and a recording of the Young Adult Health Survey portion of the webinar can be found are available. Presentation slides and a recording for the Most Steer Clear Campaign portion of the webinar are also available. 
     
  • Webinar title: Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative (CPWI) Action Plan and Budget technical assistance.  (Specific to Cohorts 5-6.)
    Description: Last minute questions about a CPWI Action Plan or Budget for 2020-21?  Want a reminder of resources and documents that are helpful when working on an Action Plan or Budget?  This semi-structured webinar will provide you an opportunity to ask questions, share ideas, and hear from DBHR staff.  Ideal audience is Coordinators of CPWIs in cohorts 5 & 6 working towards the September 15 deadline.
    Recording and presentation resources: Presentation slides can be found here.  This webinar was held on Sept 2, 2020 and was not recorded.  Please talk with your Prevention System Manager about specific questions you may have about your Action Plan and Budget for 2020-21.
     
  • Webinar title: Behavioral Health Impacts of COVID-19
    Description: The goal of this presentation is to provide an overview of disaster response tools and preparedness for prevention contractors. We will cover common emotional reactions and behavioral health symptoms to traumatic events and discuss ways we can actively build resilience in our communities to navigate the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
    PresenterKira Mauseth, Ph. D., a disaster recovery specialist working with Washington State Department of Health as a member of the COVID-19 Strike Team
    Recording and presentation resources: Presentation slides can be found here. The recording is available on YouTube. Coalition Coordinators and those working in the prevention field are encouraged to share the recording with coalitions and community members.  This Building Workplace Resilience document may also be of interest.   

 

Community of practice calls - Adjusting parenting programs

These calls will be provided by AnaMaria Diaz Martinez, Washington State University Extension as a resource for providers implementing parenting programs in innovative ways during COVID-19. There are no future calls scheduled at this time.

Guiding Good Choices online

The University of Washington, Social Development Research Group will hold weekly calls on delivering Guiding Good Choices parenting program online. These calls are for those already trained to be Guiding Good Choices facilitators.

Date and time Link
May 6, 2020 Resources from call
May 14, 2020 Link to call recording
Resources from call

 

MENTOR Washington virtual meetings

MENTOR Washington held weekly virtual meetings with mentoring programs to discuss options relating to COVID-19. Records of those calls are below. No future calls are scheduled at this time.

Recorded "Quick Share" calls

Online resources

Here is a collection of resources for prevention providers. We will be updated this document regularly as more resources are collected.

Evidence-based program approved modifications

 Many program developers have released approved modifications to their programs. Click here for a list of known approvals. This list will be updated as more information is collected. 

Discussion forum

Coordinators and prevention professionals are sharing great innovative and creative ideas on The Athena Forum discussion forum.  

Frequenctly Asked Questions for DBHR Prevention Contractors

 The purpose of this document is to compile the most frequently questions about contracts, compliance, and program changes. This document will be updated periodically. 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

National Suicide Prevention Hotline - 1-800-273-8255 - provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

More resources

Start Talking Now

The Start Talking Now website is a great resource for parents that provides information on their role in preventing substance use. The Start Talking Now Facebook page is also being updated regularly with COVID-19 and prevention resources to support parents and caregivers. Start Talking Now is supported by the Washington Healthy Youth Coalition

Online resources

Check out this collection of resources for parents, caregivers, and families. We will be updated this document regularly as more resources are collected.

Virtual sessions for families

No future family sessions are scheduled at this time.

Need help setting up for a Zoom session? Before the event, set up a free Zoom account. For more assistance, here is a short video on how to setup Zoom for online sessions.