Announcements

Young people are more likely to develop gambling problems than adults. Those who start gambling early are more likely to become addicted as they grow older. Risk factors include easy access to gambling, social acceptance, cultural norms, and early exposure during adolescence.

Throughout the month of March, the National Council on Problem Gambling offers resources to help local communities better understand the problem, along with access to support. If you're looking for additional… read more

By Steve Miller, CPS. Published by the PTTC Post. 

When you walked into your first prevention meeting, you may have experienced it. The agenda looked promising. The coffee was strong. People seemed kind. And then someone said: “Once we align our SPF with the EBP portfolio and crosswalk it with the YRBSS and NSDUH data, we’ll be in a good place for the CADCA deliverables.” You nodded politely, but you had no idea what just happened. Welcome to prevention’s alphabet soup!

… read more

May is Mental Health Awareness month. The 2026 Mental Health Month Planning Guide by Mental Health America (MHA) is now available in English and Spanish! This year’s theme, More Good Days, Together, focuses on helping people have more good days by meeting them where they are, supporting them as whole people, and understanding that “good” is defined by their unique experience and goals. 

Inside, you’ll find outreach ideas and examples, and ready-to-use communication tools… read more

Washington’s College Coalition on Substance misuse, Advocacy, and Prevention (CCSAP)’s annual conference and professional development meeting will be held virtually on Friday, May 8, 2026. 

Please save the date and look forward to more information soon. We will update the Athena Forum calendar event with information as it is made available. 

The Washington State Behavioral Health Advisory Council (BHAC) advises and educates HCA’s Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) on planning and implementing effective, integrated behavioral health services. These services promote individual choice, prevention, and recovery in Washington State.

The BHAC is actively recruiting new members with lived system experience with mental health and substance use disorders.

BHAC members are expected to attend BHAC meetings… read more

The Rural Network's Prevention Conference Planning Committee is inviting rural prevention youth groups to participate in a Rural Youth Perspective Questionnaire.

We want to hear directly from youth about what they think adults should be learning and discussing at the upcoming Rural Prevention Conference. Their voices matter — and we want the conference to reflect their real experiences, needs, and ideas.

What We’re Asking

We are hoping Prevention… read more

The Northwest Center for Public Health Practice (NWCPHP) announces new training course for program evaluation.

Program design and evaluation are cross-cutting skills relevant to nearly every aspect of public health. Does your organization have a few team members requesting training in this area?

Let NWCPHP connect you with another public health agency in our region interested in hosting our Fundamentals of Program Evaluation training for their staff during the… read more

Prevention Specialist Certification Board of Washington (PSCBW) is hosting a webinar "How to Apply for your CPP Credential" on Wednesday March 18, 2026 at 2 p.m. 

This webinar is for anyone who is interested in becoming certified, or currently working on becoming certified.  Participants will discuss the basic requirements needs to become certified, the application process from start to finish, and the exam, with some time for discussion and questions.

You can… read more

The 2026 Mental Health America Conference takes place October 8-9 in Washington, DC and will focus on the theme More Good Days, Together. Through this theme, the conference will explore how to make more good days possible for all by connecting people to the right support at the right time and recognizing that “good” is defined by unique mental health experiences and goals.

Experts will share practical strategies, innovative tools, and lived experiences to help attendees shape… read more

The SPF Application for Prevention Success Training is being hosted online/virtually from March 5-26, 2026, hosted by Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center. Sign up for SPF Application for Prevention Success Training today!

Registration closes February 24. 

About

The SPF Application for Prevention Success Training (SAPST) Online Course is a 5-week, online, remote course. You will be expected to complete online coursework… read more