2025 Prevention Awards of Excellence

Each year at the Prevention Summit, professionals, community members, youth, and Coalitions are recognized for their exemplary contributions to substance abuse prevention, problem gambling prevention, mental health promotion and the health of their communities.

The Prevention Awards of Excellence goals are to:

  • Identify superior substance use disorder prevention, problem gambling prevention, suicide prevention, violence prevention and mental health promotion programs with exceptional outcomes that can be adopted or adapted by others,
  • Recognize outstanding community partners, including youth engaged in prevention efforts as well as honoring Tribal and Urban Indian work in prevention and,
  • Focus statewide attention on exceptional prevention work.

 

Are you interested in nominating someone who has made an impact in your community? The nomination survey for the 2025 awards will be available in April through Thursday, July 17, 2025.  Nominations are only accepted via the survey.  The link to the survey will be posted here soon.

The following will help inform your submission.

Step 1: Select either 

  • This nomination is for a Tribal and/or Urban Indian affiliated member or representative(s) – Tribal and urban Indian program leaders, groups, organizations, businesses, or agencies that deliver prevention services within their communities or
  • This nomination is not for a Tribal and/or Urban Indian affiliated member or representative(s).

Step 2: Select one category that best fits your nominee

  1. Youth Leader (individual)  – School age youth in grades 6-12
  2. Youth Leadership (club or group) - School age youth in grades 6-12
  3. Young Adult Leader – Young adults, aged 18-25, working in substance use disorder prevention, suicide prevention, or mental health promotion
  4. Prevention Professional or Community Prevention Leader – Individuals associated with organization, business, agency, providing critical prevention and/or promotion support in their community
  5. Community Coalition or other prevention or promotion group – Groups providing excellent prevention programs to a community
  6. Contributions to Prevention by an Organization, Business or Agency – Entities in the community that assist or support coalition or group prevention activities
  7. Early-Career Prevention Professional - Undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, graduate, or post doctoral prevention professionals who have made intellectual contributions to the generation or dissemination of scientific evidence regarding effective prevention programs and practices

Step 3: Respond to survey questions

Categories 1-6

  1. How many years has the nominee been contributing to prevention or promotion?
  2. Describe their substance use disorder prevention, problem gambling prevention, suicide prevention, violence prevention, or mental health promotion efforts.
  3. Describe how the nominee demonstrates health equity and cultural competency including engaging those that are historically underserved and/or disproportionally impacted by substance use disorder or other behavioral health challenges.
  4. Provide at least one example of an outstanding contribution to prevention and/or promotion efforts.
  5. Provide an example of how the nominee has shown leadership in prevention which may include overcoming challenges (i.e. systemic barriers or lack of funding).
  6. Provide examples of strong partnerships that have been developed and how the partnerships have enhanced prevention or promotion efforts.
  7. Optional: What other information would you like the review team to consider.

☐ Check this box if this is a nomination for the Lifetime Achievement Award

Category 7

  1. How many years has the nominee been studying or contributing to prevention?
  2. Describe their scholarly contributions to the field of substance use disorder prevention, problem gambling prevention, suicide prevention, violence prevention, or mental health promotion work or activities.
  3. Describe how the nominee demonstrates health equity and cultural competency including engaging those that are historically underserved and/or disproportionally impacted by substance use disorder or other behavioral health challenges.
  4. Provide at least one example of an outstanding intellectual or scholarly contribution or commitment in which the nominee was involved with the generation or dissemination of scientific evidence regarding effective prevention program(s) or practice(s).
  5. When carrying out the work described in response number 4 above, how was evidence-based prevention theory, such as the Risk and Protective Factor Model, incorporated?  
  6. Optional: What other information would you like the review team to consider?

Past awardees

2024

Youth Leadership - WSU 4-H Teens helping Teens
Youth Leadership - Nexus: Mental Health Hub for Schools
Young Adult Leadership - Luke Fincher
Prevention Professional - Katya Miltimore
Prevention Professional - Francisco Jimenez
Prevention Professional - Dr. Christine Lee
Community Coalition - Clarkston EPIC Leadership Team
Organization, Business, or Agency - Safe Yakima Valley
Organization, Business, or Agency - Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center
Early Career Prevention Professional - Jordan Newburg
Lifetime Achievement - Michael Langer
Lifetime Achievement - Jackie Jamero Berganio

2023

Youth Leadership - Audrey Curtis
Prevention Professional - Samantha Stormont
Prevention Professional - Michelle Dower
Prevention Professional - Danielle Watkins
Lifetime Achievement - Leanne Reid
Lifetime Achievement - Mary Segawa
Lifetime Achievement - Laura Griner Hill
Organization, Business, or Agency - Washington State Liquor & Cannabis Board
Implementation of a Prevention Program - Strengthening Families Program as presented by Blanca Hernandez
Early Career Prevention Professional - Sara Bumgardner

2022

Tribal Organization - Lummi Counseling Service
Youth Leadership - Althea Patterson
Prevention Professional - Julie Peterson
Prevention Professional - Lindsey Worley
Prevention Professional - Jose Ochoa
Community Coalition - West Spokane Wellness Partnership
Organization, Business, or Agency - MHA Speakout Speakup
Organization, Business, or Agency - West Central Community Center
Early Career Prevention Professional - Gitanjali Shrestha

Lifetime Achievement - Deb Drandoff
Lifetime Achievement - Scott Waller
Lifetime Achievement - Peggy Needham

2021

Prevention Professional - Haley Green
Prevention Professional - Holly McIntyre
Prevention Professional - Rebeca Natali Barrios
Tribal and Urban Indian Prevention Professional - Joe Hipp
Community Prevention Group - Forks Community Coalition - Cecilia Ashue and Philip Sifuentes
Contributions to Prevention by an Agency - Prevention Voices
Lifetime Achievement Recipient - David Harrelson
Lifetime Achievement Recipient - Seth Dawson

2020

Youth Leadership, Middle School - Garrison Middle School Prevention Club
Youth Leadership, High School - Amara Farah
Prevention Professional - Brenda Barrios
Prevention Professional - Carrie McKinley
Tribal and Urban Indian Prevention Professional - Larry Jackson, Jr.
Community Prevention Group - Forks Community Coalition - Cecilia Ashue and Philip Sifuentes
Implementation of Prevention Program - Cowlitz Tribe Healing of the Canoe Program
Contributions to Prevention by an Agency - Puget Sound Educational Service District Student Services and Intervention Service Program
Lifetime Achievement Recipient - Cynthia Stark-Wickman

 

 

Who can I contact for more information?

Martha Williams

Prevention System Manager

Martha.Williams@hca.wa.gov