A $110,000 grant has been awarded to the Auburn High School/Cascade Middle School Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative (CPWI) to educate youth and families about the risks of substance abuse to teen health, encourage healthy choices and create a more positive and healthy environment for youth at home and in the community.

The funding, which the Department of Community and Human Services Behavioral Health and Recovery Division awarded, will establish a substance abuse prevention community coalition that will implement evidence-based environmental, public awareness, direct services and capacity building strategies.

“This coalition-based effort aligns with King County’s commitment to engage communities in the effort to reach and serve local children and youth to prevent problem activities and behaviors that could impact their health, safety and success in school and life,” said Adrienne Quinn, director of the King County Community and Human Services Division. “We are pleased that we are able to support a new collaboration in the Auburn area to help youth and families in the area.”

The Auburn community is one of six communities in King County and one of a total 59 communities statewide participating in the CPWI funded by the state Department of Social and Health Services’ Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR). Other King County communities include Central Seattle, Southeast Seattle, Southwest Seattle, Highline/White Center, and Vashon Island.

Local CPWI coalitions partner with parents, youth, educators, health professionals, businesses, law enforcement, faith leaders, and others. Coalitions identify their community’s greatest prevention needs, plan and implement evidence-based strategies, leverage local resources and evaluate the impact of selected programs.

“Our goal is to focus prevention resources in high-need communities with strong local partners who will take action to reduce substance abuse and the harm it causes,” said Chris Imhoff, DBHR director. “We know that when youth feel strongly connected to their family and community, and are supported in making positive choices, they are more likely to make healthy choices and succeed in school.”

CPWI’s primary goals are to reduce underage alcohol and marijuana use among 10th graders, improve academic performance, and reduce juvenile crime. The 2014 Washington State Healthy Youth Survey found that drinking has dropped among 10th graders in the past two years, however, one in five reported drinking in the past month, and one in five said they rode in car with a driver who had recently used marijuana.

“This is an exciting time for the Auburn Senior High and Cascade Middle School community which is our priority area for this grant,” said Rhonda Larson, assistant superintendent of Family Engagement and Student Success in the Auburn School District. “Like other communities in our region, we are facing a need to address student risk for use of alcohol and drugs and provide supports and services so that they can be successful in school and in life.

“We are confident that these schools, parents, and surrounding community are at a peak of readiness to benefit from this strategic intervention,” she said. “Collaborative efforts are growing amongst the Auburn community – this is a supreme opportunity to rally in support of our amazing Auburn students.”

The next meeting of the Auburn Coalition is 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16 at Auburn First United Methodist Church, 100 N St. SE. Community members are encouraged to join the coalition and to participate in planning and support.