Issue 17 Winter 2024

Impact Teen Driver Class for Students and Parents

Did you know that reckless and distracted driving is the number one killer of teens in the United States?

South County Fire offers an online parent and teen workshop to learn about graduated driver licensing laws, distractions while driving, seat belts, speed, and the critical importance of modeling good behaviors behind the wheel. This class is for parents and teens to join together. Visit the South County Fire website here for more information.

Crisis Line Services for School Professionals

Have you ever been working with a student who is struggling and felt stuck on what the appropriate next steps might be? There is help! The Regional Crisis Line (RCL) is available 24/7 to all school personnel working with youth who may need immediate assistance. The RCL is staffed by professional counselors who can help with consultation, mobile outreach to the student’s home if needed, follow-up, and area bed census. Please call 800-584-3578 to be directly connected to a counselor that can offer school supports. If in doubt, call 988 and they will also connect you to this vital service for you and your students. Download the RCL for school professionals flyer here, available in English and Spanish, and share with other school professionals and colleagues.

If you'd like to view the full version and download a copy of this flyer, please click here.

Two New Youth Vaping Prevention Resources

Youth Vaping Pocket Resource: This printed, business card-sized resource contains information that youth need to know about vaping: short and long-term physical effects, nicotine addiction, vaping industry tactics, mental health support resources, and cessation programs for teens. Content has been reviewed by the Student Assistance Professionals (SAPs) of Educational Service District 189, who work directly with youth impacted by vaping and other substances.

Youth Vaping Quit Kit: Vaping prevention is an important strategy for keeping youth and communities happy and healthy. However, the reality is that many youth are already experiencing nicotine addiction. Interventions that include youth-specific cessation resources may be more effective in steering teens toward quitting for good. The Snohomish County Health Department’s Youth Vaping Quit Kits contain materials known to support cessation, like water bottles and flavor-infused toothpicks, as well as teen-friendly behavioral health programs and guidance for developing healthy coping strategies for stress and other factors that contribute to feeling a need to vape.

To learn more and submit an order for these resources, contact Brittany.Bevis-Sciuto@co.snohomish.wa.us

Mental Health Support for Ukrainian Refugees

Nashi Immigrant Health Board recently initiated two important services for newly arrived Ukrainians: their Warm Telephone Line and Ukrainian Peer Support Programming. These resources are helpful not only to those in the Russian and Ukrainian speaking community, but also for those seeking resources and advice for how best to support new arrivals from this community.

The Warm Telephone line is a dedicated cellular phone line where Ukrainian navigators provide emotional support and assist callers with issues related to resettlement, health education and support resources, and/or referral to their peer support counseling or community mental health referrals. This is also a great service for school staff and organizations to call for resources in supporting new arrival students or assistance with translations.

Nashi’s peer support programming includes groups of targeted ages focused on supporting emotional wellness and providing a variety of cultural and social activities as well as one-on-one counseling focused on achieving specific goals. See the flyers available in both English and Ukrainian for further details and contact information.

NASHI Trauma-Informed Care and Mental Health Services for Ukrainian refugees

If you'd like to download a copy of this flyer, please click here .

The Healthy Communities team hopes you had a healthy and happy holiday season and are entering 2024 rejuvenated and recharged!