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By Teresa Simpson
Gazette Reporter 

SUPER Colfax, Programs to educate Students and Community about Substance Prevention

 

August 25, 2022

Special to | The Gazette

Local parents Sara Golden, and Shannon Gfeller are working together to bring kid's Substance Use to attention. With Colfax's Substance Use Prevention Education and Resources (SUPER) program in Colfax

As the community coordinator, Golden explained that SUPER is part of a CPWI grant. Overseen by the Department of Behavioral Health & Recovery, in Washington State community Prevention & Wellness Initiatives began in 2011.

SUPER seeks to educate youth and the community with events and school programming.

Gfeller is the Student Assistance Professional for Colfax Jr/Sr High School. Working jointly with SUPER Colfax she provides programming for students, educating them on the risks and harms of underage alcohol, tobacco and other drug use.

SUPER gathers data through the Washington Healthy Youth Survey administered every other year, which is anonymous and done across the United States. This information helps determine programming to help educate youth on how to make choices for long-lasting healthy life choices. "Our kids go to school here, and we live here. We want them to make good choices," Golden said.

The 2018 Healthy Youth Survey states that over half (58%) of 12th graders have vaped at some point. 42% of 10th graders had vaped. Most students report social access as the main way to obtain their vaping devices, whether through friends, siblings, people of legal age.

SUPER Colfax has worked with Sheriff Brett Myers on educating students and Whitman County Librarian Nichole Kopp to educate students on social media safety and cyber bullying.

"We have a cyber social media program in which Nichole Kopp a librarian at the library talks to students about protecting yourself on Social Media," Gfeller said, "Nichole Kopp also did an excellent parent social media 101 talk last spring and will do another one this autumn/winter."

SUPER Colfax will be working with John Griffin of Target Zero, teen safety driving commission. "John Griffin does a teen safety driving program. Driving safely without texting. He did a PSA with Cheney coalition on not driving under the influence," Golden said, "We're partnering and bringing in a lot of professionals."

Golden also explained that community programs give out free locking prescription med boxes to anyone in need, to keep prescriptions out of the hands of others. The program also collects unused or old prescription meds at drug take back events. As well as advertising the permanent take back box located in the Sheriff station.

"We like to say 'Nothing about us without us," and get as many different voices in on the conversation. We want the youth to be a part of the programming," said Golden, explaining that the program is for the youth and the community.

Gfeller works with at-risk students on prevention and intervention with drugs and alcohol. The program's goals are to reduce alcohol, tobacco and other drug use and improve school performance. Some of her work includes group counseling, one on one counseling, class presentation, and awareness programs. Most of the at-risk students that she sees come from referrals from staff and administration but can also be self or parent referrals.

"I met with 15 different students this spring. We have six to eight sessions. My goal is to make that first start date late in life," Gfeller said.

"The later we can get kid's using the healthier we can help their brain," Golden agreed.

SUPER Colfax partners with all 39 counties across WA, 100 communities, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and 9 Educational Service District (ESDs) .

In a joint effort, NEWESD101, (Northeast Washington Educational School District), and Colfax School District applied for the most recent round of funding and due to the community's support and readiness to use the funds and implement programming they were awarded the grant with NEWESD 101 as its fiscal agent and WA Health Care Authority as the grant manager.

On the third Tuesday of each month at 11 am in the conference room of the Colfax Professional Building SUPER Colfax holds a meeting. To receive more information contact Golden at [email protected].

A survey can also be taken online at https://www.research.net/R/whcoen2022.

 

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