Central Vancouver Coalition

10/15/2026

Check out Central Vancouver Coalition's October 2026 edition of The Prevention Connection newsletter for the latest news, meeting updates, resources, events, and more!

THE PREVENTION CONNECTION

09/30/2026

**Looking for a way to connect with and support local youth?**

**Trappers 4 Trappers at Fort Vancouver High School** is looking for additional **adult mentors** for the 2026–27 school year!

The commitment is approximately **16 hours total between October and May**, and **training is provided**. Mentors have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with students and be a positive, supportive adult presence in their lives.

**Bilingual mentors are especially needed, including English/Spanish and English/Chuukese speakers.**

Interested or have questions? Please contact **Alizz Quarles at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])**.

📌 See the attached **2026–27 Adult Community Letter** for program details, dates, and expectations.

**Connection is the best prevention. Sometimes, simply showing up can make a lasting difference.** 💙

09/08/2026

A huge thank you to Central Vancouver Coalition Steering Committee members **Tabby Stokes and Alizz Quarles**, and all of the wonderful volunteers who helped staff our coalition table at the **2026 Hands Across the Bridge Event** on Monday, September 7!

Held annually on Labor Day, Hands Across the Bridge brings together people in recovery, families, supporters, service providers, and community members to celebrate recovery, remember those lost to addiction, reduce stigma, and connect people with resources and support.

Through our **Locks Save Lives Medicine Safe Storage Initiative**, we were proud to distribute **100 medicine locking bags** to promote safe medication storage and help prevent accidental poisoning, overdose, and misuse.

A special thank you to **Tabby and Alizz**, who also serve as **Chair and Vice Chair of the Hands Across the Bridge Event Planning Committee**. Their leadership and dedication helped make this year’s event a success!

We’re also grateful to our community partner **Thrive 2 Survive** for cohosting Hands Across the Bridge for the **second year in a row**. Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to bringing our community together.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered, stopped by our table, and helped spread the message that **Locks Save Lives!**

We’re grateful to be part of such an incredible community. ❤️

09/01/2026

The Hands Across the Bridge Project is the largest recovery community event that happens on Labor Day each year. Come on out on Monday, September 7th to participate in this incredbile event. See flyer for full details.
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💜 Recovery is for everyone—every person, every family, and every community. 💜

Join us as we kick off National Recovery Month at the 25th Annual Hands Across the Bridge!

On Monday, September 7th, people from both Oregon and Washington will come together to stand hand in hand across the I-5 Bridge in a powerful show of hope, healing, and support for recovery. After the bridge event, stay for Bridge Beats, our free family-friendly music festival at Esther Short Park with live entertainment, community resources, and fun for all ages!

📍 Bring your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. Everyone is welcome!

We’re also still looking for:
🙋🏽‍♀️ Volunteers to participate in event needs
✨ Sponsors to help support event costs
🎁 Donations for our Resource Bingo prizes
🏕️ Organizations interested in hosting a resource table

If you’d like to get involved, please email us at:
📧 [email protected]

Together, we can make this our biggest and most impactful year yet.

💜 We will see you on the bridge!!

08/31/2026

TODAY is Clark County’s 10th Annual Overdose Awareness Day! Community members are invited to gather, reflect, and pay tribute in a supportive space at Marshall Park Picnic Shelter from 4-8 p.m. today Monday, August 31, 2026.

TODAY is Clark County’s 10th Annual Overdose Awareness Day!

This community event is a time to remember those whose lives have been lost to overdose, support loved ones who are grieving, and come together around awareness, connection, and action.

Community members are invited to gather, reflect, and pay tribute in a supportive space.

📅 Monday, August 31, 2026
⏰ 4 to 8 p.m.
📍 Marshall Park Picnic Shelter
1069 E McLoughlin Blvd.
Vancouver, WA 98663

This event is open to the entire community.

08/31/2026

Overdose prevention takes compassion, knowledge, and action—from all of us. This year marks 25 years of International Overdose Awareness Day, and the work is still needed. Let’s organize, show up, and work together to build a future free from overdose. Remember, everyone deserves to live, and anyone (including you!) can be a friend for life.

07/31/2026

📣LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD📣

Two community surveys close at midnight tonight, Friday, July 31, 2026. Your feedback will help local coalitions better understand the strengths, challenges and opportunities facing young people in Vancouver and guide future prevention and youth wellness efforts.

Please take a few minutes to complete the surveys in the post below. Residents are encouraged to complete the survey for the coalition serving their community.

Central Vancouver Coalition survey > https://hca.servicenowservices.com/assessment_take2.do?sysparm_assessable_type=27d6f06f8715b210ea8cba28cebb35af

West Van for Youth survey > https://hca.servicenowservices.com/assessment_take2.do?sysparm_assessable_type=d17515a78719b210ea8cba28cebb359f

Vancouver coalitions invite community to help build healthier futures for youth Preventing youth substance use is not the responsibility of schools or families alone. It takes an entire community. As the 2026-27 school year approaches, Vancouver residents are encouraged to be part of the solution. T...

07/31/2026

Community surveys close Friday, July 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM.

Residents are encouraged to complete the survey for the coalition serving their community.

Central Vancouver Coalition survey > https://hca.servicenowservices.com/assessment_take2.do?sysparm_assessable_type=27d6f06f8715b210ea8cba28cebb35af

West Van for Youth survey > https://hca.servicenowservices.com/assessment_take2.do?sysparm_assessable_type=d17515a78719b210ea8cba28cebb359f

Vancouver coalitions invite community to help build healthier futures for youth Preventing youth substance use is not the responsibility of schools or families alone. It takes an entire community. As the 2026-27 school year approaches, Vancouver residents are encouraged to be part of the solution. T...

07/30/2026

Help us reach our goal by investing 5 minutes to complete our community survey by 11:59pm on Friday, July 31, 2026! Your insights and feedback will inform the needs of our community and prevention programming in Central Vancouver.

Click the link to complete the survey: https://hca.servicenowservices.com/assessment_take2.do?sysparm_assessable_type=27d6f06f8715b210ea8cba28cebb35af

Vancouver coalitions invite community to help build healthier futures for youth Preventing youth substance use is not the responsibility of schools or families alone. It takes an entire community. As the 2026-27 school year approaches, Vancouver residents are encouraged to be part of the solution. T...

06/27/2026

You don’t need one big talk to make a difference. 💬

Small, casual conversations over time can help parents and caregivers stay connected with their teens and support healthier choices.

Start small. Keep it simple. Keep the conversation going.

Explore conversation tips and resources at StartTalkingNow.org.