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Sources of Strength suicide prevention program comes to district

websourcesState grant funds International Sources of Strength program to promote the power of connection and hope

W2 for Drug Free Youth secured a $20,000 state grant to fund high school student and staff training, follow-on support and awareness campaigns through the internationally acclaimed Sources of Strength program. Sources of Strength features 450 school teams in five countries, 26 U.S. states, three Canadian Provinces and 12 First Nation communities.

The mission of Sources of Strength is to provide the highest quality evidence-based prevention for suicide, violence, bullying and substance abuse by training, supporting, and empowering both peer leaders and caring adults to impact their world through the power of connection, hope, help and strength. W2 for Drug Free Youth coordinator and long-time community activist Peggy Needham wrote and secured the grant with support from Walla Walla Public Schools and Education Service District 123.

“We want this experience to be one of hope, help and strength,” said Needham. “Our community has suffered many tragic losses in the past few years. The Sources of Strength program provides a platform to bring our community together to focus on increasing communication and breaking the codes of silence. It promotes communication both peer to peer and adult to peer.”

Video Links:
https://sourcesofstrength.org/peer-leaders/videos/?id=78

https://sourcesofstrength.org/adult-advisors/videos/?id=23

Student/Staff Training Schedule:
Monday, March 27 – Lincoln HS staff and partners (Health Center and Afterschool programs) – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Lincoln Terrace) 
Tuesday, March 28 – Lincoln HS student peer leaders and adult advisors - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Lincoln Terrace)
Wednesday, March 29 – Wa-Hi HS staff and partners – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
Thursday, March 30 – Wa-Hi HS student peer leaders and adult advisors

Free Sources of Strength Public Event
Thursday, March 30
6:30 p.m. (doors open)
7 p.m. (program begins)
Cordiner Hall (Whitman College)
Lincoln and Walla Walla High School students will discuss the awareness campaigns they plan to implement, including:
· Sources of Strength Awareness
· I Am Stronger Campaign
· Trusted Adult Display
· What Helps Me Campaign
· Sources of Strength Week
· A Strength a Month
· Passive messaging: posters, videos, PSA’s, social media
· Active messaging: one-to-one, presentation to class, staff, and community

“Sources of Strength is an ongoing peer driven, adult guided process to promote hope, help and strength on our campuses and communities through youth and adult connectedness,” said Needham. Come to Cordiner Hall on March 30th to learn more about this program and support our local youth as they introduce this program to our community.

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