Monroe Community Coalition needs more wellness survey responses

The Monroe Community Coalition is seeking community members to participate in its annual Community Prevention Wellness Initiative survey, which needs more responses by Thursday, Dec. 31. The survey can be taken online, and takes in between five and 10 minutes to complete.

Community response is critical, said coalition coordinator Joe Neigel. The coalition is funded through the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery's (DBHR) Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative (CPWI), and participation in the CPWI survey is mandated by the DBHR. The coalition must receive a minimum of 215 responses before the end of the year, Neigel said, but only has around 50 currently.

"It's a contractual expectation that we have 215 responses,GÇ¥ he said.

The Monroe Community Coalition is a volunteer-driven nonprofit dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the community by reducing underage drinking and substance use. Led by Neigel, the Monroe School District's prevention specialist, the coalition uses evidence-based prevention strategies to identify risk factors conducive to alcohol and substance use, and then works preemptively to diminish those risks.

The coalition meets on the second Thursday of every month at the Monroe School District Administration office. Last Thursday's meeting included discussion on how to obtain the necessary survey responses, along with discussion on new programming the coalition will implement in 2016.

The coalition was recently awarded a $7,610 grant to be used for youth marijuana use prevention. The funding was received from I-502 tax revenue, and may only be used on evidence-based programs proven to have a favorable cost benefit analysis. Options for the funding were discussed last week, with coalition members expressing an interest in implementing a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Snohomish County mentorship program in Monroe.

The coalition voted to enter into a two-year agreement with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Snohomish County, which will stretch the available resources so they are able to help a greater number of kids.

To participate in the CPWI survey, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/SMOON2015. More information about the coalition can be found at http://monroecommunitycoalition.com/.