VYWC Monthly Newsletter

03/2026 | Issue 11

Next Meeting 03/16!

Valley Youth Wellness Coalition's next meeting will be 03/16 from 9:00-10:00. Our goal is to wrap up our strategic plan by refining our local conditions and selecting our priority strategies while keeping in mind what data we still need.

We will be meeting at the Augusta Health Community Care building 64 Sports Medicine Dr. Fishersville, VA 22939. Park out front, go in through the automatic doors, and make a right to meeting room 3.

Click Here for Directions

Tobacco/Nicotine Prevention and Cessation Resources

The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth has published their Winter 2026 curated list for tobacco/nicotine prevention and cessation resources. This thorough list is intended for folks such as educators, prevention professionals, school administrators, and, in general, anyone in the community who may be looking for resources to stop tobacco and nicotine products.

Here you will find alternatives to suspension, vaping and smoking cessation programs, self-paced digital program modules, fact sheets, campaign messaging, and much more. If this sounds helpful to you, please follow the button link to learn more or share with an organization that you know would benefit from these resources.

VFHY Tobacco/Nicotine Resources

National Survey Finds Widespread Gambling Participation Before Age 21 Amid Public Concern About Youth Exposure Risk - National Council on Problem Gambling

"While nearly two thirds of U.S. adults aged 21+ report gambling before age 21, only 15% of adults overall say they have ever been asked about their gambling behavior by a primary care provider. WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 2, 2026) - As gambling becomes more accessible across digital platforms, a national survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) finds that many U.S. adults report participating in gambling activities before age 21, while routine healthcare screening for gambling behaviors appears rare..."

National Drugs & Alcohol Facts Week

March 15-21 is National Drugs & Alcohol Facts Week. This is an annual week-long event that is focused on the science of drug use and addiction, with the goal of educating and empowering youth to make informed decisions about substance use and their health.

There is a lot of misinformation that exists, especially on social media, about some of the more wide-spread substances that are on the market; just some being cannabis, kratom, psilocybin and much more.

This is a week though that you can utilize to help spread the message on substance use, brain development, and addiction, share life-saving skills about opioid overdoses and response, and help youth get a more science-based response so they have the power to make an educated choice.

Check out the National Institute of Health's Toolkit for activity ideas and sharable resources! Thank you for participating!

National Drugs & Alcohol Facts Week

Problem Gambling Awareness Month

March is also Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) spearheads this initiative every year. The theme for 2026 is "Caring Communities, Stronger Futures". The intention of this theme is to emphasize the importance of a community-driven approach for gambling awareness and support.

NCPG states, "Problem gambling doesn’t exist in isolation... 5 to 8 million U.S adults are considered to have mild or moderate gambling problems, while 2.5 million meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem, each with their own families, friends, and communities.

When a community comes together... silence is replaced with support, and isolation is replaced with connection. This Problem Gambling Awareness Month, take time to learn about problem gambling and its impacts and help build a more supportive community.".

NCPG Toolkit

Training Opportunity: Prevention Playbook: Strategy, Action, and Community Change

Move beyond check-the-box planning and learn how to turn strategic planning into a powerful, community-driven process that reveals root causes, maps complex systems, and uncovers real leverage points for lasting change. This workshop focuses on applying our understanding of the socio-ecological model and root causes and our skills around community engagement - to the exercise of systems mapping.

Attached is a free webinar recording provided by Prevention Technology Transfer Center Network that instructs helpful tools and strategies for coalitions as they work on real-time community action!

Click the button below to listen!

Watch Here for Free!

New Job Opportunity!

The Central Shenandoah Health District office of VDH is seeking a public health nurse! Just some of the job duties include independently providing professional nursing care to patients in clinics, mobile unit, and community-based setting, participating in public health emergencies, community health assessments, coordinating mobile unit operations, partnerships, and program administration. If this sounds like a great fit for you or someone you know, click the button below!

CSHD Job Listing

Community Events

Valley Youth Wellness Coalition | valleyywc@vcsb.org | 540-430-9360 | valleyyouthwellnesscoalition.org