IMPACT Lab

Brittany was selected by the Society for Prevention Research Early Career Preventionist Network (ECPN) Steering Committee to receive the 2022 Friend of ECPN Award. This award is given in recognition of Brittany's support of early career activities, by helping ECPN as an organization; promoting training, and early career involvement in prevention efforts; and encouraging early career Preventionists in their work. Brittany will be presented the award at the Annual Awards Presentation at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research.

The WSU College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) recently featured the work of IMPACT faculty Jen Duckworth. Funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Jen along with colleagues at the University of Washington conducted online confidential surveys with students at four- and tow-year college students to assess alcohol and marijuana use. The study found four-year college students drink more, use marijuana less than community college peers. To read the whole story in CAHNRS news, click here.

The University of Washington was one of nine awardees for the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts Grant. IMPACT lab members are contracting with UW to provide training and technical assistance through the center for the Strengthening Families Program Ages 10-14. IMPACT will also be providing expertise in dissemination and implementation science for the projects final evaluation design. Click here to read the FORE Foundation press release.

Kate presented on work from CROPTR exploring training needs of Opioid Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Providers in rural Washington. Results indicated that stigma prevented people from seeking opioid treatment and recovery resources in rural communities. Additionally, results showed that a majority of rural providers were interested in training topics on for opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery. Showcase is a weeklong celebration and recognition of WSU Faculty, Staff, and Students for the scholarly work that they have been completing.

Jordan presented two posters at WSU Showcase. The first presented findings from the Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative Evaluation project. The second presented Jordans findings from her masters thesis work exploring graduate student attitudes towards evidence-based programs. Showcase is a weeklong celebration and recognition of WSU Faculty, Staff, and Students for the scholarly work that they have been completing. Click here to see the poster from the CPWI evaluation.

The Society for Research on Adolescence Organizational Impact Award recognizes efforts that serve young people in diverse backgrounds through significant scientific, political, or programmatic contributions. The CROP+TR team was recognized for their work with Youth Participatory Action research projects aiming to help Washington State communities understand and address the opioid crisis. Click to read more!

IMPACT's Dr. Weybright was awarded the 2022 College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) Faculty Excellence in Extension Award. From the CAHNRS website, the Faculty Excellence in Extension Award was established to recognize faculty with Extension appointments in CAHNRS for program innovation, scope, the impact of their programs, and leadership. These areas could include the development of new or innovative programs, expanded linkages with non-college organizations, or innovative program delivery. Congratulations, Elizabeth!

The Center for Rural Opioid Prevention Treatment and Recovery (CROP+TR), a SAMHSA funded grant project co-led by Dr. Elizabeth Weybright (WSU Human Development, IMPACT Lab) and Dr. Michael McDonnel (WSU College of Medicine, BHI Lab) is working to develop and disseminate technical assistance and training related to opioid misuse in Washington. This project will aim leverage our statewide Extension-based drug use prevention infrastructure, our expertise in providing training and technical assistance (TTA) for opioid treatment and recovery and our relationship with other SAMHSA TTA efforts to provide rural Washington communities with high quality TTA they need to combat the opioid epidemic. WSU Extension Clallam is an active part of the CROP+TR team working on developing opioid-specific curriculum adaptations along with treatment and recovery resources to the evidence-based intervention Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR). Click here to read the Sequim Gazette news article and about the work completed by Melanie Greer and Vicki Wegner.

After almost two years of remote work, the Northwest Prevention Technology and Transfer Center (NW PTTC) team was able to meet for a masked in-person meeting in Seattle. The NW PTTC is a collaborative effort led by the University of Washington, Washington State University and the University of Nevada at Reno. The NW PTTC aims to serve as the primary training and technical assistance (TTA) resource to Region 10 (Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Alaska) prevention practitioners. Click here to learn more about the NW PTTC!

The Center for Rural Opioid Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery (CROP+TR) is a joint project between the College of Medicine and Department of Human Development that aims to provide training and technical assistance to rural Washington communities on opioids. The Participatory Action Research with Teens (Take-PART) engages teens (14-18) by teaching them about the science of addiction, withdrawal, and prevention. Teens also learn data collection and research techniques. Click here to read the WSU Insider's news piece.

The Center for Rural Opioid Prevention Treatment and Recovery (CROP+TR), a SAMHSA funded grant project co-led by Dr. Elizabeth Weybright (WSU Human Development, IMPACT Lab) and Dr. Michael McDonnel (WSU College of Medicine, BHI Lab) is working to develop and disseminate technical assistance and training related to opioid misuse in Washington. This project will aim leverage our statewide Extension-based drug use prevention infrastructure, our expertise in providing training and technical assistance (TTA) for opioid treatment and recovery and our relationship with other SAMHSA TTA efforts to provide rural Washington communities with high quality TTA they need to combat the opioid epidemic. WSU Extension Spokane is an active part of the CROP+TR team working on developing opioid-specific curriculum adaptations along with treatment and recovery resources to the evidence-based intervention Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR). Click here to watch the news clip and skip to time point 3:00 to see Jennifer Fees, WSU Extension Spokane staff and CROP+TR project team.

WSU IMPACT lab graduate students Kat Bruzios, Erica Doering, and Jordan Newburg competed on team Nerd Immunity at the Society for Prevention Research Sloboda & Bukoski Cup in 2021. Each team receives the competition data set 2 months before the conference, at which point they conduct a literature review, generate hypotheses, and conduct analyses. Teams then present their results during the SPR annual meeting. A panel of senior prevention scientist judges and the audience at the symposium will rate the quality of the research work and of the presentation. Team Nerd Immunity was mentored by Dr. Jen Duckworth and their presentation was titled Bioecological Building Blocks for Neighborhoods: Considering Safety and Race in Child Development. We're proud of you all!

IMPACT Undergraduate Research Assistant (RA), Elvia Garcia, graduated cum laude from Washington State University with her bachelor’s degree in psychology in May 2021. During her time with the lab, Elvia has assisted faculty, graduate students, and staff with a plethora of tasks for the Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative, the Children Youth and Families at Risk, and the DBHR Prevention Fellowship projects. We appreciate your hard work and are proud of you! Congratulations, Elvia!

IMPACT Undergraduate Research Assistant (RA), Melanie Simpson, graduated summa cum laude from Washington State University with her bachelors degree in May 2021. During her time with the lab, Melanie has assisted faculty and graduate students with a plethora of tasks for the EBP Registry Project. Melanie has been a critical part of a team conducting a literature review to summarize existing research on the effectiveness of substance use prevention environmental strategies. We appreciate your hard work and are proud of you! Congratulations, Melanie!

IMPACT's Elizabeth Purser presented her work exploring the relationship between flourishing and young adult alcohol use at the WSU Showcase. Showcase is a weeklong celebration and recognition of WSU Faculty, Staff, and Students for the scholarly work that they have been completing. Click here to see her poster. Elizabeth, Erica, and Dr. Weybright found that flourishing is associated with greater annual alcohol use in young adults. Elizabeth was awarded third place for her presentation by the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) Research Exposition!

IMPACT's Erica Doering presented her work on College Student's Conceptualization of Boredom at the annual WSU Showcase. Showcase is a weeklong celebration and recognition of WSU Faculty, Staff, and Students for the scholarly work that they have been completing. The group found seven themes for Boredom Conceptualization. Click here to see her poster. Erica also received a scholarship award for her presentation and work! We are proud of you, Erica!

The Prevention Research Subcommittee (PRSC) met virtually for the March quarterly meeting! The PRSC is comprised of individuals representing the Washington Health Care Authority Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR), Washington State University, the University of Washington, the Washington State Department of Health, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and leadership/staff from other Washington State agencies or research organizations. Led by co-chairs Dr. Brittany Cooper (WSU) and Dr. Kevin Haggerty (UW), the group meets quarterly to provide a forum for prevention researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to identify and address emerging and evolving substance misuse prevention and mental health promotion service and research needs in Washington State. The theme for March's meeting was COVID-19.

IMPACT's Dr. Elizabeth Weybright presented to the Washington State Legislature House Commerce and Gaming Committee in March. She was joined by colleagues from the Washington Health Care Authority Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery as well as colleagues from the University of Washington. All presentations were given to help examine the effectiveness of programs to prevent youth access to and use of alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, and vapor products. Elizabeth's presentation was titled, Effective Approaches for Youth Substance Use Prevention and starts around timepoint 1:35:40. Click here to watch the recording!

The WSU Insider recently highlighted work by the Transformational Change Initiative (TCI) project and IMPACT Lab's Laura Hill. TCI is a three pronged project consisting of a parent-student handbook through the First Years Away From Home (FYAH) project, the LAUNCH program for students and Learn, Inspire, Foster, Transform (LIFT) for faculty development focused on the student classroom experience. Click to read the WSU Insider article.