Vashon Alliance To Reduce Substance Abuse -VARSA
Working to reduce underage drug and alcohol use
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Guiding Good Choices Parent Education
Guiding Good Choices (GGC) is a drug use prevention program that provides parents of children in grades 4-8 (10-14 years old) with the knowledge and skills needed to guide their children through early adolescence. It seeks to strengthen and clarify family expectations for behavior, enhance the conditions that promote bonding within the family, and teach skills that allow children to resist drug use successfully.
Sources of Strength
At McMurray Middle School, the substance use prevention work is done primarily through Sources of Strength, a program designed to empower peer leaders to spread the positive message of hope, help and strength. Sources of Strength is a strength-based, comprehensive wellness program that focuses on suicide prevention but impacts other issues such as substance use and violence. The program is based on a relational connections model that uses teams of peer leaders mentored by adult advisors to change peer social norms about help seeking and encourages students to individually assess and develop strengths in their life.
Trained peer leaders use their network of friends to:
Have one-on-one conversations.
Develop Hope, Help, and Strength messages using local faces and voices.
Present peer-to-peer presentations and school-wide campaigns.
Where we work
External reviews
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
VARSA's goals are to measurably reduce youth substance use on Vashon Island, Washington. We use the biennial Healthy Youth Survey (given to all Vashon public school 6th-12th grade students) to track data over time. We have seen a clear reduction in use over the 15 years that this data has been tracked. We also work to bring mental health support to Vashon youth through our programs and partnerships with other Island, county, and state organizations.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We deliver free evidence-based programs to both youth and parents, helping to affirm wise choices and positive parenting. We run community-wide positive social norm campaigns and offer assistance such as free prescription lock boxes. We offer free community trainings for adults to assist youth in crisis, and will be offering a teen mental health class to all 10th grade students in 2023.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
VARSA is funded through Washing State Healthcare Authority prevention funding, smaller local grants, and donations. We have used some of these funds to train our staff in a variety of direct services to youth and adults. We are well-set to meet the need and our goals for the sustainable future.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We run a successful suicide prevention program in our middle school - Sources of Strength - which teaches positive mental health and resilience. Started in 2016 with grant funds, this is an integral part of the middle school culture. Our parent program - Guiding Good Choices - has taught many Island parents over the last 10 years, and has highly qualified instructors and good feedback from past participants. Our Youth Mental Health First Aid course - for adults who interact with youth - has taught over 200 Islanders, giving them tools and confidence to step in to help a youth experiencing a mental health crisis. Overall, VARSA has developed into a well-known organization for helping the community with youth substance use concerns and positive social activities.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Vashon Alliance To Reduce Substance Abuse -VARSA
Board of directorsas of 10/24/2022
Scott Rice
The Real Estate Company
Term: 2018 -
Pascal Py
Pascal Py Construction
Dr. Jessica Wesch
Seamar Health
Lee Kimzey
Jeni Johnson
Vashon Youth and Family Services
Paul Tegenfeldt
Pastor Luke Tedder
Bethel Evangelical Free Church
Dr. Slade McSheehy
Vashon Island School District
Charlie Krimmert
Law Inforcement Liaison
Jim Marsh
John L. Scott Realty
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
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Gender identity
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Transgender Identity
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Sexual orientation
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Disability
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