Varsa

We engage, educate and empower all sectors of our community to reduce and prevent underage substance use. The Vashon Alliance to Reduce Substance Abuse is a non-profit formed by a committed group of Vashon Islanders who have come together to engage, educate and empower our community to reduce and prevent underage drug and alcohol use. VARSA is part... icipating in the Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative CPWI), a Washington State program to plan, develop, and implement community-wide strategies to reduce and prevent underage drug and alcohol use on Vashon. Our Island has an underage drug and alcohol consumption issue that in some cases is 50% higher than the state wide average. We want to engage the wider community, educate families, and empower our young people to make healthy choices. Our children depend upon the adults of this community to build a coalition of support around them to make good choices and lead healthy, productive lives. VISD is honored to join VARSA in this community's effort to care for our children. With the confusion around the changes in marijuana legislation and the high percentage of underage drinking on the island, VARSA has an opportunity to really engage, educate and empower our community and really make a difference on Vashon. At Harbor School, we have many conversations with our students about personal accountability for the many choices in their lives. We wish to have our youth prepared with accurate and compelling information to make those choices. There comes a point where adults cannot make those decisions for our young friends, and we have to trust that our efforts and their own wisdom will lead them to a healthy path. King County affirms the vision of the VARSA Coalition and supports its ongoing work to make Vashon Island a safer and healthier place for its youth through its work on the CPWI grant. In strengthening the skills of students to make positive, healthy choices we are lucky to have VARSA as a partner. The vast majority of VHS students do not use drugs or drink ...Read More