Prevention Works! works.

Started in 1998 with six members, today the Prevention Works! coalition of more than 250 parents, teachers, nonprofit agencies, medical and law enforcement personnel, governmental agencies and other citizens works to end child abuse and neglect, substance abuse and violence.

In 2007, more than 4,300 hours were volunteered in meetings, programs, training and prevention events.

During the past 10 years, Prevention Works!:

• Helped to reduce significantly alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use by high school students. Twelfth-grade use of alcohol was reduced by nearly 25 percent and tobacco and marijuana use were cut in half during the past 10 years.

• Supported parenting education and home visiting programs throughout the county

• Worked with several community partners to reduce significantly substance abuse by area youth

• Brought more than $1 million in new prevention funding to Clallam County

• Sponsored or co-sponsored more than 80 training sessions for more than 4,700 community members and professionals

• Helped implement 20 new evidence-based programs related to substance abuse, child abuse and neglect or violence prevention

• Worked to increase collaboration, coordination and funding for local prevention efforts

• Became a (501)(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2004

• Helped bring two large University of Washington research projects to the county

• Received a Washington State Exemplary Substance Abuse Prevention Award

For more information, call 417-2366, or visit the Web site at www.preventionworkscc.org.