At YWCA Spokane, prevention has always been a cornerstone of our work to end domestic and intimate partner violence. This summer, we are responding to a significant loss of funding. As a result, we have had to make hard decisions about what we can continue and what must pause for now.

What Prevention Looked Like Before

Until recently, our prevention programming included two impactful, teenage focused efforts: Healthy Roots and Teen Council. These community based programs brought youth into conversations about healthy relationships, consent, boundaries, and power dynamics. We worked with students in alternative schools, teen parenting programs, and LGBTQ+ youth spaces across Spokane.

Healthy Roots created a relaxed and safe environment where students could explore topics safely, learn, and grow. Many youth who were hesitant at first left the program feeling empowered and confident. Some even began educating their peers with the tools they gained.

Chloe Bolz, our Prevention Specialist, shared one story that reflects the power of this work. A student at On Track Academy joined Healthy Roots after surviving teen dating violence. At first, she sat quietly at the back of the classroom. After several weeks of simply observing, she found her voice. She began joining discussions and eventually helped teach her classmates how to create a safety plan—drawing from her own experience.

These kinds of transformations happened again and again.

Here’s what some students had to say:

• “I am writing all this down so I can help my friend who is in a bad relationship.” —Lumen High School student
• “This is helpful to me because I just got out of a relationship and I can look for these signs in my next relationship.” —On Track Academy student
• “I’ve learned about the cycle of abuse and the warning signs. I also got some resources, and I’m really relieved to know I can get help if I need it.” —On Track Academy student
• “These lessons taught me to not be so close-minded. This information helped me realize not everything is black and white.” —On Track Academy student

These programs connected with hundreds of young people each year. They offered not only education, but real hope and real tools.

What’s Changing Now

Because of the loss in government funding, Healthy Roots and Teen Council are currently paused. We can no longer offer classroom-based prevention education or support youth peer educators at this time.

This is a painful change, especially because we have seen how meaningful and life-changing these programs can be. Although the programs are on hold, the impact lives on in the youth who participated and the knowledge they now carry into their lives and communities.

What’s Staying the Same

Even though our school-based prevention work is paused, our commitment to preventing violence has not changed. We are still reaching youth and families through other meaningful programs.

We will continue to host Transformations Camp each summer through our partnership with Strong Women Achieving Greatness (SWAG) as well as the Youth Self-Care Summit in the winter. These offerings center the experiences of young women of color, who face increased risks due to systemic barriers. These programs builds protective factors through conversations about identity, body image, healthy relationships, and care for self and our community. It gives youth space to grow, connect, and lead.

Our broader services also provide ongoing prevention through healing and support. These include:

• Personalized safety planning for with our advocates
• Emergency housing and shelter that create stability
• Skill-building and mentorship through the Women’s Opportunity Center
• Trauma-informed therapy from our mental health team

In fact, around 80 percent of the clients who complete therapy with us no longer meet the criteria for PTSD. This shows the deep healing that is possible when care is both compassionate and culturally responsive.

How You Can Help

Our mission to eliminate racism and empower women is, at its core, a mission of prevention. By challenging systems of oppression, reducing inequities, and increasing access to resources, we change the conditions that allow violence to persist, but this work takes all of us.

If you are interested in getting involved, you can take action in three key ways:

• Give Today: Your support helps us adapt and continue this work despite funding cuts.
• Take Action: Advocate for policies that prioritize prevention and early intervention.
• Learn More: Help build a culture that stops violence before it starts.

Even in the face of change, we are staying rooted in our mission. Together, we can keep building a community defined by safety, justice, and dignity for all.