The Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative (CPWI) is a partnership of state agencies, counties, schools and prevention coalitions supporting communities in preventing alcohol and other drug abuse. The highest priority is to reduce underage drinking among 8th and 10th grade students. CPWI is funded and administered by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Behavioral Health and Service Integration Administration, Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR), through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Services are focused in communities experiencing high levels of underage drinking, crime, school drop-out, and unemployment. Communities are chosen based on their needs, and their readiness to address them.

In the first three years, CPWI has funded prevention coalitions in 52 communities, located in all 39 counties and nine Educational Service Districts. CPWI provides community coalitions with funding, training and technical assistance for coordination, assessment, strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation of prevention services needed in their communities.

This support helps communities build on their past successes and better measure how well prevention programs are meeting goals. As more resources become available, prevention services will be expanded to other communities.

By reducing underage drinking among 8th and 10th grade students, fewer young people will experience the related problems of juvenile delinquency, mental health conditions, and school failure.