Battle Ground prevention worker honored at state summit

Battle Ground — Kathy Deschner was presented with a Prevention Professional of Excellence Award at the 2018 Washington Prevention Summit, which took place Nov. 6 in Yakima. She has worked with the Prevent Together: Battle Ground Prevention Alliance for more than 20 years, including working with the D.R.E.A.M. Team, a youth prevention group which contributed more than 2,000 hours of community service in the last two years. Deschner has also partnered with the Rocksolid Community Teen Center to provide prevention education, information and activities to the youth who attend. Criteria for the award is that the nominee must be a strong prevention advocate, provide leadership, effective service delivery, community involvement in relation to the community coalition’s strategic plan and their commitment to substance abuse prevention. “Kathy has worked hard to reach all sectors of our community, build awareness about the importance of prevention education, increase collaboration and establish partnerships, provide education to youth, parents and the community, and provide support and training to coalition leaders,” Battle Ground Police Chief Bob Richardson, who is also chairman of Prevent Together, said in a release from the organization.