Who We Are

We are comprised of rural volunteers across the state, including educators, youth-serving organizations, parents, prevention providers, government and more.
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Our Steering Committee

Based in communities across Washington, our Steering Committee volunteers dedicate incredible time, energy, and leadership to the Rural Network, assuring goals are met, programs are evaluated, culture is sustained, and more. We are forever grateful for this remarkable team.

Isaac Wulff

Isaac Wulff

Prevention Systems Manager

Location: North Puget Sound and Olympic Regions, while also representing the statewide prevention system.
Organization: Health Care Authority
Sector: Government
Geography: Statewide
Quote: “I have lived and worked in rural communities my entire life and have a lot of empathy for what kids and families in small towns experience. There are incredible strengths in rural society, but those often get overshadowed by the needs. I want to help flip that narrative and show small towns they have what they need to get ahead of troubles before they start.”

Sarah Meyers

Sarah Meyers

Garfield County Prevention Director

Location: Pomeroy, WA and Garfield County, WA: Population 2,500
Organization: Quality Behavioral Health (Clarkston EPIC Coalition and Pomeroy Partners for Healthy Families)
Sector: Prevention, DFC Grantees and CPWI Coalition Coordinators
Geography: Southeast WA
Quote: “I was very excited to join the Rural Network Steering Committee in 2020 when I first heard about the opportunity because I felt like the needs of folks in rural communities were never genuinely heard and brushed aside. Great prevention CAN be done in rural communities, and rural health equity needs to be addressed every step of the way. Folks in rural places have unique challenges that cannot be glossed over. For example, getting 12 sectors – a rural person might think “I can’t apply for that grant, or we can’t do this work because we have no youth serving organizations, or we don’t have any media”. Although rural communities have challenges, folks in rural places are intelligent, genuine, highly skilled, community-minded, tight knit, and caring. I love working in the field of prevention because I feel like I can play a large part of the new field of prevention science. The science of what makes kid successful, what prevention drug use, and what increases mental health is out there, let’s use it!” 

Tammy Maine

Tammy Maine

Health Educator

Location: Ferry, Pend Oreille and Stevens counties, in the Northeastern Corner of Washington
Organization: Northeast Tri-County Health District Youth Marijuana/Tobacco/Vaping Prevention Program
Sector: Prevention
Geography: Northeast WA
Quote: “I joined the Rural Network to network, collaborate, and learn from other rural areas. I am passionate about youth drug prevention. I wholeheartedly agree with Benjamin Franklin’s axiom that, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”‘

Brisa Sanchez

Brisa Sanchez

Community Prevention Specialist

Location: Royal City, WA
Organization: Royal School District
Sector: Prevention
Quote: “I’ve been involved in prevention since 2017 and fell in love with the varied nature of the work. Leadership, organizational development, and effective community projects are big passions for me and I look forward to expanding my skills and knowledge in these areas alongside the Rural Network.”

Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson

Mason County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition Coordinator

Location: Shelton & North Mason School Districts
Organization: Mason County Public Health
Sector: Prevention
Geography: Western WA
Quote: “I believe that one of the most important things I can do is help our youth by providing knowledge to make healthier personal choices and ways to avoid individuals from getting into risky situations.”

Karen Douglass

Karen Douglass

Coalition Coordinator

Location: Skamania County
Organization: One Prevention Alliance & ESD 112
Sector: Prevention
Geography: Southwest WA
Quote:A ‘network’ is a way to interact with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts. Welcome to the Rural Network! This fantastic community desires to collaborate, problem-solve, resource share, empathize during challenges, and laugh together. As professionals, we work together to support youth across Washington and beyond, with an intentional focus on rural. The camaraderie is why I am fully engaged with the Rural Network and a member of the Steering Committee.”

Natalie Miller-Nawn

Natalie Miller-Nawn

Coalition Coordinator

Location: San Juan Islands
Organization: San Juan County
Sector: Prevention
Geography: Northwest WA
Quote: (coming soon)

Sara Golden

Sara Golden

Coalition Coordinator

Location: Colfax
Organization: ESD 101, Colfax Community Coalition
Sector: Prevention
Geography: Eastern WA
Quote: (coming soon)

Our Staff

Based in Vancouver, Washington our team has been implementing strategies in Clark, Skamania and Klickitat Counties since 2003 and have since expanded statewide.

Abigail Wells

Abigail Wells

Coalition Coordinator

Specialty: Prevention in Rural Communities
Phone: (360) 952-3512
Email:
abigail.wells@esd112.org

Christopher Belisle

Christopher Belisle

Prevention Program Manager

Specialty: Community Coalitions, Student Assistance Professionals (SAP) Program
Email: Christopher.belisle@esd112.org