EWU teams with Priority Spokane to help deal with Covid stress

 

Last updated 5/27/2021 at 10:25am



CHENEY — Eastern Washington University’s School of Social Work and Office of Community Engagement (OCE) are partnering with Priority Spokane to begin offering virtual COVID-19 Stress and Trauma Education Programing (C-STEP).

In a May 17 news release, EWU officials state the work is made possible through a grant from the Innovia Foundation and support from Priority Spokane members. Using curriculum developed by the Center for Trauma and Stress Education, the partnership will create C-STEP groups that will provide community members with strategies and tools to help them better understand the impact of COVID-19 on their personal well-being. C-STEP will also offer skills to better manage the increased stress, fear, grief, anxiety and/or lack of social support and increased social isolation that so many have experienced due to COVID-19.

“This is really an exciting and collaborative way to help people right now,” Brian Davenport, PhD, associate dean for Honors and Community Engagement at EWU, said in a statement. “Because of the virtual nature of this partnership, we will be able to offer support both locally and in areas that traditionally don’t have access to these types of opportunities.”

Some of the C-STEP groups will be facilitated by EWU social work students.

“This is a great opportunity for our students to apply what they are learning while also gaining valuable experience in the community,” Amanda Reedy, PhD, professor, chair and director of the EWU School of Social Work, said in the release.

Ryan Oelrich, executive director of Priority Spokane says the partnership makes sense for the community.

“Priority Spokane is excited to partner with Eastern Washington University as we work together to address stress and trauma, and their resulting consequences in our community,” Oelrich said. “The tools, practices, and connections C-STEP groups provide are adaptable and easy to understand. Through this partnership we hope to make them widely available.”

According to its website, Priority Spokane “is an endeavor to create a vibrant future for Spokane County by implementing community-defined goals. It is through collaborative and focused efforts on improvements that Spokane County will be a flourishing community for all who live and work here.”

Priority Spokane launched in 2008 as one outcome from Eastern Washington University’s Institute for Policy and Economic Analysis’ Community Indicators Initiative (CII). Started in 2004, CII collects data — or indicators — to periodically assess the state of the Spokane community in terms of economic vitality, education, health, environment and numerous other factors.

A group of community leaders involved in the CII process recognized the value of these indicators for identifying priority community problems and for measuring change on these issues over time. These leaders represented local government, businesses, nonprofit organizations and local funders, and with “the vision to prioritize community action to measurably improve the community” kicked off Priority Spokane.

Priority Spokane has provided training, consultation, and support to other communities across the country to create a collaborative system/organization to identify and address priorities.  Contact us for details.

 

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