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Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Prevention Fellowship

Application for Cohort 7 (June 2021) of the DBHR Prevention Fellowship is now available.

Applications are due 11:59 PM PST on April 19, 2021.

Questions? Contact:

Learn, lead, and make a lasting impact in Washington State

For the last two years, the Washington State Health Care Authority’s Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR), in partnership with Washington State University’s IMPACT Lab, has welcomed 20 passionate, inquisitive, and hardworking undergraduate and graduate students into the DBHR Prevention Fellowship Program.

The DBHR Prevention Fellowship is a paid 10-month experience that offers unparalleled access to Washington State's leaders in behavioral health prevention, treatment, and recovery. Fellows play a pivotal role in the DBHR team, helping solve real world problems in prevention science, substance use prevention, and mental health promotion. These interactions provide one-of-a-kind insights into state, local, and community initiatives that impact the health and wellbeing of children, youth, and families in Washington State. By the end of the Fellowship, Fellows are uniquely positioned to enter the prevention workforce, walking away with newfound leadership and communication skills and a deep understanding of multi-level prevention work.

Prevention science experience is not necessary, and students of all majors are encouraged to apply. We welcome all applicants who have obtained or are working towards a Bachelors degree! Whether your interest is in Social Work, Public Health, Public Policy, Communication, Public Administration, or elsewhere, there is a place for you here at DBHR.

Take the challenge! Make a change!

For any questions please contact:

Informational sessions

We will also be holding two informational sessions with WSU and DBHR staff. Interested individuals can register for either session if they would like to learn more about the fellowship or have their specific questions answered. They are being held in the following times:

Quick links:

The DBHR Fellowship program is a 9-10 month fellowship, designed to expand the field of substance use disorder prevention and build capacity in communities that could benefit from CPWI.

The fellowship is broken down in to three phases: Phase 1 in Olympia, Washington working within the DBHR office; Phase 2 in an existing Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative (CPWI) community in Washington State, acting as a mentee under a current CPWI Coalition Coordinator; and Phase 3 in a high-need community.

DBHR Prevention Fellowship timeline

Application for Cohort 7 (June 2021) of the DBHR Prevention Fellowship is now available.

Applications are due 11:59 PM PST on April 19, 2021.

Current Fellows

Cohort 5

Akshaya Sivakumar

Education

  • B.A. Sociology, Gonzaga University

DBHR Prevention Fellowship

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: TBD
  • Phase 3: TBD

Madeline Kramer

Education

  • B.A. Public Health - Global Health, University of Washington

DBHR Prevention Fellowship

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: TBD
  • Phase 3: TBD

Isaac Derline

Education

  • B.A. Community Health, Western Washington, 2019

DBHR Prevention Fellowship

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: TBD
  • Phase 3: TBD

Cohort 6

Ridge Bynum

Education

  • B.S. Psychology, Washington State University, expected graduation May 2021

DBHR Prevention Fellowship

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: TBD
  • Phase 3: TBD

Alexis Schmierer

Education

  • B.A. Human Development, Washington State University, 2020
  • Certificates: Early Childhood Education and Family Studies,
    Washington State University, 2020

DBHR Prevention Fellowship

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: TBD
  • Phase 3: TBD

Jacqueline Penner

Education

  • B.A. Human Development, Washington State University, expected graduation
    May 2021
  • Certificates: Global Leadership and Family Studies, Washington State University,
    expected graduation May 2021

DBHR Prevention Fellowship

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: TBD
  • Phase 3: TBD

Alumni

Cohort 1

Destiny Eversull

Education

  • B.S. Human Development, Washington State University, 2019
  • Minor: Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Washington State University
  • Certificate: Family Studies, Washington State University

DBHR Prevention Fellowship

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: Monroe School District, Monroe, WA
  • Phase 3: City of Sultan, Sultan, WA
  • Phase 4*: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
    • Cohort 1 Fellows had their fellowship extended for an additional 11 months!

Post-Fellowship

  • Destiny is currently applying to graduate programs in Child Psychology. She is planning to continue serving people and providing youth with opportunities.
  • Destiny's reflection.
Kersten T. Tano

Education

  • B.A. Human Development, Washington State University, 2019

DBHR Prevention Fellowship

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: Whatcom County Health Department, Bellingham, WA
  • Phase 3: Skagit County Public Health Department, La Conner, WA
  • Phase 4*: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
    • Cohort 1 Fellows had their fellowship extended for an additional 11 months!

Post-Fellowship

  • Employed as a Prevention System Manager with the Washington State Health Care Authority.
  • Kersten's reflection.

 

Cohort 2

Endalkachew Abebaw

Education

  • B.S. Human Development, Washington State University, 2019
  • Certificate: Adolescent Development, Washington State University

DBHR Prevention Fellowship:

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: Auburn School District, Auburn, WA
  • Phase 3: King County Department of Community and Services, Seattle, WA
  • Phase 4*: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
    • Cohort 2 Fellows had their fellowship extended for an additional 6 months!

Post-Fellowship

  • Currently pursuing a concurrent master's in social work and public health.
  • Employed as a Prevention System Manager with Washington State Health Care Authority.
  • Endalkachew's reflection. 

Mariel Irvan

Education

  • B.S. Psychology, Washington State University, 2019
  • B.A. Human Development, Washington State University, 2019

DBHR Prevention Fellowship

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: Darrington, WA
  • Phase 3: Finley, WA

Post-Fellowship

  • Mariel is planning on pursuing a master’s degree in public administration. 
  • Mariel's reflection.

Tori McDermott Hale

Education

  • B.S. Psychology, Washington State University, 2019
  • B.A. Human Development, Washington State University, 2019

DBHR Prevention Fellowship

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: Franklin-Pierce Youth First!, Tacoma/Parkland, WA
  • Phase 3: Fife, Pierce County, WA
  • Phase 4*: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
    • Cohort 2 Fellows had their fellowship extended for an additional 6 months

Post-Fellowship:

  • Employed as a Management Analysis III with the Washington State Health Care Authority.
  • Tori's reflection.

 

Cohort 3

Sophia Hilsen

Education

  • B.A. Human Development, Washington State University, 2019

DBHR Prevention Fellowship

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: Friday Harbor Prevention Coalition, San Juan County, WA
  • Phase 3: Port Angeles, WA
  • Phase 4*: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
    • Cohort 3 Fellows had their fellowship extended until September 29, 2020

Post-Fellowship

  • Employed as a Youth Empowerment Specialist and Family Advocate in Hawaii.
  • Sophia is interested in pursuing her master’s degree in prevention science or child psychology. 
  • Sophia's reflection.

Emma Neller

Education

  • B.A. Public Health & Global Health, University of Washington, 2019
  • Minor: Nutrition

DBHR Prevention Fellowship

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: Marysville, WA
  • Phase 3: Lakewood, WA
  • Phase 4*: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
    • Cohort 3 Fellows had their fellowship extended until September 29, 2020

Post-Fellowship

  • Employed as a Research Assocate for the National Association of State Alcohol and
    Drug Abuse Directors.
  • Planning on pursuing a master's degree in public health.
  • Emma's reflection.

Krista Timm

Education

  • B.A. Human Development, Washington State University, Fall 2019

DBHR Prevention Fellowship

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: Walla Walla, WA
  • Phase 3: TBD
  • Phase 4*: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
    • Cohort 3 Fellows had their fellowship extended until September 29, 2020

Post-Fellowship:

  • Employed as a Behavioral Health Specialist for Walla Walla County Department of
    Community Health.
  • Krista's reflection.

Sazi Wald

Education

  • M.S.W., University of Washington, 2019

DBHR Prevention Fellowship

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: Thurston County Public Health and Social Services, Tenino, WA
  • Phase 3: Tenino or Rochester, WA

Post Fellowship

  • Employed as the Behavioral Health Transition Age Youth Stable Housing Policy Lead with the 
    Washington State Health Care Authority
  • Sazi's reflection. 

 

Cohort 4

Sabrina DiGennaro

Education

  • B.A. Human Development, Washington State University, 2020
  • Minor: Psychology, Washington State University

DBHR Prevention Fellowship

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: Marysville, WA
  • Phase 3: Lakewood, WA

Post-Fellowship

  • Employed as the Strengthening Families Program 10-14 Community of Practice and
    Evaluator Coordinator for Washington State University.
  • Sabrina is interested in pursuing a Ph.D in prevention science with a focus on substance use prevention.
    Within substance use prevention, Sabrina's primary interest is responding to the current opioid crisis.
  • Sabrina's reflection. 

Rachel Oliver

Education

  • B.S. Psychology, Washington State University, 2019

DBHR Prevention Fellowship

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: Wellpinit, WA
  • Phase 3: Medical Lake, WA

Post-Fellowship

  • Employed as a Prevention System Manager Apprentice for the Washington State Health Care Authority.
  • Rachel is interested in pursuing a master's degree in prevention science or public health.
    Ultimately, she would like to pursue law school and study public policy.
  • Rachel's reflection. 

Samantha Pangelinan

Education

  • B.A. Human Development, Washington State University, 2020

DBHR Prevention Fellowship

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: Yakima, WA
  • Phase 3: Granger, WA

Post-Fellowship:

  • Samantha is interested in pursuing a Ph.D in prevention science or a master's degree in counseling. 
    Samantha's primary values are helping youth, families, and the community.
  • Samantha's reflection.

Grace Wilkowski

Education

  • B.S. Psychology, Washington State University, 2020
  • B.A. Human Development, Washington State University, 2020

DBHR Prevention Fellowship

  • Phase 1: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Olympia, WA
  • Phase 2: East Spokane Valley, WA
  • Phase 3: West Spokane Valley, WA

Post-Fellowship

  • Employed as the Coalition Coordinator of the Shadle Prevention and Wellness Coalition in Spokane.
  • Grace would like to pursue a master's degree in public health with a concentration in health policy
    and administration. Grace's primary interest is to help bring mental health care to rural communities.
  • Grace's reflection.

News and accomplishments  

2020 community shoutout to DBHR Prevention Fellows Emma and Sabrina

  • Emma (Cohort 3) and Sabrina (Cohort 4) have spent a portion of their fellowship experience in the Marysville community. Recently, the Marysville Coalition Coordinator shared gratitude for the fellows:

"Thanks again for steering Emma and Sabrina my way this January-June. They have been tremendous assets and invaluable team members. Both provided unique skill sets and incredible passion. Our coalition and myself are stronger and better for their contributions and leadership. I feel for both of them with COVID-19 impacting their community networking opportunities yet they responded with flexibility and adaptability. They have been inspiring for me and I am confident they have a promising and rich future."

DBHR Prevention Fellow Endalkachew highlights the Starts with One campaign on KZOK 102.5

  • Endalkachew (Cohort 2) shared a public service announcement on KZOK 102.5 highlighting the Starts with One opioid prevention campaign. On-air, Endalkachew shared a brief overview of the campaign and the importance of disposing and storing opioids in order to prevention opioid misuse in our communities. Click here to listen to a recording of Endalkachew on-air.

2019 Washington State Prevention Summit

  • In November 2019, all of the current DBHR Fellows attended the Washington State Prevention Summit in Yakima. Collectively, all nine fellows hosted a workshop on prevention workforce development and the fellowship program. Through the workshop, the fellows conveyed how coalition leaders and prevention professionals at the local and state level can impact workforce development strategies.