The following King County organizations were among those chosen to receive the awards given by the State of Washington Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse:

The Mañana Coalition: "We are very excited to receive the 2000 Exemplary Substance Abuse Prevention Award! Our youth members have worked hard over the years to develop innovative, effective strategies for substance abuse prevention among Latino youth. The Coalition now sponsors three programs open to middle and high school Latino youth in King County: a statewide annual Latino Youth Conference, Xpressions (a youth section of Latino Northwest Magazine), and a culturally relevant tutoring program for ESL students at the Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center in Seattle. The best description of the importance of the Mañana Coalition comes from one of our youth members"

"The Mañana Coalition is a place where I can be proud of who I am as a Latina. I first got involved because of the sense of family and unity in the Coalition. I have stayed involved because I really feel that it's not just a program for me but that it's actually mine to shape and mold."

-- Claudia Alvarado, 18 years old

For more information on the Mañana Coalition, contact Laura Timme at Consejo Counseling & Referral Service (206) 461-4880, ext. 168.

Ruth Dykeman Children's Center - Youth and Family Services: This agency's prevention programs provide healthy, positive activities for Cambodian and Latino youth and their families. Since 1990, the Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Program has funded this agency to provide services in southwest King County. Their culturally-specific programs include:

• Asian Kids Society -- prevention activities and Cambodian dance/language lessons for children of refugee/immigrant parents.
  
• LIONS (Leaders in Our Neighborhood at Seahurst Apartments) -- prevention activities and academic support geared toward high-risk, middle school-aged Latino youth who reside in low-income areas.