SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON ADVOCATES for YOUTH (SWAY)

The SWAY program is designed to allow young adults to see the very realistic consequences of drinking / using.  

This is a four-part program in which the youth:

• Attend a 2-hr. orientation session that gives an overview of the program.  The youth will complete personal profiles, participate in group discussions, and view a slide show.  

• Tour the morgue at the Clark County Medical Examiner's facility.

• Visit the Southwest Washington Medical Center's Trauma / Intensive Care Unit.  The participant will observe emergency care, trauma care, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and in some instances talk to hospitalized victims.  Participants are also given a series of tasks to perform from a wheelchair.

• Attend an Alcohol / Drug dependency workshop.  This final SWAY session is approximately 3 hours and enables each participant to reinforce the impact and experience felt during this intensive and highly individualized program.  The workshop emphasizes the effects of alcohol and drugs on oneself, family, and friends.  Participants bring a 500-word essay which expresses their feelings of their experiences, thoughts on drunk drivers, drugs, etc.

The cost to attend this program is $150.00.  If you have any questions, please contact the Skamania County Juvenile Department at (509) 427-3715 or Southwest Washington Advocates for Youth at (360) 695-5356.