strengthening youth, families, schools, and community
Birch Bay-Blaine Thrives was established in June of 2018 in response to concerns about youth substance use among students in the Blaine School District. The Superintendent reached out to the county health department to jointly create a collective community response to address this concern. BBB Thrives’ goal is to bring together representatives of all sectors in Birch Bay, Blaine, and Pt. Roberts to expand opportunities and promote community norms for youth success. Stakeholders explore ways to leverage community strengths and assets to assure healthy social environments for all youth and families. BBB Thrives is community coalition and partnership of the Blaine School District, Whatcom County Health & Community Services, the Park District, local residents, businesses, and service providers.
BBB Thrives meets on the third Wednesday of the month from 1:00-2:30 PM, where we update each other on our work and offer opportunities to partner. Several focus areas that have emerged from our meetings include:
- Improving youth mental wellness (decreasing anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, isolation, bullying, etc.)
- Decreasing substance use (alcohol, marijuana, opioids, prescription drugs, etc.)
- Increasing school performance (attendance, grades, graduation)
- Increasing opportunities for youth leadership
- Celebrating and promoting what is outstanding about our community
In 2021, BBB Thrives received a five-year federal grant to expand its work. With the school district as the fiscal agent, we hired a Prevention Coordinator to support local efforts and build county partnerships. In July of 2025 Thrives received another five-year federal grant with the Blaine-Birch Bay Park District as fiscal agent to continue its work. In collaboration with the schools, the coalition supports:
- Red Ribbon Week and Safe and Sober Graduation
- School Wellness and Social-Emotional Teams
- Training – Adolescent Risk Taking, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Suicide Prevention, Equity, and the Science of Hope
- Opioid Town Halls and Critical Community Conversations
- Support for Conscious Discipline and prevention programs in the schools
- Community Assessments and Strategic Planning to reduce youth substance use
- Borderite Summer Block Party/Resource Fair
- Youth Prevention Club
Thrives focuses on supporting opportunities and local strategies that are strengths-based and that support healthy relationships and connections.
BBB Thrives coordinates with other programs, such as:
- The Strengthening Families Program and Roots
- MAD-HOPE (youth-led suicide prevention)
- School-based Services (Student Assistance Program, mental health counseling, Family Service Center, and others)
- Community programs such as the Blaine Boys & Girls Club, Wild Whatcom, Animals as Natural Therapy, Target Zero, Blaine-Birch Bay Park District, and the Opioid Task Force.
For BBB Thrives monthly meeting location, reach out through our contact page.