Belinda Ballah, CPS is Director for the Hood River County Prevention Department, received her Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Oregon University. She worked in the Hood River County School district for many years before transitioning into the Prevention field. She received her Prevention Specialist certification from the Addictions Counselor Certification Board of Oregon in 2013 while working at the HRC Prevention Department. In 2015 she became the director. During her tenure, the department has received a Drug Free Communities grant to start an “underserved population” coalition, a federal STOP Act grant to reduce underage drinking, three Knight Cancer Institute-Oregon State University grants to reduce smoking and increase cancer survivor opportunities regionally, and a Juvenile Crime Prevention Youth Outreach worker grant to reduce risky behaviors at the high school level. During this time, our H.E.A.L.T.H. (Helping to Educate, Advocate and Lead Towards Health) Media clubs have led their peers in prevention education by producing multimedia products and impacted parents through their work in prevention. Belinda is also a TMEC instructor.