C.H.E.F.’s Julie Peterson Receives First CADCA Advocate of the Year Award

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) February 16, 2005

Comprehensive Health Education Foundation (C.H.E.F.®), one of the nation’s leaders in health and prevention education, announced today that Julie Peterson, Senior Director of Public Affairs and Policy, received the first Advocate of the Year award from the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA®). Presented at the CADCA National Leadership Forum XV in Washington, D.C., the award was created by CADCA’s Public Policy department to honor coalition leaders who have consistently strived to ensure legislative victories for the substance abuse prevention field. Two other individuals selected to receive the CADCA Advocate of the Year award were Cynthia Timmons from Oklahoma and Alice Murphy from Alabama.

According to Sue Thau, CADCA Public Policy Consultant, “Julie Peterson’s tireless efforts-- within Washington state and nationally-- have contributed significantly to funding increases for the Drug Free Communities program. We are grateful for Julie’s work, particularly in gaining so many important signatures in Washington on a petition to Senator Patty Murray, which ultimately led to $80 million in funding for the Drug Free Communities program, including $2 million for the National Community Anti-Drug Institute.“

Peterson, who has been with C.H.E.F. for 15 years, focuses on health education policy initiatives and state and federal appropriations for the organization and the community at large. She is ultimately responsible for promoting C.H.E.F.’s mission through public policy. Prior to her arrival at C.H.E.F., Peterson was deputy director of the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission, serving as the agency’s legislative liaison and a member of the interagency work group on drugs.

According to Larry Clark, President and Chief Executive Officer of C.H.E.F., “We are proud of Julie’s outstanding work and accomplishments on behalf of our organization and those who have so greatly benefited from it, and couldn’t think of anyone who is more deserving of CADCA’s first Advocate of the Year award. Julie’s passion and commitment are evident in her work each and every day, and have clearly resulted in her longstanding record of success and ability to make meaningful contributions to the field.”

Founded in 1974 and celebrating its 30th Anniversary year, Seattle-based Comprehensive Health Education Foundation (C.H.E.F.) is dedicated to promoting health and quality of life through education, addressing such important topics as substance abuse, violence, HIV / AIDS, smoking, obesity, and other unhealthy behaviors. As a nationally-known nonprofit organization, C.H.E.F. develops numerous programs which have been proven effective by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), and is also the developer of the Here’s Looking at You® curriculum, the most widely used K-12 drug prevention curriculum in the country, the Youth Matters® curriculum, and the Social Beginnings® early childhood program. For more information about C.H.E.F., call 1.800.323.2433 or visit http://www.chef.org.

For More Information:

Michael Oxman

Communications Director

Comprehensive Health Education Foundation

847.226.4158

michaelo@chef.org

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