C.H.E.F.?S Julie Peterson Receives Washington State Exemplary Substance Abuse Prevention Award
Seattle, WA (PRWEB) November 30, 2005
Comprehensive Health Education Foundation (C.H.E.F.®), one of the nation’s leaders in health and prevention education, announced that Julie Peterson, Senior Director of Public Affairs and Policy, received the Washington State Exemplary Substance Abuse Prevention Award. The award was presented to Peterson by Lt. Governor Brad Owen at an awards luncheon on October 21 during the 2005 Washington Drug Prevention Summit in Yakima.
With more than 600 national, state, and community drug prevention leaders in attendance to share strategies for keeping young people drug-free in Washington, Peterson was one of a small group of dedicated individuals, groups, and media partners around the state to be honored with this prestigious award, which was created to honor effective drug prevention programs and partners in Washington. Peterson was recognized for her work as a key advisor to the National Network for Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Executive Committee, supporting strong collaboration among prevention leaders throughout the United States. Peterson was also recognized for recently leading the charge for a statewide and national advocacy effort that substantially restored proposed cuts to Drug-Free Communities and the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities state grants funding at the federal level.
According to Ken Stark, director of the Department of Social and Health Services’ Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA), “We are thrilled to honor Julie Peterson with this award because her tireless, commanding, and effective voice have contributed significantly to addressing substance abuse prevention in Washington state and throughout the nation. We are grateful to Julie for her important work, invaluable leadership, grass-roots organizing, and effective lobbying skills, and look forward to her continued future contributions in the field.”
Peterson, who has been with C.H.E.F. for more than 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’re proud of Julie’s continued outstanding work and accomplishments on behalf of our organization and those who have so greatly benefited from it, and her receipt of the Washington State Exemplary Substance Abuse Prevention Award is further acknowledgement of her many contributions.”
About Comprehensive Health Education Foundation
Founded in 1974, 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 childhood obesity, stress, and other unhealthy behaviors. As a nationally known nonprofit organization, C.H.E.F. develops a variety of health promotion and prevention education programs and products targeted to the early childhood, school-aged youth, and healthy aging markets. For information about C.H.E.F.’s products and programs, please visit www.chef.org or call 1.800.323.2433.
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