William H. Foster Succeeds Califano as President and CEO of CASA*

CALIFANO CONTINUES AS CHAIRMAN

NEW YORK, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University announced today that William H. Foster, PhD, Dean of Maine's Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service, will become President and Chief Executive Officer of CASA on February 28, 2010, succeeding Joseph A. Califano, Jr., the former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare who founded CASA in 1992. Califano will continue to serve as CASA chairman.

For the past four years, Foster has served as Dean of the Muskie School of Public Service where he has been credited with leading a successful revamping of both the School's academic and research programs and positioning the School well to extend the Senator's legacy of public service to Maine and the nation.  He returns to the University and CASA where he previously served for ten years as senior vice-president and chief operating officer.  Foster has served as executive director of a Congressional Commission on Social Security, chief of staff and deputy commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor, and a policy advisor to Senator Bill Bradley.  He spent 17 years on the faculty at the University of Illinois and Rutgers University.  Foster holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

"The board is delighted that Bill Foster is returning to lead CASA in the future and to enhance its position as America's leading institution devoted to confronting and eliminating all forms of substance abuse in our society," said Califano on behalf of the board.  

Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger, a member of the CASA board, joined Califano in welcoming Dr. Foster to the University community, noting, "CASA's work is of great importance not only to all of us at Columbia, but to our entire nation and to all those who face the tragic and costly consequences of substance abuse and addiction."

"Bill has the varied experience and background in management and public policy, as well as the knowledge of CASA's history and superb staff, that makes him the ideal person to lead CASA and shape its future as the premier organization in its field," Califano added.  "The board is fortunate that he has accepted this challenge."  

In response, Foster said, "Substance abuse and addiction is the nation's most pervasive, yet unaddressed, personal and public health concern facing us today.  The tendrils of this abuse and illness corrupt so many lives.  Our nation and people must engage this problem openly and with effect.  As we do so, we become a healthier, more robust people, better prepared to face the challenges before us as we move into this most complex century.  I am honored that the Board of CASA has invited me back to the Columbia family to lead this vital and unique organization."

CASA is the only national organization that brings together under one roof all the professional disciplines needed to study and combat all types of substance abuse as they affect all aspects of society.  CASA and its staff of some 60 professionals has issued 70 reports and white papers, published three books, conducted demonstration programs focused on children, families and schools at 224 sites in 87 cities and counties in 34 states plus Washington, DC and two Native American reservations, held 19 conferences attended by professionals and others from 49 states and several foreign countries, and has been evaluating the effectiveness of drug and alcohol treatment and prevention in a variety of programs and drug courts.  CASA is the creator of the nationwide initiative Family Day -- A Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children^TM -- the fourth Monday in September -- the 27th in 2010 -- that promotes parental engagement as a simple and effective way to reduce children's risk of smoking, drinking and using illegal drugs.  The most recent CASA book, How To Raise a Drug Free Kid: The Straight Dope for Parents by Joseph A. Califano, Jr., a practical, user friendly book of advice and information for parents, is widely available in paperback.  For more information visit www.casacolumbia.org.  

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Joseph A. Califano, Jr.

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* The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University is neither affiliated with, nor sponsored by, the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (also known as "CASA") or any of its member organizations, or any other organizations with the name of "CASA."

SOURCE The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University