The National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) has awarded NJPN’s WISE Program the 2009 National Exemplary Award for Innovative Substance Abuse Prevention Programs, Practices and Policies. Underwritten by the federal Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), this Exemplary Award marks the 20th consecutive year of recognizing local, creative and effective substance abuse prevention programs.

WISE was one of six programs to receive the award nationally. Programs were reviewed and graded on various criteria including program philosophy, needs assessment, population served, capacity building, strategic planning, implementation, evaluation, and program management.

Accepting the award for NJPN are (from left) Diane Litterer, NJPN’s Executive Director; Steve Liga, Executive Director of NCADD of Middlesex County; and Diane Liga, NJPN’s Development Director.

For more information about the WISE Program, visit http://www.njpn.org/programs-and-services/wise.