Warya M. Pothan

"My program staff, coalition members and I have had the opportunity to attend the CADCA conference in the last four years and have gained tremendous knowledge to support our diverse populations. Our coalition and Project HANDLE of Neighborhood House focus on substance abuse prevention, outreach and treatment and HIV prevention in the African American, East African, Cambodian and Vietnamese communities in the six largest public housing sites in Seattle and King County. As CADCA's CAC member, I see my role in multiple ways:

1) to support all CADCA's goals particularly in the area of diversity and international works,
2) to link substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery, HIV and other related health issues and
3) to integrate science and evidence based practice with community, government and funder.

I/we are honored to be a part of CADCA and feel that CADCA has given us this great opportunity and privilege to share our work and learn from other substance abuse coalitions at the national and international forums." —Warya Pothan

Warya Martha Pothan is the Project Director and the Founder of Project HANDLE (HIV/AIDS Network Development and Life-skills Experience), Neighborhood House, a substance abuse and HIV program that provides a range of HIV counseling, testing, and referral, substance abuse treatment referral services and other substance abuse prevention activities using environmental strategies in Seattle and King County. In her eight years as the Project Director, Project HANDLE has received over $5 million of various funding stream to support multiple HIV and substance abuse programs in Seattle and King County. Some of the funding sources are from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

In addition to her MBA, she attended Seattle University Psychology Graduate Program for her counseling certification. Pothan received her Bachelor Degree from the University of Washington and pursued her Post Baccalaureate program for health and science.