Overview
William F. Callahan was a detective and councilman who maintained a career in public service until retirement in 1971, after which he pivoted into addressing substance use disorders. He was appointed to the Connecticut Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council and was co-founer of PACES Counseling Associates of East Harford and Avon. He founded the Connecticut Federation of Alcohol and Drug Abuse counselors and helped to introduce the first counselor certification in the state.
To be eligible for the award, one must have had 15 years of addiction counseling experience, demonstrate leadership and activism in awareness projects, demonstrate support for other addiction counselors, and be a NAADAC member in good standing and compliance with the NAADAC Code of Ethics.
Past Winners
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Jessica Swan (2025)
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Pierluigi Mancini (2024)