Executive Director of CADAS appointed chairman of Mental Health Planning and Policy Council

 NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Mental Health (TDMH) Commissioner Doug Varney has named Paul Fuchar as chair of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health Planning and Policy Council as of July 1, 2011. Fuchar has been appointed for a two year term.

Fuchar currently serves as Executive Director of the Council for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services (CADAS), a non-profit facility in Tennessee offering a full continuum of care to State residents.  CADAS offers in-patient and day treatment to adolescents; in-patient, out-patient and half-way house services to adults as well as prevention and regional training activities for the Greater Chattanooga area.  CADAS primarily serves residents of Hamilton County, but last year treated persons with substance use disorders from 73 of 93 counties in Tennessee.

“We are very excited about Paul’s tenure as chairman,” Varney said.  “His leadership at CADAS will serve him well in guiding the direction of the Planning and Policy Council as they advise our department on policy, budget requests, and developing and evaluating services and supports.”

The Planning and Policy Council meets quarterly, and in addition to advising TDMH in policy, budget, service development and evaluations, they also assist in planning high quality prevention, early intervention, treatment, and habilitation services as well as advocate for the needs of persons with mental illness, serious emotional disturbance and substance use disorders.

For more information about the Planning and Policy Council please contact TDMH’s Office of Communications at (615) 253-4812 or visit www.tn.gov/mental.  For more information on CADAS please visit www.cadas.org.