The Virginia Association of Addiction Professionals (VAAP) is proud to announce that Board Member and Educational Chair, Chris Coleman, LPC, LSATP, MAC, CCTP, NCC, has been appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin to the Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice and Prevention. His appointment reflects not only his decades of clinical leadership, but also VAAP’s growing role in shaping statewide conversations on adolescent behavioral health, prevention, and justice system reform.
“Chris’s appointment strengthens VAAP’s presence in statewide policy conversations. His lived experience working alongside youth and families gives him a perspective that is critically needed at the decision-making table, and we are proud to see that expertise recognized,” said VAAP Board President David Semanco, emphasizing the significance of the appointment for the organization and the broader field.
For Chris, this appointment represents an opportunity to advocate more deeply for the youth whose lives have shaped his own professional journey.“This gives me a space and a voice to work with issues that have been close to me since the start of my career,” Chris shared. “From working with gang-involved adolescents in residential substance use settings to supporting families through crisis, I’ve long hoped for opportunities to help identify real solutions. It is a great honor.
His current work at Youth For Tomorrow places him in daily contact with young people navigating trauma, substance use, family instability, academic pressure, and community violence. “Being on the front lines — seeing, hearing, and experiencing in real time what youth are going through — informs everything I bring to the committee,” he said.
Chris is especially focused on addressing persistent gaps in funding and services. “For decades, investments have not matched the needs,” he noted. “My hope is to help bridge that gap — advocating for wraparound services that include mental health treatment, substance use care, co-occurring support , job development, and youth-specific treatment facilities grounded in ASAM criteria.”
He also underscored the urgency of responding to evolving substance use trends. “The rise in vaping among youth is astronomical, and nicotine is absolutely a gateway drug,” Chris said. “We need early education, better access to treatment, and innovative approaches — including thinking about medications that may support youth struggling with opioid use.”
His involvement with VAAP has reinforced the role of advocacy in this work. “Being part of VAAP is not just about words — it’s about action,” Chris emphasized. “I encourage our members to stay diligent, focused, humble, and always learning. Don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions or have the hard conversations. That’s how we move forward.”
Chris’s appointment also reflects the strength and depth of leadership within VAAP’s Board and membership. “This appointment highlights the caliber of professionals within VAAP,” said David Semanco. “Our members bring real clinical experience to some of the most complex issues facing youth today. Having that expertise represented at the state level helps ensure that policy discussions are grounded in reality — and in compassion. Decisions about juvenile justice and prevention must be informed by people who understand what youth are facing — the trauma, the substance use, the behavioral health needs, the community context. Chris brings decades of firsthand experience, and his voice will help advance more effective, equitable approaches for young people across Virginia.”
Chris’s appointment is more than an individual achievement — it is a reflection of the work VAAP members do every day to support prevention, treatment, recovery, and justice across the Commonwealth. His leadership will help strengthen statewide systems of care and elevate the role of addiction professionals in shaping meaningful, compassionate policy.
VAAP congratulates Chris on this important honor and looks forward to supporting his work — and the committee’s — in the year ahead.
Learn more about the Virginia Association of Addiction Professionals by visiting www.vaaddictionpros.org.
