Richard Catalano, Jr., Ph.D.  is a Professor in the School of Social Work, University of Washington and the co-founder of the Social Development Research Group. He received his bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin, and his masters and PhD in sociology from the University of Washington. He is past-president of the Society for Prevention Research, and a steering committee member of the Coalition for the Promotion of Behavioral Health. For over 35 years, he has led research and program development to promote positive youth development and prevent problem behaviors.  His work has focused on discovering risk and protective factors for behavioral health problems, designing and evaluating programs to address these factors, and using this knowledge to understand and improve prevention service systems in states and communities.

Dr. Catalano is currently on the National Academy of Sciences Board of Children, Youth and Families and the NAS Consensus Study Committee on Fostering Healthy Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Development Among Children and Youth; and a member of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) National Advisory Council. He was the prevention chapter editor of the Surgeon General’s Report “Facing Addiction: Alcohol, Drugs and Health”. He has served as a member of expert panels for federal and state government and foundations. He has published over 350 articles and book chapters. His work has been recognized by practitioners (1996 and 2016 National Prevention Network’s Award of Excellence); criminologists (Fellow of the Academy of Experimental Criminology, 2007 August Vollmer Award from the American Society of Criminology, and 2003 Paul Tappan Award from the Western Society of Criminology); prevention scientists (2001 Prevention Science Award, 2012 Presidential Award from the Society for Prevention Research), and social workers (elected fellow of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare). Dr. Catalano is a board member of the Washington State Academy of Sciences. He is the co-developer of the parenting programs “Guiding Good Choices,” “Supporting School Success,” “Staying Connected with Your Teen,” and “Focus on Families;” the school-based program, “Raising Healthy Children;” and the community prevention system, “Communities That Care.”