1982  |
Chemical People Task Forces
were developed throughout the country as a result of a nationwide
initiative spearheaded by First Lady Nancy Reagan. Chemical
People Task Forces used the model of broad representation
of all sectors of a community: school, police, government, faith,
parents, youth and business to focus on strategies for prevention
of alcohol and other drug problems. |
| |
| 1983 |
Action and Caring Together (ACT),
a community drug and alcohol prevention group forms in the Quakertown
area community. High interest initially, provided alcohol and
other drug information to parents, community groups and other
interested adults. Worked in conjunction with the Bucks County
Drug and Alcohol Commission's Prevention Unit. |
| |
| November 1983 |
Two male Quakertown High School
students commit suicide by jumping off a local quarry cliff
while handcuffed together. The bizarre nature of the method
along with a double suicide brings national media attention
to the community. Later investigation reveals both students
had taken a heavy dose of LSD prior to the suicide. This
single incident becomes a catalyst for many of the following
programs. |
| |
| December 1983 |
The Quakertown Area School District
created an Inter Disciplinary Committee made up of school personnel,
police, treatment professionals and concerned parents to focus
on the needs of area youth. The Director of Pupil Personnel
Services from the Quakertown School District served as the chair
of the committee and is charged by the school board to make
recommendations for future program planning. Services investigated
included: alcohol and other drug treatment services, crisis
intervention plans, an intensive training program for all district
staff, a suicide prevention program and community outreach programs
for concerned parents. |
| |
| January 1984 |
A third Quakertown High School student,
(a girlfriend of one of the boys), commits suicide. The method
was a small handgun, which created another wave of media attention
due to the connection to the earlier suicides and the rarity
of an adolescent female using a handgun for a suicide. |
| |
| May 1984 |
One of the first tangible responses
to the suicides was the creation of The Sounding Board
program. The Sounding Board is a trained group of volunteers
from the community that visit the district's schools at scheduled
times to meet with students. During the program's first year
of operation over 3,000 student contacts were made, mostly in
the elementary schools. The Sounding Board is still an
active program in the school district today. |
| |
| May 1984 |
Another program initiated was the
Living Room Dialogues. Living Room Dialogues were
conducted in homes throughout the community. The discussions
were facilitated by a group of trained adult volunteers, mostly
from the helping professions. The purpose of the program was
to provide an opportunity for concerned parents to ask questions,
express feelings and seek advise on parenting issues. |
| |
| June 1984 |
Report made to the Quakertown School
Board by Director of Pupil Personnel Services. |
| |
| October 1984 |
The Center for Adolescent Studies
and Suicide Prevention officially opens in Quakertown High
School. Thereafter it is known as the Help Center. Agreements
were reached between the Quakertown Community Hospital and the
Penn Foundation, the local base service unit (BSU) to staff
the Help Center. The school board approves a resolution
stating its commitment of financial and human resources in focusing
on "at-risk" students. |
| |
| December 1984 |
Parents of one of the suicide victims
organize and begin a support group called Survivors of Suicide
(SOS). SOS continues to meet the third Wednesday
of each month at Renewal Centers, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation
center. SOS is still in existence and has a core group
of participants that regularly attend. |
| |
| 1984-85 |
Pennsylvania Department of Education
launches its Student Assistance Program (SAP) initiative
with four selected school districts to pilot the program. |
| |
| 1985 |
The Teen Suicide Prevention Initiative
is launched throughout Pennsylvania. Quakertown School District's
Director of Pupil Personnel Services is contracted by the Pennsylvania
Department of Education to design the addition of a mental health
component to the Pennsylvania Model of SAP training. |
| |
| October 1985 |
Quakertown School District selected
to participate in the second wave of Student Assistance Program
training and sends a seven-person team for a five-day training.
A full-time position is approved by the school board for a Coordinator
of Student Assistance. The position was eliminated in 1989. |
| |
| October 1985 |
LifeQuest/Quakertown Community Hospital
Chief Executive Officer initiates a community wide meeting inviting
representatives from school, police, government, faith, parents,
youth and business to launch what becomes known as the Community
Adolescent Council. The President of the local Burger King
franchisee, (US Restaurants, Inc.), attends the meeting and
makes a public commitment to fund an intensive training program
on prevention and intervention of adolescent alcohol and other
drug problems. Initial contribution of $5,000 made by US Restaurants. |
| |
| November 1985 |
Project CARE hosts its first
seminar at Allentown College. Over 300 participants attend.
Plans made to conduct a five-day training in February 1986 by
Community Intervention, Inc. |
| |
| 1985-86 |
1985-86 Monthly meetings held by
the Community Adolescent Council. The group changes its
name to Coordinated Adolescent Services. A non-profit
organization is formed. Bylaws completed and officers are elected.
Organizationally, Coordinated Adolescent Services becomes
a program of LifeQuest Foundation. Project CARE becomes
the official name of the training program. A full-time Project
CARE Director hired by LifeQuest. |
| |
| February 1986 |
First five-day training program
sponsored by Project CARE in Quakertown, PA. The title
of the training is: "Alcohol and Drugs: Working with Adolescents
in the Schools and Community." The training was conducted
by Community Intervention, Inc., from Minneapolis, MN. Attendance
at first training is 80 people. |
| |
| June 1986 |
Upper Bucks YMCA initiates a Teen
Center Planning committee. Quakertown Teen Center
opens up to serve students from the three Upper Bucks County
School Districts- Pennridge, Palisades and Quakertown. Focus
is on recreational activities. Teen Center eventually
closes. Lack of funding and scheduling staff are primary reasons. |
| |
| June 1987 |
LifeQuest begins the development
of Renewal Centers, an adolescent drug and alcohol rehabilitation
center. The outpatient services office opens up in 1987. Construction
begun on the inpatient facility in 1988. |
| |
| Fall 1987 |
Project CARE selected as
an approved training provider by the Pennsylvania Department
of Education. Since its inception, Project CARE has trained
over 10,000 people throughout Pennsylvania. |
| |
| September 1988 |
LifeQuest Foundation selected by
the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD)
to implement a three-year statewide drug and alcohol training
program for staff in community based agencies. Total grant award-
$354,000 |
| |
| February 1990 |
Renewal Centers opens its 32-bed
adolescent inpatient drug and alcohol treatment center in Quakertown. |
| |
| 1991 |
The Pennsylvania General Assembly
passes Act 211 in 1990. The Act authorizes the Secretary of
Education to submit to the General Assembly by June 1, 1991,
"a plan to require and assist each school district to establish
and maintain a program to provide appropriate counseling and
support services to students who experience problems related
to the use of drugs, alcohol and dangerous controlled substances."
The Pennsylvania Student Assistance Program is the program that
satisfies this plan. The Act also mandates drug and alcohol
education in all grades K-12. The formation of a local community
based group in each school district for drug and alcohol prevention
is written into the requirements for school districts to apply
for Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities funds. |
| |
| October 1992 |
An initiative is started to mobilize
a concerned group of community members to organize a drug and
alcohol prevention group. Various meetings are conducted within
different municipalities of the Quakertown Area School District.
Initial participation is high and the new group names itself
Neighbor to Neighbor. |
| |
| 1993 |
Neighbor to Neighbor continues
to organize; files for incorporation as a non-profit corporation.
A local attorney contributes pro-bono services and helps to
secure 501(c)(3), tax-exempt status for the organization. |
| |
| 1994-98 |
Neighbor to Neighbor meets
regularly, advises district on community prevention needs, program
ideas and future goals. Establishes presence at various community
events and becomes a clearinghouse for literature on alcohol,
drug and tobacco prevention. Also establishes the Safe Homes
Directory, a listing of parents that pledge to not serve
alcohol to minors or to host an alcohol party where minors will
be present. |
| |
| March 1999 |
The 40 Assets Project is
launched in nearby Central Bucks School District. A group from
Quakertown attends the community wide kick-off meeting on March
30th. |
| |
| April 1999 |
Initial meeting held in Quakertown
to discuss the Healthy Communities/Healthy Youth Initiative.
The consensus of the group is to move forward. The Executive
Director of LifeQuest Foundation volunteers to serve as a coordinator
for the initiative. The group names itself Healthy Communities/Healthy
Youth Initiative of the Quakertown Community (HC/HY). |
| |
| July 1999 |
At its monthly meeting the HC/HY
hears a proposal by the Family Service Association of Bucks
County to open a Teen Center in Quakertown for area youths.
Also a suggestion is made at this meeting to merge the HC/HY
with the Neighbor to Neighbor organization. |
| |
| July 1999 |
The Richland Township Police Department
makes application for a grant through the Pennsylvania Commission
on Crime and Delinquency. Funding for three programs requested:
Youth Aid Panel, Town Watch and the Healthy Communities/Healthy
Youth Initiative. |
| |
| November 1999 |
Three-year grant provided by LifeQuest
Foundation to a new non profit company called justCommunity,
Inc. The primary project of justCommunity will be to focus on
coordinating the local Healthy Communities/Healthy Youth
Initiative. Total Grant- $168,750 |
| |
| November 1999 |
Executive Director of the Upper
Bucks YMCA and the Executive Director of justCommunity attend
the 1999 National Healthy Communities/Healthy Youth Conference
in Denver, CO. Over 1800 adults and teens attend from throughout
the country. |
| |
| January 2000 |
Plans are made for a May 2000 public
meeting to introduce the HC/HY to the community at large. Dr.
Peter Benson, President of Search Institute agrees to come to
Quakertown to make the keynote address. |
| |
| April 2000 |
Neighbor to Neighbor meets
to discuss upcoming participation in community events such as
July 4th Community Day celebration. Board of Directors of Neighbor
to Neighbor discusses merging with the Healthy Communities/Healthy
Youth Initiative. Decision to be made at next meeting in June
2000. |
| |
| April 2000 |
The Quakertown Community School
District's Violence Prevention Committee presents its Safe School
Plan to the School Board with 20 recommendations to improve
upon school safety issues. Recommendations include Peer Mediation
and Alternative to Suspension programs, additional staff support
by adding a full time social worker, security personnel in high
school and additional police presence in buildings to help students
build positive relationships with law enforcement personnel.
Also included is the recommendation to administer a formal student
survey to measure strengths (assets) and current involvement
in risk behaviors. |
| |
| May 2, 2000 |
The Quakertown Community is invited
to a county wide "Key Leaders" training along with
representatives from all the county's school district catchment
areas. Each community present is invited to participate in the
Bucks County Consortium for Healthy Youth and Communities (BCCHYC).
BCCHYC is "a groundbreaking countywide collaborative process
with strong individual community underpinnings. It provides
a unique opportunity for all of Bucks County, as well as individual
townships or boroughs, to benefit from both the research based
Communities That Care process and involvement in America's Promise:
The Alliance for Youth". |
| |
| May 5, 2000 |
The Healthy Communities/Healthy
Youth Initiative of the Quakertown Area conducts its first public
meeting to introduce the concepts of asset development and risk
reduction for all youth and specific roles for every
citizen to play in positive youth development. Over 160 people
attend. |
