ABOUT US > History > Timeline of Milestones & Recognition

1973
Alternatives opens substance abuse treatment and prevention services in Newport News, Virginia.

1981
City of Hampton contracts with Alternatives for substance abuse treatment and prevention services.

1982
Representatives of the police, schools, community, and Alternatives form the
Hampton Intervention and Prevention Project (HIPP).

1985
HIPP program is featured in national news special on ABC television.

1986
HIPP named one of top twenty prevention programs in the nation by the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors.

1987
Alternatives establishes the first Just Say No clubs in Hampton City Schools.

1989
Studies reveal 52% drop in drug related suspensions and 71% drop in drug related
expulsions since the start of HIPP.

1990
HIPP receives Outstanding Service award from Regional Center for Drug Free Schools.

1991
HIPP recognized with Governor’s Award for Anti-drug efforts.

1992
Alternatives expands services beyond prevention to the practice of Youth Development.

1993
Neighborhood-based youth development projects begin in Hampton.

1994
Alternatives receives the Director’s Community Leadership Award from the U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation.

1995
Just Say No marks its tenth year with over 4000 in attendance at the annual event.

1996
Alternatives enters the cyber age. YouthLink, the first Internet site by and for youth in Hampton Roads.

1997
Alternatives celebrates 25 years of service.

1998
Youth Development programs created by Alternatives are recognized by Washington based national youth journal Youth Today as a model for the nation.

2000
Alternatives is recognized for “Serving as a National Inspiration” by The National Center for Youth Development and Policy Research, Washington DC.

2003
Alternatives is the first organization in Virginia to be State certified with a Department of Labor youth worker apprenticeship program.

2004
R.E.L.A.T.E. (Relationship Education) program and training curriculum is developed for Statewide distribution.

Alternatives' Monart Drawing School is certified by Monart International. It is the first school in Virginia.

2005
Alternatives wins the Senator Harris Wofford Award from Youth Service America

Alternatives named B.E.S.T. Regional Trainer by the National Training Institute.

Alternatives conducts Career Studies Certificate in Youth Development at Thomas Nelson Community College.

Mattel Children's Foundation supports innovative Monart Drawing to Read program for preschoolers.

2006
Alternatives' service learning partnerships are recognized with the "Talking Smart" award from the National Service Learning Parternership.

2007
Alternatives named lead agency for the Communities Empowering Youth, White House Initiative.

For the second year in a row Alternatives is cited as nonprofit partner by the cities of Hampton and Newport News when selected as Winners of 100 Best Communities for Young People by America's Promise -The Alliance for Youth.

2008
Southern Growth Policies Board Presents Alternatives' and the City of Hampton the 2008 Virginia Innovator Award for Youth Civic Engagement Partnership.

< Back