[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 120 (Thursday, September 5, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S9979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 COPE-O'BRIEN CENTER'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I rise to honor a special 
organization on the 25th anniversary of its founding. This year the 
COPE-O'Brien Center celebrates 25 years of outstanding service to 
Washtenaw County and the State of Michigan.
  COPE stands for Center for Occupational and Personalized Education. 
The center works to address the major problems facing today's youth--
high dropout rates, illiteracy, unemployment, substance abuse, and teen 
pregnancy. At a time when domestic spending is being cut, the COPE-
O'Brien Center stands out as a successful, cost-effective program.
  This innovative center strives to lessen barriers to employment for 
young men and women by offering skill training and placement into 
unsubsidized employment or entry into more advanced vocational and 
educational programs. The center provides daytime counseling, 
recreation, and alternative educational services for troubled and needy 
adolescents. Emergency shelters, foster care, and life skill training 
are also a part of the program. As an alternative to institutional 
placement, the program saves money by working with families and the 
juvenile courts to resolve long-term needs of youngsters.
  The COPE-O'Brien Youth Center plays a critical role in offering 
essential educational and counseling services for at-risk youth in 
Washtenaw County. The center's accomplishments in meeting the multiple 
needs of youth for over two decades run deep. It is my pleasure to 
recognize their many valuable services which enhance the lives of our 
young people.
  I know my Senate colleagues join me in congratulating the COPE-
O'Brien center on its 25th anniversary of working with our most 
valuable resource--our youth.

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