[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 142 (Tuesday, November 1, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S12126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           MERCER COUNTY DRUG FREE COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAM

 Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
Mercer County Drug Free Community Support Program. The course provides 
initiatives towards fighting substance abuse, developing links between 
the community and its leaders in helping to educate the public, and 
allow young citizens the opportunity to help their peers. They have 
received numerous awards for their work in helping the citizens of 
Mercer County deal with problems they may encounter daily, be it 
alcohol, prescription drugs, or illegal substances. The county has 
received a prestigious national award for its efforts, and deserves 
acknowledgment and praise for this accomplishment.
  Recognizing the importance that this program brings to the community 
is important; America's Promise, the Alliance for Youth announced that 
Mercer County is the winner of a national award to identify the 100 
Best Communities for Young People; the award shows the true extent of 
the value of such programs as the Mercer County drug-free program, 
helping communities create better lives for the people who live in 
areas afflicted by substance abuse, and the problems arising from drug 
abuse. The 100 Best Communities for Young People celebrates 
outstanding, innovative efforts across the country that improve the 
well-being of our young citizens. Mercer County truly deserved this 
award for its efficient and pioneering ways of dealing with social 
problems and substance abuse.
  Mercer County has put in place community programs that help teens 
learn about problems arising from drug abuse, social misconduct, and 
other related issues. One particular project which deserves praise is 
the ``teen court'' in which offenders are judged by their peers. The 
Mercer County Teen Court was designed to provide youth with the 
necessary tools to demonstrate the power they have, individually and 
collectively, to influence others and make positive changes in their 
own lives and in their community. The teen court is especially 
effective in allowing teens the chance to see what problems have arisen 
from their offense, and to be given a punishment fitting to the crime 
handed out by their own peers.
  As a Vista volunteer in 1964, I realized the importance of community 
work in combating poverty, helping individuals and low-income 
neighborhoods make positive changes for themselves and their 
communities. The Mercer County Drug Free Community Support Program is 
also part of the Creating Opportunities for Youth coalition, a group of 
community leaders who work hard creating a strategy to address the 
problematic behaviors plaguing our children and youth in the community.
  The organization plays a vital role in helping young citizens avoid 
the dangers of substance abuse; government grants and awards have 
allowed the program to set up successful workshops that deal with 
educating youngsters and parents alike. It is, in effect, a leading 
community source for prevention and awareness of substance abuse. The 
program has worked closely with leaders and the citizens to bring 
together Mercer County and, as a result, it is a good, safe place to 
live, work, and raise children.

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