History

1970 - North County residents met to start a grass roots organization, Lifeline, to address drug issues among local youth.

1971 - A centrally located storefront opened in Vista with funds from Vista, Carlsbad, Oceanside, and private donors.  

 

 

1972 - The United Way of San Diego funded Lifeline with core staff and expanded hours for its youth programs.

1973 - Along with becoming incorporated, Lifeline began its first Legal Advice Clinic and Transportation Services.

1975 - The Services to the Poor contract began which allowed for a case management approach to service delivery.

1976 - With the development of a Lifeline Membership Club, Lifeline supported emergency assistance services.

1978 - Student interns from local colleges and universities were recruited, trained and supervised to provide client work.

1979 - Services for the Disabled were officially funded through the County and the Transit District.

1981 - Prevention and group services were added with particular focus on troubled youth.

1982 - The Vista Juvenile Justice Center Collaborative was created.

1983 - Lifeline became the North County representative for the first county-wide collaborative - the Emergency Resources Group - providing emergency assistance to the poor.

1984 - Lifeline became involved in housing services, implementing a Shared Housing Program and becoming a partner of the Emergency Shelter.

1986 - Vista Unified School District began to fund youth counseling and groups programs to be provided on school sites.

1987 - Lifeline's Coastal Office opened in Oceanside, focusing on youth delinquency diversion services.

1988 - The children's therapy room was stocked with specialized therapeutic tools. Parenting classes were facilitated in English and Spanish.

1989 - The county-wide Gang Alternatives Program began and the Juvenile Justice Center was duplicated in Oceanside.

1993 - Lifeline's Services to the Poor contract expanded to the County's North Inland region.

1994 - The Making a Living contract focused on long-term employment for the chronically unemployed. 

1994 - The addition of the North County Court Alternatives Program formalized Lifeline's mediation services and Dispute Resolution Program.

1996 - Lifeline becomes a partner in the County's Title V grants, supporting the after school program at the San Luis Rey Community Resource Center in Oceanside.

1997 - The Youth Services experienced a growth spurt with the addition of the Community Assessment Team, Breaking cycles, and Critical Hours After School programs.

1998 - Lifeline purchases real estate to house its LIFT Transportation Program and the new Mobility Training Program.

1998 - The Workforce Partnership funds Lifeline to offer a large scale employment program with a performance based contract.

1999 - Lifeline's Counseling Department expanded to provide intensive domestic violence intervention services and EPSDT mental health services to youth.

2000 - Lifeline worked with youth transitioning out of the foster care system through the Independent Living Skills program.

2002 - Lifeline began organized tax preparation services for low-income residents to help them capture Earned Income Tax Credit dollars they were not utilizing.

2003 - Lifeline organized the North County Community Services for Families Collaborative to eliminate child abuse and provide kinship and reunification services for families in the child welfare system.

2004 - Lifeline expanded its youth counseling services through the state's Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), creating school-based services.

2005 - Lifeline began on-site mediation services at the North County Courthouse.

2006 - Lifeline purchased and renovated a facility in Oceanside to permanently co-locate all its programs targeting Coastal North County.

2007 - Executive Director Shirley Cole retires after 25 years of leadership; Donald Stump becomes Lifeline's Executive Director.

2008 - Began working in partnership with the City of Oceanside to develop the Targeted Outreach Program (TOP) to provide gang intervention services.

2009 - Funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) allowed Lifeline to develop comprehensive new services for unemployed individuals and homeless families.

2010 - Launched the "It's Now! It's Wow!" youth art fundraising event in May of 2010 that resulted in tremendous community support.

Read more about Lifeline's history.