The Abington Community Taskforce (ACT) was formed in 1994 in response to the tragic murder of a young person. The community was immediately galvanized, distressed about problems among its youth. The response was unprecedented, with every segment of the community joining together in a common effort to understand the problems, explore the options, and work together toward solutions. ACT was born--a coalition of parents and Abington- and Rockledge-based educational, religious, social service, recreational, civic, and law enforcement organizations with a mission to create a responsible, caring, and safe community.

ACT's focus has been to promote healthy youth activities, to increase awareness among citizens about activities taking place in the community, and to give recognition to outstanding citizens involved in programs that promote ACT's goals. To accomplish these goals, ACT facilitates cooperation among Township and Borough organizations that share its goals as well as provides direct services to the community that are in line with its mission. 

ACT is a nonprofit, community-based corporation with a board of representatives from a wide variety of member organizations that provide services to youth and families in the community. ACT's meetings give these representatives the opportunity to coordinate efforts among their organizations. Many of these people, in turn, serve on one of several ACT committees to initiate programs and deal with issues in more specific ways. Since its inception, ACT has achieved quite a list of accomplishments through its member organizations. These groups sponsor a wide variety of youth and family support services and healthy, entertaining activities.

  
Since Abington Township has been involved with the Communities That Care® Initiative (a state sponsored method of organizing community resources and focusing attention on issues related to delinquency and problem behavior among youth), a needs assessment has been performed in the community. The results have guided ACT organizations in sponsoring programs to support the young people in our community. Click ACT Organizations for a complete listing of ACT members.

As a nonprofit organization, ACT is able to partner with its member organizations to develop and sponsor activities and pro­grams to fill in gaps where other community services end. Programs currently in place or being developed include:

• ACT Happenings, a newsletter that provides information to the community regarding youth-related events, programs, and support services, published three times a year.
• The ACT Web site where organizations can publicize their youth activities and volunteer needs to help them carry on their work to further ACT's goals of creating a safe and caring community.
• An annual Citizens That Care Recognition Reception, begun in 2002, to honor individuals and community organizations who have distinguished themselves in their service to the youth of Abington Township and Rockledge Borough.
• An annual Youth Forum to bring together young people for entertaining programs that will foster positive peer relationships, healthy decision-making, and enhanced self-confidence. It also helps to identify youth leaders in the community and provide an avenue to bring youth representation to ACT.
• A Religious Community Youth Directors Forum to bring together members of the clergy who work with young people and give them an opportunity to share information with one another. It also allows them to collaborate in program development and to connect with the larger community through contact with ACT.
• A Grants Committee to identify grant opportunities that are in line with ACT’s mission and would be available to a consortium of ACT member organizations. The Committee seeks ways to support member organizations through such programs as seminars on identifying and responding to consortium grants.
• Student Community Service Award to recognize two graduating seniors for outstanding youth service to the community, offered for the first time in spring 2003.

The Abington Community Taskforce has been ably led from its inception by a number of co-chairs. They have included Deborah Sapin-Feldstein, Executive Director, Aldersgate Youth Service Bureau; Nancy Wright, Youth Minister, Abington Presbyterian Church; Sheldon Erwine, retired principal, Abington Junior High School; Kelley Warner, Sergeant, Abington Police Department; William Kelly, Abington Township Chief of Police, Audrey Krisbergh, Director, The Center for Parenting Education; Dr. Leigh Altadonna, Assistant Superintendent of Schools; Ellen Mishel, Parenting Educator, The Center for Parenting Education. Lt. Michael Webb, Abington Police Department; and Rosemary Hinkle, Project Specialist-Public Information, Abington Police Depaartment; Current co-chairs are Teresa Montanaro, Principal, McKinley Elementary School, and Saundra Freedman, retired Director of Pupil Services, Abington School District.

The ACT general membership, comprising representatives from member organizations, meets bi-monthly (January, March, May, July, September, and November). In between those meetings, committees also hold meetings. ACT committees include Agencies/Religious Service, Grants, Law Enforcement/Government, Recognition Reception, and School/Parent. Community groups and organizations who share an interest in ACT's mission are encouraged to attend a general membership meeting and explore a relationship with ACT.