A Timeline of Lifeline's Organizational History
In the spring of 1970, a small group of North County residents met to start a grass roots organization that would address issues of drug abuse among local youth and provide a place where anyone could come seeking assistance.
This group soon became Lifeline Community Services and later North County Lifeline, and in 2023 reverted back to DBA Lifeline Community Services.
LifelineCommunityServices’missionistobuild self-relianceamongyouth,adults,andfamilies throughhigh-quality,community-basedservices.
MissionStatement1970-2009
Toenhancethepositive qualityofindividual,family, andcommunitylife.
1970
IncorporatesasNorthCountyLifeline,Inc.
Inresponsetocommunityneed,coordinateswithVista CommunityClinictobeginalegaladviceclinic
Providesinformationandreferralservicestothecommunity
Lifeline’sofferingsgrowtoincludeindividual,familyand groupcounseling,drugeducation,andcrisisintervention
Lifeline’sTransportationServicesbegin
1973
WiththesupportofVista,Oceanside,andCarlsbad, LifelineestablishesitselfinVista’snewCommunity ServiceCenter
Expandshoursofoperationtoaccommodate growingyouthneedsintheTri-Citycommunities
1975
Inresponsetothe FederalGovernment’s “WaronPoverty,“ Lifelinecontractsto provideemergency assistancetopeoplein crisis
1977
DonorMembershipClub launchedtopromote communitysupportand generatefunding
LifelineCommunityServices becomesourlegalname
Lifeline’sleadershiphonored withtheUnitedWayZanville HelpingHandAward
1978
1979
TheStudentInternship program,stilloperating today,isestablishedto expandLifeline’sreachto youthandfamilies
1980
AnarrayofservicesfortheDisabledareofficiallyfundedto helpNorthCountyresidents
NorthCountyTransitDistrictandtheCountyofSan DiegoprovidefundingtoextendthereachofLifeline’s transportationservices
TheVolunteerProgramisestablished
Shirley Cole begins her long tenure as Lifeline’s Executive Director
The Board and staff leadership facilitate an agency restructuring process
Delinquency prevention services are added to existing youth programs, as well as stress management, women’s support and parent education groups
1982
NorthCounty'sonlyTelephoneRelayServicefortheDeafisestablished
TheNorthCountyResourceGuidefortheAble/Disablediscompiled,published,andofferedtothepublic
LifelineadministerstheVistaJuvenileJusticeCenterprogramincollaboration withVistaUnifiedSchoolDistrict,lawenforcementandtheCourts
LifelinedevelopsSpanishbilingualservicestorespondtothechanging demographicsoftheNorthCountycommunities
1983
Lifeline becomes the North County representative for a United Way sponsored county-wide collaboration, the Emergency Resources Group, to coordinate emergency assistance to the poor with emphasis on case management
The public transit system supports Lifeline with discounted bus passes
Lifeline relocates to 200 Jefferson Street in Vista, which later becomes our current address at 200 Michigan Avenue
1984
Expandingyouthprogramsformthe YouthServicescomponent
Youthcounselingandgroupservicesare providedonVistaschoolcampuses
1985
Expandstoincludethebuildingdirectlyadjacenttothe200Jefferson office;bothareprovidedin-kindbytheCityofVista
PartnerswiththeEmergencyShelterattheSalvationArmyinEscondido TheSharedHousingProgramisimplemented
Executive Director Steven Maybell, Ph.D.,publishesParentingANewTradition
1986
CoastalYouthServicesofficeopensin Oceanside
Transportationprogramincreasesfleetto 17vehiclesandacquirescomputerized dispatchsystem
SharedHousingProgrambecomesapart oftheSeniorServicesComponent
1987
TheEmergencyShelterfortheHomeless opensinlife-threateningcoldweatheratthe VistaArmory SocialServiceComponentexpandsto respondtogrowingrequestsforservice
1988
1989
Oceanside Police Department supports Juvenile JusticeCenteratCoastalYouthServicesoffice
FormerThe Gang Alternatives Program begins operatinginNorthCountyschools
1990
The addition of the North County Court Alternatives Program establishesLifeline’sDisputeResolutionProgram
LifelineexpandsitscoastalServicestothePoorProgramto NorthCountyresidentsintheinlandcommunities
TheMakingaLivingProgrambeginsprovidingemployment servicestothechronicallyunemployed
1994
1992
YouthServicesprogramsincrease capacitiestoincludemulti-family counselinggroupsandparentingservices toaddresscommunityneed
1995
TheCityofVistaprovidescapitalgranttobegin renovationsat200JeffersonStreet
Astate-of-the-arttelephoneandinformation systemispurchased
UnitedWayfundsTeen/ParentMediation servicestolinkDisputeResolutionandYouth Services
TitleVfundingfromtheCountychannels supportforafterschoolprogrammingin Oceanside’scommunitycenters
1996
Location at 302 N. Indiana is purchased to housetheLIFTtransportationprogram DisputeResolutionProgramprovidesa mediatorattheVistaFamilyCourt
SharedHousingexpandstoincludethe CityofEscondido
TheWorkforcePartnershipsupports
Lifeline’sEmploymentServicestoserve hardesttoreachwelfarepopulation
1998
1997
SupportedbytheJuvenileJusticeCrimePreventionAct, CountyProbationexpandsLifeline’sYouthServicesprograms toincludetheCommunityAssessmentTeamandBreaking Cycles
CriticalHoursafterschoolprogramsareinitiatedin OceansideandCarlsbadtodetermiddleschoolyouth fromdelinquency
1999
EPSDTmentalhealthprograminVistaand OceansidebeginstreatingMediCaleligible youth
CountyChildWelfareServicessupports
IndependentLivingSkillsforaging-out fosterkids
Dedicationceremonyheldtocelebrate thecompletionofrenovationsat
200MichiganAvenue
2000
HandsonSanDiegovolunteersgiveLIFTofficeamake-over
2001
30-hourMediationSkillsTrainingsessions
increaseattendance
LifelineexpandsFairHousingservicesto
thosealleginghousingdiscrimination
Lifeline’s32-hourSocialWorkProgram
Trainingopenstocommunitypartners
2003
Board of Directors expands to include an Audit Committee
CriticalHoursafterschoolprogramaddstwosites
2004
ChildWelfareServicesfundstheCommunityServices forFamiliesprogramtoreachchildrenandfamilies affectedbychildabuseandneglect
SupervisorBillHornpresentscommunitysupport granttosustainvitalservicestothecommunity
Lifeline’s707OceansideBoulevardbuildingis purchasedtohousegrowingservicesontheCoast
Renovationsbegin!
2005
Shirley Cole announces her retirement after26yearsofleadership
TheDisputeResolutionProgramestablishesmediationservicesintheSmallClaims divisionoftheVistaSuperiorCourt
LifelineclosesdoorstoTransportationComponentascontracttransferstoa for-profitcounty-wideprovider
2007
Donald Stump is appointed Executive Director in Novemberof2007
CounselingservicesexpandtoCarlsbadUnified SchoolDistrictmiddleandhighschools
Yourconnectiontoresourcesinthecommunity!
Lifeline’smissionistobuildstrategicpartnershipsin NorthCountyanddeliverservicestochildren, familiesandindividualsthatresolveproblems, increaseskillsandnurtureself-reliance.
Missionstatementandlogo-2009
LifelinereceivesoneofthefirstCalifornia GangReduction,Interventionand Prevention(CalGRIP)grantsinthestate forganginvolvedOceansideyouth
TheBoardofDirectorsbegina5-year strategicplanningprocess
TheParkerFoundationsupportsLifeline’s movetoaninternetbasedphonesystem
TheYouthCivicLeadershipProjectengagesyouthin empoweringcommunityserviceprojectsinOceanside
FamilySelf-Sufficiencyexpandstoinclude FinancialLiteracyservicessupportedbythe UnitedWay
AmericanRecovery&ReinvestmentAct(ARRA)funding broadensLifeline’sservicestostrugglingfamilieswho becomeunemployedorareat-riskofhomelessness 2008 2009
ProbationexpandsLifeline’sjuvenilejustice serviceswiththeIntensiveCaseManagement (ICM)programforseriousjuvenileoffenders
LifelinepilotsTruancyInterventionProgramin VistaandOceansidemiddleschools
Lifelineexpandsitsmentalhealthservicesin CarlsbadUnifiedSchoolDistrictwithADD-UP substanceabuseinterventionservices
YouthFinancialEducationgroupsexpandthrough UnitedWayfunding
2010
FundedbyUnitedWayandthe SiemerInstituteforFamilyStability, Lifelineprovidesstaffonschool sitestohelpstabilizehomelessandat riskfamiliesintheVistaUnified SchoolDistrict.
InWashington,D.C.,ProjectL.I.F.E.receivesthe FBIDirector’sCommunityLeadershipAward.The awardrecognizesLifeline’sservices,advocacyand communityawarenessbuildingtostophuman traffickingandchildsexualexploitation.
WomenGiveSanDiego,agivingcircleofThe Women’sFoundationofCalifornia,awardsa $30,000grantforProjectL.I.F.E.tosupportvictims andpreventhumantrafficking.
TheLifeSpringprogramforfosteryouthtransitioningto independenceexpandswithtennewunitsinthe NorthSantaFeApartments.Thisexpansionisin collaborationwithstrategichousingpartner, CommunityHousingWorks,whichopensatotalof 68unitsofaffordablehousingindowntownVista.
Inresponsetochangesinhealthcarereformandparityin mentalhealthcoverage,Lifelinedevelopsabusiness planforanewBehavioralHealthClinic.Withstartup fundingfromtheAllianceHealthcareFoundation,the Clinicwillfillgapsinservicesformentalhealthand substanceabusetreatmentforyouthandfamilies.
LifelineexpandsyouthservicesbylaunchingAlternativesto Detention, a program which works with families when kids are arrested,tokeepyouthoutofjuvenilehallandgetthemback onthepathtosuccess.
Additionally,thenewYouthOffenderRehabilitationProgram helpsyouthwithhousing,work,andeducationafterlockup, astheyarereenteringthecommunity.
ClubCrownHeightscelebrates 14highschoolgraduates! Twoyouthenteringtheirjunior yearinhighschoolare awardedSimonScholarships. TheOceansideCityCouncil recognizestheClubCrown
Heightssoccerteam,sponsored byOceansidePolice,fortheir firstplacevictoryintheannual beachsoccertournament.
LifelineinitiatesAngel’s Scholarshipandawardsthe firstcollegescholarship.
The Club Crown Heights afterschool program launches a STEM initiative in partnership with local company Genentech, which provides grant funds and volunteer support.
Club Crown Heights is recognized by the Oceanside City Council for their hard work and accomplishments.
LifelineandsixSanDiegoCountypartnersreceivea$1milliongrant fromtheStateofCaliforniaOfficeofEmergencytosupport traffickingvictimsoveratwoyearperiod.Lifelineexpands leadershipinthecountywidenetworktothecomplexneedsof humantraffickingvictims.
Lifeline is honored as the 2016 Nonprofit of the Year for the 36th Senate District, in a Sacramento awards presentation. “Lifeline’s work to build self-reliance among at-risk youth and adults is a fabulous example of nonprofits making our communities stronger,” said Senator Patricia Bates.
TheDepartmentofJustice,OfficeofVictimsofCrimeprovides fundingtoincreaseaccesstoservicesformaleandLGBTQ youthandadultswhohavebeenenslavedasvictimsof trafficking.
Lifelineexpandsthechildabusepreventionandintervention program,CommunityServicesforFamilies,toincludeevidence andstrengths-basedcoachingforparentsduringvisitation sessions,aswellasmentalhealthassessmentsforallfamily memberswhohaveactivechilddependencyservices.
ChristineKlementisawardedtheMikeCavataio 2016VolunteeroftheYearAwardforherten yearsofservicewithLifeline’syouth developmentteam.
Here Now Suicide Prevention Program is launched in partnership with San Diego Youth Services.
The Club Crown Heights Soccer Team wins theNationalChampionshipinFlorida.
TheMusicLIFEbandprogramforat-risk clientslaunchesinpartnershipwiththe MuseumofMakingMusicandfundedby theCarlsbadCharitableFoundation,an affiliateoftheSanDiegoFoundation.
Community members support Lifeline’s ‘adopt-a-family’ program and donate holiday gifts for 135 families.
