Joseph Williams,
By Alexis Regenelli
A quarter of a century ago, The Southwest Council was established to provide prevention services to the communities of southwestern New Jersey. We are proud to say that our Executive Director, Joseph Williams, is also celebrating 25 years with the council this month. The staff & Board of Directors wish to thank Joe Williams for his 25 years of service to the community!
Following is an expression of Joe’s pride in The Southwest Council.
“Since 1991, The Southwest Council has been providing substance abuse prevention, education, and early intervention services to the residents of Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties.
The agency’s positive impact has been made possible only through the efforts of dedicated individuals, including our volunteer Executive Board of Direc- tors, our staff, and the many volunteers who assist us on a daily basis.
The Southwest Council is committed to growth and expansion based on the needs of the communities we serve. We have extended our services over the past several years to include regionally based coalitions. These coalitions have enhanced our capacity to focus on parents, military families, and older Americans through increased prevention services. The success of our grassroots coalition efforts would not be possible without the agency’s dedicated staff and the engagement of individual community members.
Through the collaborative efforts of many, we have been able to provide evidence-based services to schools, colleges, faith-based organizations, families, individuals, community alliances, professionals, and more. It is the focus of the agency to employ environmental strategies geared toward changing community norms which favor substance abuse throughout the southwestern portion of the State of New Jersey.
Along with the coalitions, the agency has added treatment services which have allowed us to provide quality services throughout the region. Our sustainability plan included the purchase of our own building and expansion in the central part of Gloucester County with fully-staffed offices located in Mantua, New Jersey. We are proud of the dedicated staff who embrace our mission as we hold true to our vision! We will continue to provide employees - with the highest skill and experience - to teach, counsel and assist those who call upon us for ser- vices. Our work is not complete. We are committed to expanding services where the need is great. We will foster partnerships that enhance our goal, and we will ensure that the services provided are of the highest quality possible. Moving forward, we will continue to provide science-based programs, quality treatment services, and effective community-based efforts to meet the needs of the community. We truly hope we can count on your support in the coming years. ”
