CPPA History

CPPA was founded in 1969 by Warren Parker, a man whose own life experiences taught him much about the power of individual choice and responsibility. Warren's transformation from ex-offender to community activist exemplifies the belief that has guided CPPA for more than thirty years: people who acquire the skills to make good personal decisions not only improve their own lives, but enrich their communities. Warren appreciated the importance of reaching young people before self-destructive choices limited their positive participation in community life. Prevention has always been a key focus for CPPA's activities.

CPPA began in 1969 as a street outreach drug intervention program. From its beginnings, the agency has focused on the needs of youth, recognizing that each youth's well-being relies in large measure on the healthy functioning of the family and the community. The agency was named "Center for Positive Prevention Alternatives, Inc." in 1979 to reflect its policy of using only positive alternatives to address community needs.

CPPA grew and changed over the years. In 1975 CPPA was chosen to operate San Joaquin County's Alternative Service Volunteer Program (ASVP). ASVP continues to flourish, finding volunteer placements for nearly a thousand individuals every year. ASVP creates an opportunity for offenders to "pay their debt to society" in a way that is productive and meaningful. Many offenders simply cannot afford to pay a court fine, or can do so only by neglecting the basic needs of their families. Without ASVP, their only alternative is to serve a jail sentence. The ASVP program protects the stability of families by helping these offenders serve an alternative sentence that keeps them home with their families and on the job.

One of CPPA's special concerns is the needs of runaway, throwaway and homeless youth. CPPA opened the Safe House emergency shelter program in 1991 in response to a dramatic rise in the number of youth needing shelter. In 1990 CPPA purchased the Safe House residence with a grant of $158,000 from the State of California, allocated from bond funds specifically set aside to support youth centers and shelters. CPPA raised funds to furnish the shelter in January of 1991 with support from several San Joaquin County agencies. On February 15, 1991, an open house was held for all community agencies, schools and other interested individuals—but there were still no operating funds. After a series of meetings with county officials, CPPA was awarded a one-time start-up grant and opened the shelter doors on November 30, 1991. The following year, CPPA received its first Basic Shelter Program grant from the federal Department of Health and Human Services. Safe House has now provided shelter, counseling and support services to youth and their families for over ten years and has an 80% success rate in finding stable living conditions for homeless youth.

In 1996 CPPA received a $95,000 grant from the California Youth Authority with a $16,000 local match for purchase of the 4-bedroom house that serves as the Opportunity House Transitional Living Program (TLP) residence. CPPA also received $200,000 in operating funds for the TLP from DHHS in 1996. Later that year the SJC Community Development Department applied for and received funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide transitional housing and supportive services to homeless persons in the county. CPPA was selected as one of the provider agencies and receives $52,500 annually in support of employment services for the Youth Services Bureau. The Street Outreach component was added in 1997 with funding from DHHS; funding was renewed in 1998 and 2000.

Additional "chapters" in the story of CPPA's program expansion and fiscal growth over its more than 30 years of service will be added to this page as time permits.