Successes and Accomplishments
For more than two decades, Voice and Vision’s board and staff have proven they are creative and spirited as they ensure their work produces outcomes. Some of the agency’s successes and accomplishments:
1995
The Consumer Satisfaction Team (CST) started in Bucks County under the auspices of Milestones Community Healthcare, Inc.
1996
One of the founders of the CST statewide coalition: Consumer – Satisfaction Teams of Pennsylvania (C-STAP)
1997
The CST became incorporated as a non-profit 501(C)3 organization named BC-CST, Inc. (Bucks County-Creating Satisfaction Together).
1999
Started the Independent Monitoring For Quality (IM4Q) Program in Bucks County.
2002
Added a Family Satisfaction Team (FST) to the CST, which created the Consumer Family Satisfaction Team (CFST).
The IM4Q team developed “Break the Sound Barrier,” which is a model to gather important information from and about people who are nonverbal.
2004
First in the state to develop and implement a survey that looked at satisfaction, recovery, and resiliency that could be used with people (any age) from multiple systems.
2005
Included the organizational development principle of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) in the development of the surveys and the survey process.
2006
Began offering Peer-support services (people with mental illnesses or co-occurring disorders supporting other people with similar diagnosis)
2006-2010
Partnered with Pennsylvania Recovery Organization-Achieving Community Together (PRO-ACT) to gather information about recovery from people diagnosed with mental illnesses, addictions or both (co-occurring disorders).
2007
BC-CST, Inc. changed its name to Voice and Vision, Inc. and changed its mission, vision and organizational identity to include peer support/mentoring services and training in addition to the advocacy/evaluation services.
College Plus was created to help people with mental illness or co-occurring disorders take college courses and obtain college degrees with support from peer mentors.
2009
Started Family Outreach – now called Family Connections: the first family initiative in Bucks County that interfaces with all child-serving systems in Bucks County.
Created signal reports from our data gathered through our CFST. Trained 36 other CFSTs, many of whom are now using this format.
The CFST conducted an in-depth evaluation of a program for Bucks County Behavioral Health System, which was used to make critical decisions for planning and continued development/funding of the program.
2010
Developed Youth Connections, which was modeled after the Family Outreach Initiative.
2011
Implemented Regional InReach at Norristown State Hospital teaching principles of recovery and resiliency to patients and staff through personal stories and interactive dialogue.
2012
Expanded Consumer Family Satisfaction Team Services by forming a team and opening an office to serve Chester County.
2013
Developed and implemented an innovative, one of a kind, person-centered planning model called Hope and New Directions® also known as H.A.N.D.®
Enhanced the Peer Companionship Initiative by beginning to serve veterans: veterans supporting veterans.
2014
Completed an Asset Mapping Project in Chester County looking at their Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC).
Expanded into Delaware County through acquiring the oversight of Compeer of Suburban Philadelphia.
2015
Conducted a survey with 74 youth and young adults in Bucks County to assist families and communities in addressing the challenge of alcohol and drug use, particularly opiate use, and effective treatment for youth and young adults. The results and recommendations were relayed through a Community Report View the 2015 DA Community Report.
2016
Completed production and began public distribution of Help and Hope–a guide written by families for families that educates and supports families through major challenges with their children.
2017
Conducted a survey with 44 family members of people who had received treatment for drug and alcohol use in Bucks County to understand, from the perspective of families, what they need to support the person in treatment and how treatment providers can aid in meeting these needs. The results and recommendations were relayed through a Community Report. View the 2017 DA Community Report.
Awarded the contract to provide Member/Family Satisfaction Team Services in Delaware County.
2018
Celebrated the 10thAnniversary of College Plus with funders, partners, friends, and alumni at the Bucks County Community College.
Developed and implemented the multi-year Behavioral Health Outreach and Education Initiative in Chester County serving faith-based communities.
2019
Hired a Veteran Coordinator to expand CompeerCORPS throughout all of Delaware County.
The Family Advocacy Center became a part of Voice and Vision and was renamed “Family Advocates” in 2021.
2020
Added Project H.E.A.L. which is a program to connect with youth and young adults to offer mental health, addictions and recovery education and resources.
Published our second Help and Hope Guide: Substance Use- The Growing Need to Know. The Guide is in hard copy and downloadable on the website.
Held our first virtual conference called “Get Up Off Of That Thing” focused on the health and wellness of people who are Black and/or African American.
2021
Began to operationalize our new strategic plan with a focus on four major areas: Programs (people we serve), Human Resources (people we employ and volunteers), Fundraising (people who partner with us), and Marketing (people learn about our unique programs and help to spread the word).
2022
Celebrating 25 years of serving individuals and families!
