Lower Township resident Georgia Dougherty, Middle Township High School, and the Lower Township Healthy Youth Coalition were recognized by the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners and the Cape May County Mental Health Alcohol and Drug Abuse Board for their work in the field of substance abuse prevention and recovery at the County Commissioners meeting on December 10 in Cape May Court House.
Ms. Dougherty was also selected as the 2024 County Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year. An employee of Lower Township who first became involved with the Alliance in 2016, she has long been integral to the running of the Lower Cape May Regional After Prom and always makes herself available to help with other youth-oriented community activities.
The Middle Township High School was recognized for operating one of only three Recovery High School programs available statewide. Responding to a request from the Department of Education to establish the program to support students who are working to achieve and/or maintain their recovery of substance misuse, the initiative was spearheaded by Dr. Toni Lehman with the active participation of Cape Assist. Dr. Lehman worked with several community partners to establish protocols, set a suitable location, and locate additional funding sources. Named Coastal Prep, the program has served 47 students thus far and offers “a rigorous academic curriculum, specialized recovery support, and engaging therapeutic activities, enabling some of the County’s most vulnerable students to successfully graduate from high school.”
Made up of individuals representing law enforcement, education, faith-based organizations, private nonprofits, government, and the Municipal Alliance, the Lower Township Healthy Youth Coalition (LTHYC) works to set up and maintain a network of trusted adults and activities that build resiliency and healthy relationships in youth and their families. The group organizes several activities throughout the year, such as Family Fun Nights, Trunk or Treat, Family Dance and Skate Nights, Summer Police Camp, and more. LTHYC also deploys over 40 young people across a pair of Youth Resiliency Teams that meet monthly at the Richard M. Teitelman and Lower Cape May Regional schools.
County Commissioner Will Morey stated, “They have all played a substantial role in improving lives in Cape May County. […] This coalition is changing young people’s lives and building drug free healthy relationships in families and in the community. They are an inspiration to all of us who care about the kids of our county. My sincere gratitude to Georgia, Toni and the Lower Township Healthy Youth Coalition. We’re grateful for all you do in our community.”
-
-
-
-
-