The concept of the Society originated with senior administrators employed by School District #34. These individuals were strongly supported by a group of teachers, most of whom were already involved with various aspects of the drug education curriculum and who could see the effect of substance abusing students in their classrooms on a daily basis. This initial community including police officers involved in drug enforcement, community leaders at the municipal and school board level, church leaders, service clubs, professionals and others.
The IMPACT program also involved an adolescent peer support counselling component which would provide counselling services to youth.
A fundraising campaign was begun in March, 1988, and ultimately raised $105,000.00 solely from the community, including $50,000.00 from the Lions Club of Abbotsford/Matsqui.
The Provincial Government initially declined to provide any assistance, and plans to activate IMPACT had to be delayed while the Society attempted to find suitable housing within an extremely limited budget. Temporary accommodation in the form of an old house located on Bevan Avenue was eventually provided by the Municipality of Matsqui (for $1 per annum) in the Spring of 1989. An Executive Director, Dr. Mike Webster, also a Registered Psychologist, was hired to head up the program which finally began in June 1989.
In the meantime, 60 teachers operating in the five public high schools in Matsqui/Abbotsford and in two private secondary schools had received specialized education in early 1989. Their training included techniques to identify and intervene with students in the early stages of substance abuse, how to consult with parents and how to successfully refer victims of substance abuse to the IMPACT program. These teachers were also trained to provide on-going counselling and support to any students who have been referred to the IMPACT program. This early intervention of substance abusing students by teachers in all of the high schools in Abbotsford/Matsqui is one of the unique aspects of the IMPACT program. Training for all teachers (including the private schools) was provided by School District #34 at a cost of approximately $10,000.00 and involved a specialist in drug and alcohol counselling from the United States. After fully reviewing the goals, objectives, organization and strategy of the IMPACT program, the specialist, Charles Blick, M.A., commented “that IMPACT was the best organized, best conceived program with the best chances of success” that he had ever encountered in his many training sessions though out North America.
IMPACT has gone though many changes and is now located in a facility on Walsh Avenue with a staff of 5 when running at full capacity. IMPACT is funded primarily by the FRASER HEALTH AUTHORITY and practices the “harm reduction” model.