In 1970, a small group of dedicated professionals and community leaders came together to struggle with the problems in the community where they lived and worked.  After months of discussions that explored their own life experiences and dreams for the future, they decided to create an organization that would hold the promise of melding the many strengths to their environment, of stimulating creativity and innovation, and sustaining growth and access to needed programs.  They named the organization Lower Kensington Environmental Center, Inc., a reflection not only of a geographical focus, but also of a philosophical grounding in a community-based, holistic approach that became our vision.

The first focus was the children of the community, especially those performing poorly in school.  The founders, many of whom were teachers, turned their energy not only to their students but also to the parents and later on the community at large.  The Center, driven by its vision, began to grow as opportunities presented themselves to build a multifaceted approach to the problems besetting their clients.

Today, thousands of people annually participate in our behavioral health treatment programs in Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania, and hundreds of children are helped by our foster care, residential treatment programs, and other clinical and placement services.  Our vast array of services have continued to expand and now include an extensive array of substance abuse services, juvenile treatment services, dual diagnosis treatment programs, and outpatient mental health programs.

NorthEast Treatment Centers, the name chosen several years ago to better describe our organization’s expanded regional and comprehensive service capability, has benefited from dedicated staff, a tireless and visionary Board of Directors, and an ability to adapt to changing conditions and service demands. As a stamp of our continuous striving for quality, NET is JCAHO accredited for all Delaware and Pennsylvania programs, along with accreditation for an Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Network.

NET has shown significant growth with consolidated corporate revenues.  Our secure financial position insures our ability to not only remain viable but to pursue many new and innovative program initiatives to better service our consumers.

Emerging trends in healthcare and social services provide the opportunity to continue to pursue the strategy that has served us so well to date.  Namely, to embrace changes that are consistent with our mission, maintain a client-centered approach, invest in human resources, and seek the most cost-effective and innovative clinical and administrative approaches in support of our mission.  Our focus on outcome studies, adjustments to the opportunities afforded by managed care, upgrading of facilities and equipment, and other improvements, are in process and will help as we begin the twenty first century.