ACRP to celebrate anniversary with community events

Kelly Urban, The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
·3 min read

Apr. 29—JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Alternative Community Resource Program is celebrating a milestone, and the public is invited to join in the festivities.

In recognition of its 35th anniversary, the agency will hold a community street party from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 10 at the corner of Market and Locust streets in downtown Johnstown.

"Having gone from the simplicity of where we started to where we are today is just amazing," said Frank Janakovic, president and CEO of ACRP.

"The biggest part is continuing not only the growth, but the quality of work to go with it. We've worked with tens of thousands of children, adults and families over these 35 years who we've helped support, so that is the defining moment of all of those 35 years. We're not just an agency, but a large part of our community and communities that we service."

In 1989, ACRP initially began working with youth through child welfare and juvenile justice, but there was a realization that services needed to be provided to entire families.

Originally servicing clients in Johnstown, there are now 12 offices and multiple school and office locations covering Cambria, Somerset, Bedford and Blair counties, employing more than 325 individuals and serving 6,000 clients, students and families annually in the home, school and communities.

"We cover a lot of ground — education, juvenile justice, mental health, behavioral health and community and recreational services," Janakovic said. "Our biggest problem has been to have people understand what we do because we do so many different things, so you may know us from a soccer league we run, you may know know us from a counseling session or a school program."

He said the block party will feature entertainment and free food.

"We're inviting other providers who offer services to children and families to come join us," Janakovic said. "We hope to have some of our legislators show up, and we've asked the Johnstown police and fire departments to show off some of their equipment."

He said the event is a celebration not just for ACRP, but for all the work that's being done in the community.

"Our whole agency is built around the community and working with individuals, families and schools, so what better way to celebrate," Janakovic said. "A lot of people still don't know what ACRP does, so we hope to educate not only them on what we do, but what some of the other nonprofits around town have to offer."

A second celebration geared toward children and families will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. June 14 at the ACRP Play Center, 917 Chestnut St. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.

The event will offer activities for children and the Splash Park will be open free of charge.

"School will be out, and children and families can take advantage of the Play Center, so it'll be a big street party," Janakovic said.

He added that as one of the co-founders of the agency, its been set up to be perpetual and function into the future.

"We're going to continue to work on our mission to keep families together and stay at home within our communities," Janakovic said.

For more information, call 814-535-2277, ext. 3004, or visit www.acrpkids.org or www.facebook.com/acrpkids.

Kelly Urban can be reached at 814-532-5073.