The Perry County Community Task Force began in 1995 with a concerted effort to make Perry County an even better community in which to live.  The ongoing mission is to continue to build a safe, healthy and thriving community for Perry County though inclusive partnerships from all segments of the community.  On July 9, 1997 the bylaws of the Perry County Community Task Force were approved.  Task Force meetings are held the third Wednesday of every month from 11:30-1:00pm in the Perry County Memorial Hospital Education Center.  All are welcome to attend.

In 1996 the Task Force conducted a community survey to identify needs in Perry County.  Surveys were mailed to 1/3 of the registered voters and were placed in local establishments, etc.  Top needs identified were as follows:

It was decided that a mentoring program would be utilized to address all of these needs.  The CHAMPS (Communities Helping Adolescents Mature Positively and Successfully) Mentoring Program originated.  The School to Work Coordinator for Perry County District #32 asked the Perry County Community Task Force for help in developing and securing funding for a countywide mentoring program.  A proposal was developed and a grant received from the Missouri Department of Health.  The CHAMPS Mentoring Program was officially launched on Oct. 5, 1999, with a luncheon in Perryville to celebrate and introduce this important new effort.  In the first year of the Mentoring Program, only 3 youth were being mentored.  By the beginning of 2004, there were nearly 70 youth being mentored and about 25 youth on the waiting list.  

In 2001 the Perry County Community Task Force decided to address the high school drop-out rate in Perry County through the CHAMPS Out-Of-School Program.  Statistics indicate that Perry County ranked 110 out of 115 counties for having the highest drop-out rate in the year 2003.  In 2004 there were 86 attendees in the Out-Of-School Program.  Some youth stated that they had dropped out of school because of substance use.  The Perry County Community Task Force Board decided that it was time to start a program for substance using youth. 

A committee was formed consisting of Probation and Parole, Juvenile Office, Principals, Counselors, Division of Social Services, concerned citizens and youth themselves to create the Seeking Answers support group for 16-21 year old substance using youth, which began in 2002.  Judges and attorneys were informed of the program and the ways in which it would help Perry County youth.  Many youth are now court mandated to attend the program.  Other attendees come due to parental influence, as friends of those who have been court mandated, or as interested individuals.

Many of the participants of the Seeking Answers group admit that they began using substances at ages 10 or 12.  With this information, the Task Force Board decided that the committee for Seeking Answers needed to reconvene and begin a group for younger youth.  The SAAS (Seeking Answers About Substances) support group began in 2003 for youth ages 12-15 years old.  A total of 32 youth attended SAAS in the first 7 months, and only 7 of those were court mandated.  The program continues to be a success.

The Seeking Answers Advisory Committee spoke at length about the need for a program that would assist youth and parents with communication, etc.  As a result the YAP (Youth and Parents) Program began in October of 2004.  18 families participated in YAP in the first 3 months.  

The Junior/Senior Conference is another event hosted by the Perry County Community Task Force.  This yearly conference focuses on helping encourage youth to make healthy decisions about drug and alcohol use especially during prom and graduation.  Events which take place at the conference generally consist of a car accident reenactment and a motivational speaker.  The conference is approaching its eighth year of operation.

In 2007 the Task Force decided to hold an 8th Grade Prevention Conference.  This conference is similar to the Junior/Senior Conference but it is on a smaller scale.  There is no docu drama for the students to watch.  The 8th Grade Prevention Conference is for all Perry County eighth graders, with an emphasis on helping them acquire additional resistance skills prior to entering the larger arena of high school.

The Task Force started another program in 2008.  It was felt that the youth needed the basic lifeskills to help them make good choices.  So the LifeSkills Prevention Program was started.  This program is for all schools who desire prevention services for eighth through tenth grade.