The commission was created in 1981 and conducts most of its work through several subcommittees composed of commission members and other professionals with expertise in the area assigned for study. One of the first subcommittees was the Needs Assessment Subcommittee, which has identified target populations most in need of new or improved programs. One of its first surveys identified alcohol abuse as the county's most serious adolescent problem and one that accounted for more than half of other juvenile offenses like vandalism and theft. In 1982 subcommittee members initiated the establishment of a multifaceted, comprehensive approach to the problem that would include awareness, education, intervention, and treatment components. Today every school has a certified alcohol counselor, treatment programs have expanded, and a service directory has been published. Factors underlying the effort's success include a clear mandate and monitoring procedures, adequate and independent staff, strong leadership, and proactive group processes. State legislation establishing family courts and citizen advisory bodies also aided the effort. Other counties are not reorganizing these bodies into commissions modeled after that in Somerset County.