Personal Assistance Telephone Help (PATH) started answering phones in January 1971 through ISU students, faculty, and residents. It was a volunteer effort. The original mission was to provide accurate information and support for students with street drug issues.
The mission expanded to meet emerging needs from the Illinois State University and the Bloomington-Normal area. Our mission now included crisis calls, requests for information and referrals, and simply a safe, confidential place for people to talk to well-trained, non-judgemental, and caring volunteers.
While our legal name is still Personal Assistance Telephone Help, it did not capture the significant array of services. We were no longer limited to a phone contact only, and PATH began adding programs for specific populations. In the 1980s, the Board of Directors agreed that our Doing Business As (DBA) name PATH, Inc. could reference our enlarged mission: Providing Access to Help to improve and save lives.
