In 1998, as a response to a real need for a publication that could help both parents and students gain a better understanding of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, parents ** from Georgetown Preparatory School in Bethesda, Maryland, wrote and published a booklet, "A Parent's Guide for the Prevention of Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Use."

The overwhelming positive response to the booklet by the families at Georgetown Prep led Dr. James Power, Headmaster, and Mrs. Mimi Fleury, parent and Chair of the Substance Abuse Manual Committee and former President of the Parent's Board, to form the Community of Concern consortium. The goal of the consortium was to share the booklet with other Washington DC Metropolitan Area schools. The response was amazing. By February 2000, thousands of copies had been delivered to 32 area schools and The Parent's Council of Washington.

The Memphis University School, Memphis, TN, became the first school to organize a 35 school Community of Concern outside the Washington metropolitan area. St. Ignatius College Preparatory School, CA quickly followed with 42 schools. As of October, 2003, hundreds of thousands of copies of this booklet are in parent's hands throughout the country.

In order to meet the growing demand for the booklet, a not-for-profit organization - The Community of Concern has been established.

** Georgetown Prep Substance Abuse Manual Committee Members- Carolyn Collins, Mimi (President Parents' Board 1997) and Al Fleury, Jr. MD, '66, Nancy Jackman, Brian McCarty (President Parents' Board 1998), Cathy McClave (President Parents' Board 1999), Mary Ellen and Bob Moylan, Margaret and Mike Murphy, Phil O'Donoghue, Esq., '68, Roberta and Steve Saxon, Esq., '69 and Bridget Zarate