Substance use and mental health services for 12 to 25 year olds and their families
The Alternatives for Youth offices have moved!
After 10 years of being co-located with Youth Wellness Centre, we’ve moved to a new site.
We want to thank YWC for their partnership and support over the years!
Please visit us at our new location:
460 Main Street East, Suite 304
Alternatives for Youth (AY) is committed to providing substance use treatment services for youth aged 12 to 25 years and those who care for them.
Research has shown that engaging caregivers in substance use education and counselling programs improves treatment outcomes for youth with substance use and concurrent mental health problems.
The feedback we have received from caregivers that have attended this program indicates that information covered is helpful and the group experience is positive. Caregivers have noted improvement in their everyday lives as a result of attending this program.
PEP will run continuously on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00pm, following the 10 week cycle. Participants are asked to make a commitment to attend all 10 PEP group sessions, but can start at any time
Week 1: Stigma and Self Care
Week 2: Teen Substance Use and Drug Basics
Week 3: Teen Mental Health and Brain Development
Week 4: Youth-Related Risk Factors
Week 5: Parenting Strategies – Setting Limits and Boundaries
Week 6: Understanding and Influencing Change
Week 7: Communication
Week 8: Managing Breakdowns and Crises
Week 9: Recovery as A Family Unit
Week 10: The Big Review
PEP Fees: Services at Alternatives for Youth are funded by several sources, so presently there is no fee for attending PEP.
To register for the group, please submit the form located here
For inquiries, please contact Katlyn Lamont at klamont@ay.on.ca or 289-819-4240
Download the printable flyer here
Alternatives for Youth offers the SMART Recovery® Virtual Group for young people ages 16 to 25 who are looking to make changes to their substance use. This open group allows participants to join as needed, with initial registration required to access the virtual meeting link. New for February 2025, Alternatives for Youth will provide this group with the support of a Peer Support Worker . A Peer Support Worker in a SMART Recovery® group enhances engagement by offering lived experience, practical insights, and encouragement, creating a supportive and relatable environment. Their presence fosters trust, reduces isolation, and empowers participants with real-world strategies to navigate recovery.
Facilitated by a registered psychotherapist or registered social worker, the group follows a peer support model where participants encourage and support one another in achieving their goals. Through the program, participants will gain practical tools and strategies to help navigate challenges and make positive changes in their substance use. The group provides a supportive space to learn, share, and implement new approaches to recovery.
SMART Recovery®SMART Recovery® helps individuals gain independence from addictive behaviors. Our program is based on scientific knowledge and evolves as scientific knowledge evolves.
The SMART Recovery® 4-Point Program:
| Part 1: | Enhancing and Maintaining Motivation |
| Part 2: | Coping with Urges |
| Part 3: | Managing Thoughts, Feelings and Behaviors |
| Part 4: | Living a Balanced Life |
Starting Tuesday February 11, 2025, meetings will occur weekly on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:30 via Microsoft Teams
Attendance for each meeting IS NOT mandatory.
For more information or to register, please use the QR code on our flyer located here
Alternatively, you can contact
Manuela Candamil R.S.W. at
289-684-3831 or mcandamil@ay.on.ca
Alternatives for Youth is proud to have been awarded a four-year accreditation by the Canadian Centre for Accreditation (CCA) in recognition of achieving established CCA standards for quality in governance, management, and community mental health and addiction services. CCA accreditation is based on widely-accepted best practice standards that support excellence and quality in our provision of community-based programs and services.