Mission:
Alternatives for Youth provides community-based substance use and addiction treatment services that engage and mobilize youth and their families
Vision:
Inspiring hope and resilience in youth
Our Values:
We value youth wisdom and experience.
We are open to learning from youth, accepting of their views and see them as experts in their knowledge and experience. We appreciate what they can contribute to our services and value their involvement as a partner in our quest to achieve our mission and vision.
We value diversity and inclusion.
We acknowledge our obligation to be diverse and inclusive as the point in which our responsibility begins. With an anti-oppression lens we welcome and accept youth for who they are and engage them in helping to shape the services available to them. As individuals and as an organization we are self-reflective in our practice and reach out to diverse populations.
We value adaptability and innovation.
Our agility and forward thinking allows us to meet the complex needs of those we serve. We are responsive to the evolving landscape of addictions and apply innovative strategies to support trends in our field.
We value partnerships and collaboration.
We believe that the only way to sustain our best practice and accessible service is through collaboration with our partners. We see partners as all those stakeholders who have a vested interest in serving the needs of our youth population and working with us to achieve our mission and vision. We actively seek out mutually beneficial partnerships and opportunities to collaborate.
AY is committed to providing services without bias or judgment and an environment free from discrimination, harassment, and racism.
The Agency will not tolerate any expression of harassment, racial or ethno-cultural discrimination, homophobia or transphobia by anyone who works, participates or volunteers in any of its programs or services.
Strategic Plan
Our strategic plan for 2019-2022 is available online. Download the PDF here
What do we do?
Alternatives for Youth (AY) provides substance use and mental health care for children and youth ages 12 – 25 years, and those who care about them.
Individual treatment
Individualized, client directed treatment is provided to youth to assist them in exploring the underlying reasons for engaging in substance use, in reducing or discontinuing use, relapse prevention and/or referral to residential treatment, and includes comprehensive education about the risks related to youth substance use. Parents/caregivers and other family members (as defined by the youth) are encouraged to participate in the youth’s treatment.
Who will benefit from AY SERVICES?
- Youth experiencing difficulties related to their substance use and mental health
- Parents/caregivers wanting substance information, consultation and/or support in helping youth with the risks related to substance use
- Youth who are concerned about the substance use of a parent, guardian, or other family member
- Pregnant or parenting youth who want information and support related to the negative impact of substance use on themselves and their children
Multi-Sector Service Accountability Agreement
This Agreement is a service accountability agreement for the purposes of section 20(1) of LHSIA. The term of this Agreement will commence on the Effective Date and will expire on March 31, 2022 unless terminated earlier or extended pursuant to its terms.
AY Audited Financial Statements
Financial documentation for the year ending March 2022, as independently audited by KPMG LLP
My AY therapist was always very kind, understanding, compassionate and caring, which means so much to me
