Alternative Peer Group (APG)
Our Alternative Peer Group is a community-based, family-centered, professionally staffed program that uses positive peer-to-peer support to help youth build healthier futures. APG offers pro-social activities, college and career readiness support, group counseling, and substance use education, prevention, and intervention services for young people navigating substance misuse, mental health challenges, and involvement with the juvenile justice system.
The APG Program
Our Alternative Peer Group program adapts the traditional Twelve-Step Model to meet the developmental needs of adolescents, using positive peer relationships as the catalyst for lasting change.
Positive peer associations and healthy social connections.
Increased understanding of mental health and substance use symptoms, along with related risk factors.
Group, individual, and family counseling.
College and career readiness, including exploration of opportunities and college tours.
Development of social competencies and problem-solving skills.
Effective parenting training and family support.
Reduction in behaviors, thoughts, and feelings that interfere with a healthy quality of life.
Admission Criteria
To be considered for the APG level of care, participants must meet the following criteria:
APG Group Sessions
Our youth groups are facilitated by licensed professionals trained in a research-supported model of care that addresses risk factors for substance misuse, mental health challenges, and involvement with the juvenile justice system.
Services draw on evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Trauma-Informed Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Groups meet twice a week for 2.5 hours each session.
Positive peer-to-peer support facilitated by a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS) and/or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
Learn More About Our Alternative Peer Group
APGs offer a better fit for young people seeking recovery because they focus on building a new peer group, one that uses positive peer influence to help youth achieve and maintain lasting recovery. APGs also make recovery engaging and sustainable by organizing supported activities throughout the week, on weekends, and during the summer.
