Alternatives

About Alternatives

Located just a short distance from Washington Park, Alternatives provides services to young people aged 10-24 throughout Chicago. The center specializes in mental health counseling within schools and the community, offers educational programs on prevention, and advocates for youth. As a nonprofit organization, Alternatives emphasizes equity, healing, and systemic change while delivering free behavioral health services to individuals with public insurance or those who are uninsured.

The therapists at Alternatives employ a strength-based and trauma-informed methodology, built on evidence-based practices. They offer individual, group, and family counseling aimed at conflict resolution, identity development, emotional regulation, and life skills enhancement. Services are accessible in various settings, including schools and youth centers, as well as through telehealth platforms. Additionally, they conduct behavioral health training for educators and provide customized social-emotional learning programs to meet the unique needs of each school.

Alternatives actively engages youth in substance use prevention initiatives, community advocacy, and trauma-informed capacity-building efforts within Chicago Public Schools. Their Youth Advisory Committees empower students to influence local prevention strategies. Through a crisis response hotline and comprehensive mentorship programs, they support at-risk youth, helping them remain safe, connected, and engaged in pathways for personal development.

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