Empowering Youth
for Nearly 50 Years
Positive Alternatives was established in 1974. Our goal is to continually look for innovative and creative programs to benefit youth, the community, and the counties that we serve. These services are driven by our mission statement: “Through a continuum of family and strength-based services Positive Alternatives strives to equip at-risk youth and young adults with the social, emotional, and developmental skills needed to flourish.”
The agency’s services started in October 1974, when Alpha House Youth Care, Inc., a 501©3, non-profit corporation was developed. Although the agency changed the corporation’s name in July 1996 to Positive Alternatives, Inc., the group home retained the program name of Alpha House for many years. In 1981, the organization formed bylaws and a Board of Directors, ultimately gaining non-profit status. The organization remains a non-profit today!
Support, Structure,
& Growth
Positive Alternatives group homes are licensed by the State of Wisconsin as eight-bed group homes for male and female youth between the ages of 12 and 21 years old. The first group home in Menomonie, Wisconsin, was followed by a second that opened in 2006 in River Falls, Wisconsin. The third home, an all-female resident facility located in Amery, Wisconsin, opened in the Summer of 2014. In 2015, the fourth group home was opened in Wisconsin Rapids and in 2017, the fifth group home in Marathon County was opened.
All group homes became Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP)-certified in 2022 and provide room and board, supervision, structure, family involvement, recreational opportunities, and aftercare for the residents. The three western group homes and Wisconsin Rapids accept referrals from all Wisconsin counties, while Marathon County only accepts youth from Marathon County.
In addition to the group homes, Positive Alternatives has offered many other programs to youth and families throughout the years. These programs have all been aimed at either prevention or early intervention for at-risk youth and families. Examples of programs offered have been TeenCare Runaway Program, School Mentoring, Youth Connections, Sandcastles, Electronic Monitoring, Positive Alternatives Support Services (PASS)/Short Term Adolescent Tracking and Support (STATAS), and Teenage Parent Program (TAPP).
For a short time, these programs were offered as Positive Alternatives’ Prevention Program and Intervention Program but are now referred to as “Community Based Services”. The program currently offers Mentoring and Supervised Visitation. Community Based Services’ focus is on working with youth and parents to improve family, community, and school relationships as well as to prevent out-of-home placement. The program has been used in conjunction with CCS funding to assist in the stabilization of mental health issues and behaviors in the home, school, and community. Case Managers are trained in the use of Motivational Interviewing and Trauma Informed Care and use these skills to help the youth and the family to reach their goals. This program also operates a Blessing Box in the Menomonie Community.
Innovating Youth Support
Positive Alternatives, Inc. is always open to exploring opportunities to better serve the at-risk youth population and their families. As the needs of the community changes, as well as funding sources, programming has changed. Through the QRTP group homes and Community Based Services, Positive Alternatives hopes to reach and serve at-risk youth and families when services are needed and is always willing to explore new possibilities.