Alternatives for Youth (AY) is committed to providing substance use treatment services for youth aged 12 to 22 years and those who care for them. Research has shown that engaging parents/care-givers in substance use education and counseling programs improves treatment outcomes for youth with substance use and concurrent mental health problems.

The feedback we have received from parents that have attended this program indicates that information covered is helpful and the group experience is positive. Parents have noted improvement in their everyday lives as a result of attending this program.

The Parent Education Program (PEP) is an 8 week group that covers the following:

Week 1: The Impact of living with Substance abuse/self care for parents
Week 2: Adolescent Substance Use and Drug Basics
Week 3: Mental Health and Concurrent Disorders
Week 4: Adolescence: Risks and Resiliency
Week 5: Parenting adolescents: Limits and Boundaries
Week 6: Understanding and influencing change
Week 7: Communication
Week 8: Next Steps

PEP will run on Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00pm, for 8 concurrent weeks. Participants are asked to make a commitment to attend all 8 PEP group sessions.

The next PEP group is scheduled for:

January 18th 2018

PEP Fees: Services at Alternatives for Youth are funded by several sources, so
presently there is no fee for attending PEP.

For inquiries, or to register for the group, please contact
Sara McAuley at 905-527-4469 (press 8) or smcauley@ay.on.ca