Positive Alternatives, Inc. is a private non-profit, community based, multi-service organization.  The agency provides programming for teens and families throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Agency History:

In October 1974, Alpha House Youth Care, Inc., a 501(c)3, non-profit corporation was developed.  With a federal grant, Alpha House group home for adolescents opened it's doors for the first time in Menomonie, WI.  Although the agency changed the corporation name in July, 1996 to Positive Alternatives, Inc., the group home retained the program name of Alpha House.

Alpha House is licensed by the State of Wisconsin as an eight bed group foster home for male and female youth between the ages of 12 and 17 years old.  The group home provides room and board, supervision, structure, counseling and recreational opportunities for the residents. 

Alpha House accepts referrals from all Wisconsin Departments of Human Social Services and county Juvenile Intake.  Funding for Alpha House is obtained primarily through contracts with the referring counties.  In

September of 2006 a second group home was opened in River Falls.  This facility moved into a new home in October of 2008 and has a 8-bed capacity.

In l979 the services of the TeenCare Crisis Intervention Program (formerly Bifrost) were added.  TeenCare is one of 22 programs in the state of Wisconsin designed to assist youth on-the-run or at-risk of running away.  The program is funded by State and Federal Grants, donations and several United Way Campaigns. 

TeenCare provides services to six counties in West Central Wisconsin including Dunn, Barron, Pepin, Pierce, Polk and St. Croix.  Youth can be self-referred to TeenCare or be referred by the police, social services, school staff or family members. 

TeenCare is a member of the Wisconsin Association for Runaway Services (WAHRS), the National Run-away Switchboard and National Safe Place.

The Menomonie School Mentoring Program found it's way to Positive Alternatives in l997.  The mentoring program matches students in grades Kindergarten through eighth grade with positive role models from the community.  

The mentor meets with the youth for one hour a week during the school day, on school grounds for the purpose of providing encouragement, support and friendship.  The success of this program is representative of the strong collaborative between Positive Alternatives and the Menomonie Area School District. 

Youth can be referred to this program by a teacher, school counselor or parent.  This program is designed to assist students who are struggling with some aspect of the educational process (i.e. absenteeism, failing grades, and/or struggling relationships). 

The Menomonie School Mentoring Program is funded by the United Way, donations and the Menomonie Area School Districts.  During the 2006-2007 school year additional money was received from Dunn County United Way to expand the mentoring services to the high school.

Positive Alternatives grew again in l998 with the addition of the Dunn County Juvenile Community Service Program.  This program supports the youth of Dunn County who have court ordered community service hours.  There are numerous non-profit and government agencies in Dunn County that have agreed to serve as worksites. 

P.A. oversee the youth-worksite match until the completion of the court ordered hours for each youth.  P.A. also offers these clients work skill and job seeking classes.  Through this program, P.A. hopes to encourage adolescents to become connected with their community, develop responsible attitudes, give back to community and develop work skills and/or interests.  This program is funded by a contract with Dunn County Department of Human Services.

Positive Alternatives took on two new programs in 1999, the Sandcastles Program in September and the Dunn County Juvenile 

Home Detention and Electronic Monitoring Programs in October.

Sandcastles is a nationally recognized program to help children cope with their parents' divorce.  Children participate in small, interactive groups with others their own age.  The program is designed to help children understand and cope with the feelings in a safe and supportive environment with other children who are experiencing divorce.  Parents attend also, in their own group to discuss co-parenting and how to help children through this transition.

Home Detention and Electronic Monitoring offer a secure alternative in a non-secure setting.  The program monitors compliance with guidelines, curfew and school attendance.

The STATAS Program also began in 1999 as a small support program for youth who were habitually truant.  The program has grown to encompass a variety of issues including truancy, poor grades, family or community issues, drug and alcohol issues, and anger or relationship issues. 

The program is designed to provide intensive, short-term intervention and support for youth, ages 10-17, and their families which satisfies supervision and public safety issues while allowing the families to remain intact.  Youth meet with their case manager a minimum of 4 hours per week. 

They are also monitored and supported daily via phone calls and visits to ensure school attendance, and compliance with the program guidelines.  Youth are court ordered to this program or referred by county social workers or schools.  Dunn County Department of Human Services contracts for this service. 

Positive Alternatives is excited to offer this program to surrounding counties (in July 2006 the program is currently serving youth in Dunn, St. Croix, Pierce, Pepin and Barron Counties). 

A STATAS office will be located in River Falls to assist with program accessibility for surrounding counties as needed.

In 2002, Alpha House began to offer Day Supervision.  This was created for those youth who have been suspended or expelled from school and need someone to supervise their temporary educational plan. 

This has also been utilized as a consequence for those youth not completing court ordered requirements.  Hours and expectations vary depending on the client and the situation.  The group home also added the availability of educational after-school groups.  Groups are held after school and include Corrective Thinking, Positive Relationships, AODA issues, Social Issues and Independent Living.

Positive Alternatives, Inc. is always open to and exploring opportunities to better serve the at-risk youth population and their families.