Programs – Choices

Programs & Services

Choices has deep roots in Worcester County.

The agency has made great strides since its inception receiving notable grant awards from government agencies, private foundations, and local corporate partners.

All of our programs align with our mission

to create a safe, supportive, respectful recovery community where all adolescents struggling with addiction and co-occurring disorders can reclaim and restore their lives.

Our leadership and programmatic staff have conducted needs assessments, analyzed credible research, and reviewed local data to design person-centered programs that incorporate evidence-based approaches and best practices.

We understand that recovery is a complex process. Not only does it affect the youth, it also adversely impacts those they love including their parents, guardians, siblings, friends, etc. This is why effective collaboration across disciplines and community agencies is critical as we collectively put our arms around these youth and their families.

Reach out today to learn more. Call: (508) 455-5053

Early Diversion Worcester

EDW diverts, intervenes and disrupts the school to prison pipeline with the goal of shaping a future of wellness, health, resilience, and productivity for future generations of young people. The program offers a holistic, comprehensive system of care for adolescents ages 12-19 who reside in Worcester County. Each eligible youth receives a program experience tailored to their unique situation inclusive of wrap-around services, case management, education support, recovery activities, therapeutic services, medical care, and youth development to strengthen resilience and self-sustainability. If a child requires more acute care, referrals will be made to an appropriate partner agency.

This program is funded by SAMHSA. There is no fee to participate. We are currently accepting referrals.

Reach out today to get registered. Call: (508) 455-5053 or email: Intakes@4choices.Org

Positive Alternative to School Suspension

PASS is a short-term early intervention model that provides high school youth with a structured, safe program to complete their suspension period. Students facing suspension will be offered the option to attend an out-of-school therapeutic program in a supportive, dignified space where they will receive the social and emotional support they need and access their schoolwork through remote platforms directly from their home school. Wrap around services will be provided in conjunction with our clinical and community partners. Students spend an average of 3-5 days in the program.

This is the 4th replication of the PASS program. PASS was developed out of the frustration districts were experiencing with the lack of resources available to support changing behaviors of suspended students. Michelle Lipinski, Principal of Recovery High School at the North Shore Consortium and YMCA of the North Shore convened a meeting with Children’s Friends and Family Services (JRI), Health Gloucester Collaborative, Beverly Public Schools, Gloucester Public Schools, Peabody Public Schools, and Ipswich Public schools to discuss these challenges and develop community-based solutions. Data shows that students with mental health and/or substance use disorders tend to get suspended more often and rarely get the intervention and support they need to remain in school. Three tiers of interventions emerged, professional development for all staff, policy/handbook review, and then making student suspension meaningful. In 2018, a pilot therapeutic program called PASS was implemented providing clinical support, psychoeducational groups, academic support, and pro social skill time. And the rest is history.

PASS maintains the following operating hours –

9 am to 2 pm during the 10-month academic calendar year

9 am to 3 pm for a -week period (dates to be announced) during the summer break

PASS is partially funded by district partners.

School districts can call (508) 901-9930 to learn how to become a partner.

Recovery Education Academy

Recovery Education Academy is a recovery first educational opportunity for adolescents whose needs have not been met within the traditional public school setting. This program is barrier free. Please call for more information.

There is no fee for this service.

If mainstream education is not working for your child. Call today and take the steps to building a better future for your teen.

Workforce Ready MA

WRMA is an immersive paid internship program to strengthen the behavioral health workforce pipeline. In partnership with area colleges and universities, we recruit and place Bachelor and Master level students at local behavioral health agencies where the student will receive an immersive direct care experience with clinical supervision. Each intern has priority access to WRMA’s jobs portal.

This program is funded by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services to strengthen the behavioral health workforce pipeline to address shortages in the field.

Alternative Peer Group

APG is a developmentally appropriate peer led program that incorporates lived experience, life skills, service learning and finding one’s voice. Youth learn to develop their own voice, build leadership skills, take part in valuable place-based experiences, and create a vision for moving forward into a healthier lifestyle. There is a therapist present for all sessions who aids in gently guiding the discussions and reinforcing engagement rules. APG staff members (i.e., young people in recovery) assist the counselors in shaping recovery norms by engaging with clients as mentors, facilitating peer- led groups, and engaging in and monitoring pro recovery social activities and after school sober hangouts.

The adolescent’s family receives similar social modeling from more experienced parents and APG counseling staff by participating in multifamily and parent groups. New families are encouraged to listen and follow the advice of families who have ‘been there’ with their children. More experienced families model and reinforce new family norms that support recovery. Many APG counseling staff members are people in long-term recovery from adolescent SUD. Thus, they provide examples of successful adult lives born from a tumultuous adolescence. The powerful social influence of recovery role models facilitates development of prosocial attitudes and positive coping skills, leading to self-efficacy for personal recovery. Gradually, the adolescent internalizes the language and cognitive processes of recovery (I can’t “unknow” what I have learned while working on my recovery).

APG occurs Monday to Friday during after school hours 2 pm to 6 pm and on Saturdays during the academic calendar.

The program also operates during the summer months.

Adolescents are welcome at any phase in their recovery. Contact us today for more information or click below to sign up.