Alternative Youth Care :: Testimonial Page


"Dear AYC Staff, Our son Michael is graduating from your program on Saturday. He moved to AYC six months ago after spending 30 days in patient at Hazelden. When Michael arrived at AYC he was an immature, scared addict who lacked self esteem. During his time at your facility, we have seen an obvious transformation in Michael. He has grown up in so many ways. His maturity level and his self esteem are at all time highs. He has learned in his heart as well as his head what it means to practice the 12 steps. He has learned what it is like to go to school sober, to interact with others sober, to wake up in the morning sober and to go to bed at night sober. In short, he has learned that it is possible to live his life sober. He says that he has regained control over his life. He says that he has shed the burden of the lies and the stealing and the hurting of others. He says he does not want to be that person again. He wants to do well in school, he wants to mend fences at home and he wants to make amends with those people that he hurt. All of these ideas and feelings are new to our son. Needless to say, we are very pleased with the progress he as made and are looking forward to bringing him home. We miss him very much. His sister misses him. His friends (the good ones) miss him. None of this would have been possible without Jimmy Martinez and the excellent staff at AYC. Jimmy in his own unique way quickly established trust with our son. From a foundation of trust, Jimmy led Michael to the answers he was looking for. Nothing about our experience at AYC was forced or contrived. The staff genuinely cares about the boys. We would recommend AYC to any young man who is truly looking for salvation from the evils of addiction."

"Joe Dougherty I want to thank Jimmy for bringing our son back to us. Jimmy will forever be in our hearts and family. I lost my son about a year ago to his addiction. I saw some signs and thought it was teenage growing pains. I was always looking for justifications on why he was always moody. I go through his drawers, smell clothes, check out his facebook, you name it I did it. My life was chaotic and was destroying all trust in ou r households. For those families looking to send their son to AYC, I want you to know it is a life saving decision. I remember the pain, hurt, anger, grieving,betrayed, and so many more emotions at the beginning of Michael's recovery. I was totally shocked when Hazelden wanted to send Michael to AYC. I thought 30 days and he would come home. Of course, at first he did not want to go, however, when he spoke to Jimmy on the phone he was sold to come to Montana. Jimmy and Michael bonded right off the get go. Michael adjusted right away with the house. The amazing thing in the house is the BOYS. Everyone of them are special and are fighting the same thing. It doesn't matter what addiction each one had they all had the same problem. These boys are brothers for life. They are taught the coping and trigger skills through Jimmy. It is not easy and each boys recovers at a different pace. Just know you are in excellent hands with AYC. We had Michael home back in June for a 2 week pass. We were a little apprehensive at first. He showed us so much maturity, courage,self-esteem, patience, and honesty. It was the best 2 weeks with our son. Because of his progression he is graduating tomorrow August 16, 2010. I learned from this whole journey that the recovering addicts are the most courageous people I have ever met and are an inspiration. Go to an AA meeting and listen to them talk. To me, this was better than church. Not one person in the room was a fake! You saw and heard the words from their hearts of all emotions that were completely honest. If you are reading this and are trying to make a decision for your son I want you to know there is sunshine in this journey. As I told Jimmy, last night. "I don't believe in goodbyes". We just started our journey with Jimmy and forever he will be family to us and our son. Jimmy is the most loving man I have ever met and the commitment he gives to these boys is above and beyond. I am going to stand on the mountains today and shout "my son is in recovery"! Thank you from the bottom of my heart Jimmy! "

"Alternative: that may be chosen in place of something else. “Choices” Youth: the period of life between childhood and maturity. “Life not time” Care: a heavy sense of responsibility. “To become mature by taking on responsibility” We were praying to God for help. “Please God help our son make a change in his life so he will be able to make the right choices. Let our son become more mature in life and willing to take on responsibility to be a better man for your glory.” God answered our prayers by putting us on a journey, which led to AYC. We learned that we have to make better choices, be more mature in life, and have a sense of responsibility. Hazelden referred our son to AYC due to the loving, nurturing, caring environment and how right they were. The people involved with this organization put others first before their own self. They serve to the needs of my son and many others. We feel our son is on his way to become a better person because of what AYC ministers. AYC has not only changed our son for the better, but has changed us with him. AYC always knew what my son needed and what we needed. I received rest knowing my son was in good, God caring hands. We learned no matter what God is in control, not us. Our son has taught us a lot through his addiction. By the grace of God, in our weakness, God has showed us his awesome power. Our son graduated from high school, the halfway and three-quarter way house and is now living in Montana. He is working a full-time job and will start his second year at Flathead Valley Community College in a few weeks. God Bless all the staff at AYC. Jimmy has been a blessing to our entire family and will always hold a special place in our hearts. Pete and Cindy "



"We were unable to control our son and our lives had become unmanageable. At the time, we didn't know that this was what was happening until the process of recovery started for our son and our family. We were not sure when our son's drug abuse began, but we lived with signs of abuse for about 3 years. We tried everything possible to try to convince our son that using drugs was not an o.k. lifestyle. We tried grounding him for days on end, we withheld his driver's license, we forbid him from seeing certain friends, enforced a strict curfew, hid money and anything valuable from him, all in hopes of forcing him to desire sobriety. Little did we know, nothing that we were trying was helping to convince him to quit his drug use. All we were doing was creating an angry, sad, sullen and resentful teen. On the flip side, these same characteristics were being manifested in the lives of myself and my spouse. As our son's drug abuse escalated, we contacted Hazelden Center and our son was admitted for 28 days of residential treatment. He went reluctantly, but did participate while there. Our son struggled was not being very happy and wondered, "Why were all these people trying to change me". Getting high was the way our son wanted to live his life. He felt that he had found the best way to live. Toward the end of his 28 days of treatment, Hazelden presented the idea of our son doing an aftercare treatment plan at Alternative Youth Care. My husband and I weren't prepared at all for this idea. After 28 days of treatment, we thought that our son would be coming home. Although, we were in no way ready to have him home, the hurt, fears and anger were all too fresh. After much prayer, thought and looking at our financial situation, we thought that since our son was suffering from what we now understand as a disease, we as his parents felt that we had to give him the best chance of healing. We decided that Alternative Youth Care was the next step for him. Our son arrived at AYC right before the start of his senior year of high school. I quickly received a phone call from Doug, our son's counselor. He was soft-spoken, loving and patient. I could tell that only after a few days, Doug knew our son very well. It was so comforting to us to feel that he was in the right place. We felt that our son was safe and going to get the care that he needed. Doug called us weekly to give us updates on how our son was doing. We also received weekly calls from our son. Gradually, we saw a transformation as the layers began being peeled back. We began to see our angry, sullen son turn into a kind, patient, happy young man. Doug and Jimmy understood our son and helped him work through his issues while at the same time, helped him work the 12 Step Program. It was so valuable to have him removed from his old school, friends and all that was familiar to him and his drug abuse. Being at AYC gave him a chance to start new. It is also special to see the friendships that have been established with the other guys at AYC. The other men in the house were also instrumental in holding our son accountable both at the house and while at school. This past June, we drove out to Montana to attend our son's graduation from Flathead High School. This was a huge milestone and accomplishment for him as the year prior, we didn't think he would graduate. This fall our son will be a freshman in college and his roommate will be a young man that became his friend at Alternative Youth Care. A miracle occurred over the past year. We have our son back. We firmly believe God used Doug, Jimmy and Alternative Youth Care staff to bring the healing in our son's life. We are so grateful and hopeful now that our son has the tools to live a life of sobriety. After years of anger and resentment towards us, our son now will look us in the eyes and say, "I love you too". There is hope. "

	Prior Testimonials



Annual Review
From the State of Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services "June 19th, 2009 - Mr Balas: Your program received perfect scores in all areas reviewed. You have an excellent program. The clients admitted to your program receive much more quality treatment then required by the state. Enclosed is your Certificate of approval, certificate no 275 to cover the operation of your Chemical Dependency Transitional Living Center until 8-1-2010. Sincerely, Heather Taylor, Quality Assurance Division Chemical Dependency Program Evaluator"