Why AYS?

Alliance Youth Services (AYS) specializes in working with underprivileged and troubled youth. Our motto is "cultivating positive change through personal accountability.” AYS has partnered with the State of Utah DJYS and DCFS for the last sixteen years.  Partnering with the State of Utah has enabled AYS to continually grow and develop the treatment programming to offer the most effective treatment possible.  AYS offers comprehensive, evidence-based, mental health services in residential settings for the treatment and the reduction of risk of adolescent males and their families in moderate to high risk level group home facilities. AYS treatment programs work to reduce the risk of youth of committing future crimes and enhance protective factors they present with, using proven principles that work. The commitment is to identify and overcome the priority risk factors, work in alliance with DJYS and DCFS and other service providers, and to help with personal growth and family unity by identifying and enhancing the youth's protective factors.

AYS programming focuses on the following:

  • Providing consistent, evidence-based and comprehensive treatment services including: DBT, CBT, and Trauma Focused therapy, at the appropriate level of intensity.
  • Providing intensive treatment programming for individual and families including individual, family, and group psychotherapy; individual (family coaching) and group Psychosocial Rehabilitative Skills activities and lessons; continuing therapy and psycho-educational support when youth transfers home.
  • Family engagement through family therapy sessions, family coaching sessions, regular phone calls and virtual visits, as well as in person on-site, off-site, and home visits as soon as possible.
  •  Providing treatment to under-served areas.
  •  Providing treatment related to adolescent issues and prevent future crimes through the development of productive skills.

Our background:

Our Background Alliance Youth Services (AYS) Residential Programs are small owner-operated treatment programs located in Utah County. Jim Otteson (LCMHC) is the clinical director and Devin Jensen (MAS) is the business director, and together they have spent a combined 30 years working with young men with serious problems to resolve. They designed these programs in an effort to provide for the needs of troubled youth and their families through a holistic approach. Alliance focuses on individualized treatment services. Whether a youth is involved in outpatient or residential programming, Alliance believes strongly in family involvement and creating positive support systems. Because each youth is placed in treatment for specific and individualized concerns, Alliance strives to address the various needs the youth may have, including re-unifying the family where appropriate.
grow strong | inspire

Mission

To build and strengthen relationships that inspire excellence within our youth, our families, and within ourselves. AYS offers comprehensive mental health services in residential settings for the treatment and the reduction of risk of adolescent males and their families in moderate to high group home facilities. The commitment is to identify and overcome the priority risk factors, work in alliance with DJJS and DCFS and other service providers, and to help with personal growth and family unity by identifying and enhancing the youth's protective factors.

vision is ambition

vision

A company’s vision is their ambitious “we’re going to change the world” ideals that keep them focused on the bigger picture. It’s about the future we want to create, and the specific people we want to impact in a profound way. It is not a “pie in the sky” statement, but a true, deeply engrained desire to make this world a better place. Our vision is to create a world of respect for self, respect for others, and respect for our surroundings while becoming the global leader in our field. Evidence-based and clinically sound treatment strategies and interventions are the foundation of a shared vision of recovery and risk reduction at AYS, in conjunction with collaborative decision making and the treatment-team approach to healing.

end result

our goal

The AYS goal is to ensure that the youth and his family have the greatest potential for safe and secure future with fewer risks associated with their treatment goals, following the treatment of the juvenile in the group home, along with reunification and permanency with his family through services in the home. The aim is to provide competent and comprehensive mental health treatment services that reduce risk in the youth and create the opportunity to experience a safe and secure environment for healing. The long-term and short term objectives at AYS are to:

  • Provide consistent, evidence-based and comprehensive treatment services at the appropriate level of intensity.
  • Provide treatment to an under-served area.
  • Provide treatment related to adolescent issues and prevent future crimes through the development of productive skills.
  • Encourage family unity and personal growth through community education and mental health services.
  • Be a recognized name and symbol of the community and the values they represent.
guidance

our values

Values are the underlying moral guideposts that shape our decisions, actions, and the mission and vision of our company. We all have values – some are clearly defined, while others may not be as obvious. We believe that articulating our values establishes general expectations of behavior, and helps guide the many, often difficult decisions we make as an organization.

Some of the values at AYS include the following:

  • Honesty Respect Ethical Responsibility
  • Accountability Fairness Hard Work/Smart Work
  • Gratitude Trust & Loyalty Healthy Relationships
  • Appreciation Risk Reduction Healthy Living
  • Provide consistent, evidence-based and comprehensive treatment services at the appropriate level of intensity.
  • Provide treatment to an under-served area.
  • Provide treatment related to adolescent issues and prevent future crimes through the development of productive skills.
  • Encourage family unity and personal growth through community education and mental health services.
  • Be a recognized name and symbol of the community and the values they represent.
change is possible

our beliefs

  • Youth can change and grow if taught the correct skills in a healthy environment.
  • Adjudicated youth have worth and just need to be given the opportunity to learn based on their learning style.
  • Victimization of self and others is a heinous, devastating crime.
  • Troubled youth are treatable when they are given appropriate interventions related to skill building focused on individual risk factors.
  • An individual who commits a crime is in need of treatment to change his thinking AND behavior patterns to reduce risk.
  • Youth are 100% accountable for their choices and actions, and progress best when treated with interventions that maintain respect and dignity.
  • Success of therapy is dramatically increased when the family and community is involved.