Mission Statement

The mission of Alternative Behavior Treatment Centers is to promote healthy behaviors and relationships through prevention and treatment of at risk individuals and families.

ABTC History

Alternative Behavior Treatment Centers (ABTC) was founded by Robin McGinnis, MSW and opened its doors in 1995 as a non-profit adolescent treatment agency to work with youth who were identified as difficult to manage and in need of a residential care program. The 20 bed residential program was originally located in a leased space in Des Plaines, Illinois for boys 12-18 years of age.

In July, 1997 the programs doubled in size to 40 residential beds and opened an on-campus special education school at the current 14 acre location in western Lake County, IL. The expanded beds were developed to meet the needs of older adolescents (15-21 years) with histories of mental illness and developmental delay. In 1999, ABTC opened a transitional living program and built 10 studio apartments on the campus to house the New Steps program to 21 years of age.

Continued expansion happened in 2001 with the development of a contract with the IL Department of Juvenile Justice (formerly IL Department of Corrections-Juvenile Division) at IYC-Kewanee. In collaboration with IDJJ, ABTC developed and currently manages the treatment programs in the institution that serves as one the State's juvenile correctional treatment facility.

Today ABTC operates numerous programs along a continuum of care for children, adolescents, families and adults located throughout Chicago and Illinois.

• Substitute Care Programming: includes our residential care programming with 40 residential beds, and more than 10 transitional living apartments in Lake County, IL and an on-site special education school.
• Outpatient Division: traditional outpatient services are offered along the spectrum for all ages to include, trauma-based programming for children and adolescents who have experienced out of home placements or have been victimized. Trauma based services are also available for adults who experienced trauma as a child or who may have recently experienced trauma. Culturally sensitive bi-lingual/bi-cultural services for clients/families that are Spanish speaking are available in Lake and Cook Counties.
• Social Justice Division: several forensic programs that include IYC-Kewanee and Specialized sex offender evaluations and treatment for youth and adults.
• Medical/Psychiatric Division: ABTC has partnered with several Board Certified Psychiatrists who provide consultation, psychiatric evaluations and medication management.
• Training and Education Division: ABTC highly values providing evidence based treatment, training and education for community groups, schools and treatment professionals.