The Association of Alternative Peer Groups (AAPG) stands as a beacon of hope and guidance in the journey of recovery from addiction, providing a compassionate and professional support network. With a mission rooted in enhancing the allure and accessibility of recovery through the APG Model, the AAPG dedicates itself to transforming lives by making recovery not just a choice but a fulfilling lifestyle. Our collective of seasoned professionals from diverse therapeutic, psychological, and educational backgrounds, unite to educate, train, and promote the undeniable benefits of Alternative Peer Groups. The AAPG’s values—education, community, research, and engagement—are the cornerstones of our identity, driving our commitment to serve not only addiction recovery and mental health professionals but also for the concerned caregivers navigating their loved one’s path through recovery. We are committed in our pursuit to spread the knowledge of the efficacy of APGs, as well as foster an inclusive environment where every individual’s story is heard and valued. Join us in embracing a future where the recovery world catches up to what we already know – that long term recovery is most successfully supported with the elements that are collectively incorporated into the APG model.
Mission & Values
Mission:
- To provide a supportive network for individuals and organizations utilizing the APG Model as a guiding structure to provide robust recovery from addiction.
- To educate and train individuals and organizations on the effectiveness of alternative peer groups in the recovery process.
- To promote research and disseminate knowledge about the role and impact of APGs in addiction recovery.
Values:
- Community: Emphasizing the importance of community support and peer engagement in both the addiction professional development and recovery processes.
- Education: Being an APG resource hub and distributing information through conferences, training videos, news articles, and other forms of media.
- Accessibility: Making APG resources easily accessible to AAPG members and supporting organizations.
- Engagement: Engaging with the broader recovery community to share insights, strategies, developments, and success stories through our annual conference and digital efforts.
Board of Directors
Robin Bergeron, CRM
Founder and Director, Collective Roots APG
Inspired by Lifeway International’s APG, Robin’s family’s firsthand success led her to establish an APG in Portland, OR, bridging the gap in recovery resources for youth and families. Excited to contribute to the AAPG’s board, her passion stems from the transformative impact witnessed in her family and those she supports. Her mission: spreading hope, expanding the APG movement, and fostering thriving APG communities.
Heidi Cloutier, MSW
Co-Director of Training in Children’s Behavioral Health
University of New Hampshire (UNH), Institute on Disability (IOD)
Heidi Cloutier was trained as a Peer Leader in her sophomore year of high school to recognize warning signs of suicide in her peers, which began a lifelong passion for youth leadership, wellness and a commitment to equity and belonging for all. In her current role, she collaborates with state partners to prepare and support the behavioral health workforce to provide the best possible support to NH’s youth and families. Heidi coordinated a statewide effort in New Hampshire to define and develop the NH APG Model, which involved convening individuals and families with lived SUD experience, policymakers, and treatment providers. Ultimately, the goals they achieved were to define the APG model for implementation in New Hampshire, develop evaluation tools, and provide coaching and support to the five organizations implementing ten APGs across the state.
John C. Cates, MA, LCDC
CEO, Lifeway International
John Cates is a distinguished counselor and authority on substance use disorder recovery, with a global reputation as a speaker and author. He has been recognized by NAADAC as Counselor of the Year and inducted into the TAAP Hall of Fame. Cates co-authored “Recovering Our Children” and helped coin the term “Alternative Peer Group Programs,”. He founded Lifeway International and has influenced the creation of over 40 other APG programs. He also pioneered recovery schools, promoting safe, supportive, substance-free education environments.
Johnny Wilkerson, Ph.D
Associate Professor
Department of Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Dr. Wilkerson has been working as a practitioner and researcher in community health education for over twenty years. A veteran of practicing and researching community health education, he teaches graduate courses and conducts research. He focuses his attention on the identification of individual and structural determinants that contribute to health disparities among marginalized populations and the development and evaluation of health promotion programs. Currently, he is funded to evaluate recovery residences and a re-entry program for persons participating in medication-assisted recovery, a certification program for peer recovery support specialists, and curricula for persons enrolled in an intensive outpatient program. Dr. Wilkerson has received funding from NIH, CDC, health departments, and foundations.
Ripp Motion, BBA, RSPS, LCDC-I
Recovery Coach & Communications Director, Lifeway International
Ripp is an eclectic, open minded, observant, problem solver with 10 years’ broad experience in communications who consistently helps teams and individuals succeed by utilizing creativity, empathy, and a servant leadership mindset. Currently, he is a Recovery Coach and Counselor Intern while also being in school to become a dual Licensed Professional Counselor and Chemical Dependency Counselor. Previously, he was immersed in the world of startups including being the President of a successful business technology conference. Now over a decade sober, Ripp feels a debt of gratitude to APGs for giving him a firm foundation to grow his recovery and a life worth living from.
Hannah Milne, LMSW & LCDC
Clinical Therapist, Rise Integrative Psychotherapy
Hannah has seen the benefits of the APG model in both her personal and professional life. She began her recovery journey as an adolescent in an APG and that experience is what ignited her passion to help young people. At 22, she founded an APG in Austin TX, Keystone, and was the executive director of the organization until it merged in 2020 when she became the program director. In 2023, she decided to serve young people in the community in a different way through private practice. Hannah feels honored to be a part of the AAPG as she knows how life changing these programs can be.
Josh Azevedo, LISAC
Executive Director, The Pathway Program
Josh Azevedo is a licensed substance abuse counselor who has been working with youth, young adults, and their families since 1996. Josh currently operates The Pathway Program providing substance abuse treatment programs and Alternative Peer Groups. I am driven to serve APG’s because my life trajectory was completely changed by sobering up in APG in 1993.
Anette Edens, Ph.D, MBA
Private Practice
Dr. Anette Edens is a clinical psychologist, author, and expert in adolescent substance abuse and recovery. She has contributed significantly to the field through lectures, workshops, and her book “From Monsters to Miracles: Parent-driven recovery tools that work.” Edens played a key role in founding Archway Academy, a leading sober high school in Houston, and has been involved in developing and consulting for alternative peer group programs for over 25 years. Her work is recognized and respected in academic, professional, and recovery communities.
Legal Status
The AAPG is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Financial Information
The AAPG’s operational expenses are carefully managed to further its mission. Our financial health is sustained by a blend of grants, generous donations, and the consistent contributions of our members through their dues. It’s important to note that our Board Directors serve pro bono, a testament to their unwavering commitment to our cause. This multifaceted support system enables the AAPG to maintain its role as a supportive, professional, and educational pillar in the field of addiction recovery, staying true to our values of community, education, accessibility, and engagement.