What Alternatives Community Program Services does

Alternatives Community Program Services is an Ontario-based non-profit organization, founded circa 1985 and headquartered at 270 Braidwood Avenue in Peterborough, that delivers community-based programs and supports to individuals living with developmental disabilities. The organization serves over 450 individuals and families annually across Peterborough City and County through a portfolio of seven core programs: Building Bridges (Ministry-funded transition support for high school students ages 14-21), Advanced Skills (DSO-referred independent living support), Individualized Support Services and Adult Day Supports (fee-for-service skill development), the Passport Brokerage Program (Ontario Passport Program navigation), D.R.O.P. (fee-for-service summer recreation), and Employment Support Services (Employment Ontario-funded job coaching). Supplementary offerings include a Rental Space at the headquarters and an online SWAG store, alongside donations processed via CanadaHelps.

The organization's revenue model is a blend of government grants and fee-for-service income. Building Bridges and Advanced Skills are fully funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS), with access gated through Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) referrals. Employment Support Services is co-funded by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario through Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment Services. Fee-for-service programs (D.R.O.P., Adult Day Supports, Individualized Support Services) generate incremental revenue, and donations plus SWAG sales provide community-level support. The go-to-market motion is community-led: participants enter through DSO referrals, school board partnerships (Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and the Catholic District School Board), and direct outreach to families, while employment clients are connected through the Employment Ontario service provider network and a 20+ partner community agency ecosystem that includes Canadian Mental Health Association, DeafBlind Ontario, Down Syndrome Peterborough, Special Olympics Peterborough, and Fleming College's CIT program. The underlying technology stack is minimal — this is fundamentally a people-driven service organization — and the operating footprint is regional rather than national.

Strategically, Alternatives is governed by a Board of Directors (currently chaired by President Mark Reesor) under Executive Director Lori McKee, and operates with a lean staff of approximately 15. It has signaled continuity and incremental diversification through a 2025-2028 Strategic Plan, ongoing addition of fee-for-service programs, and venue/SWAG monetization, but no acquisition, venture funding, or geographic expansion activity is evident.

Name

Alternatives Community Program Services

Legal name

Alternatives Community Program Services

Website

https://alternativescommunityprogramservices.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alternatives Community Program Services is a Peterborough, Ontario non-profit founded circa 1985 that delivers Ministry-funded and fee-for-service community programs — transition support, adult skill development, recreation, and employment services — to over 450 individuals and families living with developmental disabilities annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Developmental Disability Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

College Readiness & Disability Services Transition Support (EDAKANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI), Benefits Counseling & Financial Literacy for Transition-Age Youth (EDAKANAJ), Community Integration & Travel Training (Public Transportation Navigation) (EDAKANAH)

Keywords

• Developmental disability services
• Community support programs
• Employment support services
• Adult day programs
• Passport brokerage services

Headquarters

HQ city

Peterborough

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ministry Funding: Primary funding from Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) for programs such as Building Bridges and Advanced Skills. Programs accessed through Developmental Services Ontario referrals.
2. Fee for Service Programs: Fee-based programs including D.R.O.P. (Daily Recreation Options Program), Adult Day Supports - Fundamental Skills Development Program, and Individualized Support Services. These provide supplemental revenue for community recreation and skill development services.
3. Employment Ontario Funding: Employment Support Services funded by the Government of Canada and Government of Ontario through Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment Services, supporting individuals 18+ with employment barriers in Peterborough City and County.
4. Donations: Organization accepts donations through CanadaHelps.org platform for community support.
5. SWAG Sales: Sale of branded merchandise (SWAG) through an online store to generate supplemental revenue and promote community awareness.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Alternatives Community Program Services is a non-profit community organization that delivers a portfolio of developmental services programs for individuals with developmental disabilities in the Peterborough, Ontario region. Core offerings include transition support for youth (Building Bridges), independent living support (Advanced Skills), individualized support services, adult day supports with fundamental skills development, a Passport Brokerage Program, daily recreation (D.R.O.P.), and Employment Support Services through Employment Ontario. The organization also rents its community hub space for events.

Product overview

Alternatives Community Program Services offers a portfolio of eight distinct programs and services designed to support individuals with developmental disabilities. The core offerings include six ministry-funded and fee-for-service programs: Building Bridges (transition support for high school students), Advanced Skills (independent living support), Individualized Support Services (personalized skill development), Adult Day Supports (daytime programming), the Passport Brokerage Program (government program navigation), and D.R.O.P. (daily recreation activities). Additionally, the organization provides Employment Support Services as an Employment Ontario service provider, and operates a Rental Space program for community use. The programs collectively aim to foster inclusion, skill development, employment readiness, and community involvement for over 450 individuals annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Building Bridges and Community Connections A Ministry-funded transition support program for high school students aged 14-21 living with developmental disabilities that helps students and their families plan for the future, including accessing adult services, discovering post-secondary education options, and exploring employment opportunities. Delivered through the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS).
• Advanced Skills A Ministry-funded program accessed through Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) that assists adults with developmental disabilities to live more interdependently in the community. Staff work with participants on goals including safety, social skills, day-to-day living, community connecting, and emotional intelligence competencies.
• Individualized Support Services A fee-for-service program where qualified support workers provide one-on-one assistance to people aged 18+ with developmental or intellectual disabilities to learn skills and coping mechanisms across social and recreational pursuits, daily living skills, personal responsibilities, and personal safety. Pricing is determined through individual service agreements.
• Adult Day Supports A fee-for-service program that delivers the Fundamental Skills Development Program, providing basic day-to-day living skills while promoting personal independence and community involvement through individualized and structured environments. The program runs through 12-week group sessions designed for adults with developmental disabilities.
• Passport Brokerage Program A passport brokerage service that helps individuals navigate the Development Service Guidelines for Adults with Developmental Disability and provides brokering and related services connected to the Ontario Passport Program.
• D.R.O.P. (Daily Recreation Options Program) A fee-for-service daily recreation program offering a wide range of recreation activities and options to suit individual needs during summer sessions running July through September each year.
• Employment Support Services An Employment Ontario service provider program managed by Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment Services and funded by the Government of Canada and Government of Ontario. Supports individuals aged 18+ living with barriers to employment in Peterborough City and County through job readiness training, job development, job coaching, and retention services, while also assisting local employers with diverse workforce recruitment.
• Rental Space A community hub facility at Alternatives' Peterborough headquarters available for rental for corporate events, training sessions, and community gatherings, generating supplemental revenue to support program delivery.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supporting 450+ individuals and families annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Community Living Trent LakescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Living partner providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities in the Trent Lakes region.
• Community Living West NorthumberlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Living partner serving individuals with developmental disabilities in West Northumberland area.
• Kawartha Pine Ridge District School BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool board partner for Building Bridges program, assisting students with developmental disabilities in transition planning.
• Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington Catholic District School BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic school board partner for Building Bridges program supporting students with developmental disabilities.
• Healthcare at HomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity healthcare agency partner providing home care and healthcare services integration.
• KPP (Peterborough Prisoners)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity agency partner serving prisoners and ex-offenders in Peterborough area.
• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health organization partner providing integrated support services for individuals with dual diagnoses.
• CMHA Four County CrisiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrisis support services partner for mental health emergencies in the four-county region.
• Array ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity agency partner providing services to Peterborough area residents.
• AGPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity agency partner serving the Peterborough area.
• KarisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity support organization partner in Peterborough region.
• Sloan ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService organization partner in the Peterborough community.
• Canopy SupportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity support services partner providing resources to individuals in Peterborough area.
• Respite NowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRespite care services partner providing caregiver support and relief services.
• Down Syndrome PeterboroughcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy and support organization for individuals with Down syndrome and their families in Peterborough.
• DeafBlind OntariocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialized services organization supporting individuals who are deafblind in Ontario.
• Fleming College (CIT Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership with Fleming College's Community Integration Through Cooperative Education program for student placements and training.
• Special Olympics PeterboroughcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports and athletic programming partner providing recreational opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
• Community NetworksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity networking organization partner in Peterborough region.
• Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government funding partner providing Ministry funding for Building Bridges, Advanced Skills, and other developmental services programs.
• Developmental Services Ontario (DSO)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCentral access point for developmental services in Ontario; processes applications and referrals for Ministry-funded programs including Advanced Skills.
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial support program partner for individuals with disabilities in Ontario.
• Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment ServicesflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployment Ontario service manager providing funding and oversight for Alternatives Employment Supports Program, with co-funding from Government of Canada and Government of Ontario.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vita Community Living Services: Toronto-area non-profit providing residential supports, day programs, employment services, and Passport brokerage to adults with developmental disabilities. Comparable in funding mix (MCCSS + fee-for-service + donations) and program breadth.
• Reena: York Region-based developmental services agency providing residential, day program, employment, and individualized supports. Comparable in program mix and reliance on DSO/MCCSS funding, with a similar community-anchored operating model.
• Kerry's Place Autism Services: Ontario-wide autism services non-profit delivering residential, day, employment, and community participation supports funded through MCCSS and Passport. Comparable in target population overlap and provincial funding structure.
• Ongwanada: Kingston, Ontario non-profit providing residential, clinical, day, employment, and respite services to individuals with developmental disabilities. Comparable in scale (similar headcount and client base) and in funding through DSO/MCCSS.
• Participation House Markham: Ontario non-profit offering residential, day, respite, and community participation services for adults with developmental disabilities. Comparable service portfolio funded through similar MCCSS and Passport streams.
• Meta Centre: Toronto-area non-profit providing day programs, employment supports, and residential services for adults with developmental disabilities. Directly comparable in program portfolio, fee-for-service day supports model, and Employment Ontario integration.
• Community Living Trent Lakes: Neighbouring Community Living affiliate serving the Trent Lakes region adjacent to Alternatives' Peterborough footprint. Comparable service mandate for adults with developmental disabilities and a documented partnership counterpart in Alternatives' referral network.
• Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment Services: Employment Ontario service manager that contracts Alternatives for Employment Support Services. Directly comparable in the supported employment and vocational rehabilitation niche, serving the same Peterborough-area job seekers and employers.
• Community Living Peterborough: Local sister agency in the same Peterborough region providing residential, day program, and supported independent living services to people with developmental disabilities. Most directly comparable by geography and program mix, and an explicit referral partner of Alternatives.

Broad incumbents

• Community Living Ontario: Provincial umbrella and advocacy organization for Community Living agencies across Ontario. Directly comparable as the sector body governing developmental services providers like Alternatives; offers policy reach and benchmarking across the same DSO/MCCSS funding ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alternatives-community-program-services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alternatives Community Program Services