Choices Inc

What it reported doing in 2023

The positive alternatives to student suspension (pass program) is an effective early-intervention model and acts as a lever for referral to services that address the mounting adolescent substance use and mental health crisis. Choices pass program is the 4th pass program to open in Massachusetts.schools lack the capacity to assess, offer interventions, and connect to services the youth population whosuffer from mental health and substance use disorder. Choices has the internal capacity to assess, connectand intervene, as we interrupt the trajectory for suspended students who then become entangled within thejuvenile justice system. The problem behavior that leads to suspension can indicate an underlying issue. Themoment of suspension is also a moment for intervention and a vital opportunity to change outcomes forstudents.during the pass program, students with substance use, mental health and co-occurring disorders areidentified and connected to services, including resources for substance use treatment and recovery. Theassessment step of the pass program is crucial. Typically, students do not self-identify as needing support formental health or substance use issues, and the school environment is not structured in a way that draws outthese issues. Thus, at the north shore pass program, of the 88% of student participants identified as havingmental health and/or substance use issues, only 30% had received services for those issues prior to pass.during the pass program assessment, the licensed clinician may be the first person to ask students aboutmental health and substance use. Students may, for the first time, see that they can take accountability andmake amends without the shame and blame so familiar to them. Rather than a potentially harmful andunproductive punishment, school districts will have an option for students that provides them with a wayforward.program structure: students from area school districts who are facing suspension will be offered theopportunity to participate in the pass program, which they will attend for an average of five days from 9:00 amto 2:00 pm. Pass is open monday-friday and will accept a maximum of 20 students per day. Students may remain at pass beyond the typical suspension period with agreement from that student's school andcommunity team. Key components of the pass program include:1) intervention: students facing suspension will be offered the option to attend an out-of-school therapeuticprogram in a supportive, dignified space where they will receive the social and emotional support they needand access their schoolwork through remote platforms directly from their home school.2) assessment & individual counseling: students will be assessed for mental health and substance usedisorders by a licensed clinician on their first day of attendance. Students will also receive substance use andmental health education, counseling for healthy coping skills, decision making, navigating difficult situations, and specific substance use disorder treatment if needed. Students will engage with restorative practice trainingand implementation and techniques for self regulation and social emotional learning.3) referral to services: students who need mental health or substance use support will be referred to cmcafor clinical interventions, including 1:1 counseling, in home behavioral therapy, therapeutic mentoring, recovery coaching and family counseling.4) meaningful programming in a safe, supportive space: students will receive support to complete dailyschoolwork and tests, as well as academic planning. This support is provided by a licensed special educator.through group activities and learning sessions, students will work on social skill building, including tools for communicating with parents and teachers; restorative practice strategies for avoiding reactivity and rebuildingtrust; and self-reflection, identity, and self-awareness. They will also have the opportunity for physical activities, recreation, and arti

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 75.3%; rating input score 75
• Program expense ratio: 75.3%; rating input score 75
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.03 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 85.7%; rating input score 86; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 3 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 0%; rating input score 41; 41st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.69; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 1; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 20.9%; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: Limited
• Revenue growth: Limited
• Asset growth: Limited