Frank Boudewyns: Founder
Michael Ralke: Founder
"We are our patients," says Frank Boudewyns referring to he
and his partner Michael Ralke. Gay men, both sober for more than
30 years, they are crusaders in the war to reduce substance abuse
in their community.
With over 30 years experience in treating chemical dependency and
psychiatric disorders in the gay and lesbian community, Ralke and
Boudewyns are truly unique in their field. Their company, Alternatives,
Inc., is the culmination of a vast knowledge and practice
in treating the specific needs of a heavily affected and under served
population.
In 1973, Ralke and Boudewyns began as grass-roots organizers of
the state funded Christopher Street treatment center
in Minneapolis. There they created a program that addressed not
only the physical and psychological aspects of chemical dependency,
but also offered a sober environment in which gay men and lesbians
could begin to redefine themselves socially. This groundbreaking,
two-year experiment provided needed help to several hundred patients
and created a pool of talent, which is still active in recovery
and social service organizations nationwide.
After moving to California in the late 1970's, Ralke and Boudewyns
continued their community-based work at The Los Angeles Gay
and Lesbian Community Services Center's Alcohol Dependency
Program and other social service centers. In 1983 they helped create
a chemical dependency clinic at Los Angeles Midway Hospital with
Summit Health Corporation. At Midway, Michael and Frank had their
first practical experience in providing hospital-based gay and lesbian
treatment within the private sector.
By 1987, the parallel epidemics of AIDS and addiction in the gay
community led to the formation of a dynamic multifaceted treatment
team consisting of HIV, mental health, and chemical dependency specialists.
This effort led to the opening of their first residential gay and
lesbian recovery center located in Los Angeles' Silver Lake district.
As a result of the pioneering work done at this facility, Ralke
was invited in 1990 by the World Health Organization
to speak on the issues of addiction and HIV infection at a conference
in St. Petersburg, Russia.
In 1993, as a result of their national prominence in the treatment
of gays and lesbians, an alliance was formed with Pride Institute,
a freestanding gay and lesbian chemical dependency treatment center.
This partnership established the first national company to address
the complete range of mental and physical health issues for gay
men and lesbians struggling with chemical dependency and psychiatric
problems.
After a quarter of a century of experience, Ralke and Boudewyns
continue to carry on their commitment of the highest quality comprehensive
treatment through their national program, Alternatives.
Frank passed away in October 2003, from complication of AIDS and
Hepatitis C. The Silver Lake facility was rededicated on Frank's
birthday on June 8, 2004 as "Frank's House".
Ralke continues to carry on their commitment of the highest quality
comprehensive treatment through their national program, Alternatives.
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