Our Story
In the summer of 1972, two people recovering from alcoholism on Chicago’s northwest side recognized a gap that couldn’t be ignored: their community had no organized treatment services for Hispanic neighborhoods. Their concern planted a seed.
Two years later, a formal needs assessment confirmed what they already knew. Bilingual, culturally-sensitive behavioral health care was desperately needed in Chicago. In 1974, Hispano Alcoholism Services (HAS) opened its doors.
Growing With Our Community
In the decades since, HAS has grown into one of the Chicago region’s leading behavioral health providers, expanding to 11 facilities across the area. Our reputation is built not just on the breadth of our services, but on our deep cultural competency and enduring commitment to the communities that need us most.
As our expertise evolved, so did our name. In 1993, we became Healthcare Alternative Systems, a reflection of how far we had come from our origins in alcoholism treatment. Today, we offer a comprehensive range of substance use counseling, residential treatment programs, mental health services, domestic violence support, and anger management programs. Our participant-centered approach puts people at the heart of everything we do.
We have also extended our reach beyond our facilities, bringing community-based services directly to those who need them, where they are.
Who We Are Today
HAS remains the foremost provider of recovery services to Chicago’s Latino community. We proudly serve adolescents and adults of all backgrounds.
Over five decades in, we are still growing, still innovating, and still rooted in the neighborhood spirit that started it all. HAS is, and always will be, a community organization.
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