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Family First Adolescent Services partnered with Encyrcle to transform how they connect with teens and their families after treatment. By automating communication and creating a consistent dialogue, they’ve boosted referrals and readmissions—ensuring everyone gets the support they need.

“Encyrcle immediately and automatically plugs our kids and their parents right into a stream of connection and communication. It has supported our ability to scale while maintaining a quality connection with our kids and their families.”

Michaela Kyle
Chief Marketing Officer

Family First Adolescent Services is more than a substance abuse treatment center for teenage boys—it’s a place where families heal together.

“Our entire clinical model and philosophy is designed to address the family system,” explains Michaela Kyle, Family First’s Chief Marketing Officer. “It’s important to us that we’re not just treating the kid. We want Mom and Dad to have their own tailored treatment plan, so the whole family benefits.”

Kevin Johnson, Director of Experiential and Alumni Services, explains that consistent connections ensure families and alumni stay on the right track. That’s why Family First has a dedicated team of alumni coordinators who facilitate weekly check-ins with the boys and their parents to ensure contact continues long after treatment ends.

“Life happens, and it’s very hard to manage it on your own. Our job is to stay in touch, be their lifeline, and support them along the way,” Kevin says.

Falling off the radar—and out of touch

Family First has built an alumni network with thousands of families, yet managing such an extensive network was challenging.

Previously, the team relied on spreadsheets to track contact with each alumnus, manually logging every phone call and follow-up. The manual effort was laborious, and the team found it difficult to sustain meaningful connections because alumni often ignored calls.

“I felt like I couldn’t manage my alumni effectively,” Kevin recalls. “It was like three calls and done—if nobody answered, that was it. We didn’t want to give up, but it felt like there was no way forward. It was hard to connect with families and too easy to lose touch.”

A tech-first platform facilitates easier connections

The alumni team had reached its ceiling. The stakes were too high to lose contact with clients, so Family First decided to implement Encyrcle.

Kevin acknowledges that increased technology use played a role in their decision. “We needed a tool to manage post-treatment communication in a smarter way, and Encyrcle caught our attention. The adolescents we help—and people in general—want to stay connected through technology, so choosing Encyrcle was a no-brainer.”

“The adolescents we help—and people in general—want to stay connected through technology, so choosing Encyrcle was a no-brainer.”

Kevin Johnson
‍Director of Experiential and Alumni Services

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Using text instead of apps or emails, Encyrcle makes it easy to connect with thousands of alumni. This approach enables the team to engage at scale, collect critical data, and track alumni outcomes easily.

The Family First team was new to alumni-focused technology and relied on Encyrcle’s industry expertise and hands-on support. “Encyrcle configured the platform down to the smallest detail and made sure we could seamlessly onboard and engage with our clients and their families,” Michaela says.

Text messaging drives faster, more honest communication

Text-based follow-ups have proven far more effective than traditional phone calls, leading to more engagement, increased trust, and better outcomes for Family First’s alumni.

“Encyrcle helps us meet our clients where they are,” Kevin says. “In today’s tech-driven world, people just want to be texted.”

Contact via text isn’t just a hit with the boys—it’s also a lifeline for their families. “Sometimes, the boys aren’t completely honest about how they’re doing, so sending their families messages gives us a fuller picture,” Kevin explains. “I’ve had a lot of families reach out and say, ‘thanks for touching base with us,’ because a lot of programs don’t do that. Encyrcle helps us grow those connections.”

Because alumni are more responsive, Michaela notes the Family First team’s ability to expand their impact. “We’re aware of issues as they’re presenting, so we can make sure [alumni] get access to the help they need,” Michaela says.

Using automated workflows to increase engagement and scalability

Encyrcle is not just for alumni coordinators, either. From clinicians to business development, admissions, and leadership teams, everyone finds value in Encyrcle. The platform's easy-to-use dashboard makes it easy for Family First to manage their entire network and keep track of every important detail. The dashboard offers an organized view of each client and family, including all information from admission to discharge.

“It allows me to seamlessly connect with clients post-treatment, while controlling different workflows to ensure everything runs smoothly,” Kevin says.

Encyrcle’s automation and personalization features help Family First maintain regular, meaningful contact while saving valuable time. The team sets up personalized, automated messages to send at key moments. Using Family First’s supportive brand tone, each message feels authentic and aligns with the relationships built during treatment.

“We customize the automations to reflect our voice and make sure our clients see names of staff they’ve connected with here while in care. It feels personal, even though it’s automated,” Michaela explains.

In addition to a holistic view of the alumni journey and customizable features, Encyrcle provides actionable insights that enhance the team’s follow-up strategies and inform their programming.

“Encyrcle lets us track the success outcomes of our clients, which is key for our marketing team,” Michaela says, adding that they maintain seamless weekly contact with thousands of alumni and their families. “Encyrcle allows us to stay connected with alumni at a scale we were just not able to before.”

“Encyrcle allows us to stay connected with alumni at a scale we were just not able to before.”

Michaela Kyle
Chief Marketing Officer

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A boost in re-engagement and referrals

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Family First’s goal is always to help clients thrive after treatment, but sometimes, people hit a rough patch and need extra attention. Encyrcle’s automated alerts enable the team to jump into action when necessary and instantly offer support—whether that means walking someone through a difficult night or deciding they should return to care.

Alumni Coordinator Peter Malloy says, “Before Encyrcle, it was much easier for clients to slip through the cracks. Now, I get a notification instantaneously, so I can call them and get them back to the place they need to be.”

The platform has significantly increased Family First’s alumni referrals and readmission rates through more frequent communication and timely interventions.

“An adolescent’s life is ever-changing—one day, they’re fine, and the next, they’re struggling. With more touchpoints, especially through texts, clients are more open about their struggles. If I can help one client return to treatment, it’s all worth it,” Kevin says.

“An adolescent’s life is ever-changing—one day, they’re fine, and the next, they’re struggling. With more touchpoints, especially through texts, clients are more open about their struggles.”‍

Kevin Johnson
Director of Experiential and Alumni Services

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When Michaela reflects on Encyrcle’s ROI, she notes that Family First has increased their ability to track kids at every stage of their post-treatment journey. “We’ve seen a massive uptick in identifying when our alumni are struggling and ensuring that we can get them safely back into care. But it’s equally important to track successes—to see that our kids are thriving without needing to return for treatment. And Encyrcle enables that, too.”

High-quality engagement at scale

Family First has wholeheartedly embraced Encyrcle, and it’s transformed how the organization manages relationships with alumni and their families.

“Partnering with Encyrcle was absolutely the right decision,” says Kevin. “I would recommend them to any program looking to grow their alumni department and manage it effectively.”

By adopting Encyrcle, Family First has enhanced the way they stay connected with their alumni while redefining what it means to offer ongoing, meaningful support and proactive care that extends far beyond treatment. The result is a stronger, more resilient network where each individual’s journey is met with the support they need, when they need it.