Teen Challenge "rehab" Christian Cult

[fundiefun]

http://teenchallengeexposed.com/index.html

 

I have been looking into residential rehab centers for myself since I struggle with addiction issues. Due to cost I came across Teen Challenge which touts itself as a program for those who have addiction and provide it at a low cost. After browsing through their website they state they don't allow prescription medications of any kind which I found odd because most residential centers have medical staff. Upon doing some more searches Teen Challenge has no medically or licensed trained staff and is nothing more than an evangelical boot camp. Their main focus is having their residents get them money by taking them to churches to share their "testimonies" and get parishioners to pour out love offerings to keep funding the program. Thank God I researched them and it's sad places like this exist and take advantage of unsuspecting people and families who are desperate to help themselves or loved ones. The stories of abuse are horrific and when those who want to leave the program they are thrown off at a bus station on their own with no money and sometimes in unsafe parts of towns.

[debrand]

That seems potentially dangerous. Is there any kind of government oversight for rehabilitation centers?

[gardenvarietycitizen]

That seems potentially dangerous. Is there any kind of government oversight for rehabilitation centers?

There's an entire very scary and quite corrupt industry of teen boot camps out there (some evangelical, others not) particularly ones operating in foreign countries (all run by Americans, but they have a resort in some other country and aren't obeying the laws of either).

If you google around you can find some truly horrible abuse stories. Often they start by parents having their "rebellious" teens essentially kidnapped by staff of these places, whisked off in the middle of the night and sent away to basically prison.

[chaotic life]

Many states have far less oversight on what they call ministries. I know Teen Missions in Florida is a master at skirting the health codes and medical standards by masking both their daycare and their medical clinic under "ministry." Oh the horror stories I could tell you from volunteering as a student nurse in their "First Aid Station" one summer and the nightmares they hid by simply not calling it a medical clinic. Florida, as I understand it, is very lax on monitoring "ministry." The scuttlebutt the year I volunteered was that the daycare for staffers and volunteers had to be called a day camp ministry program because the state tried to shut it down for lack of access to bathrooms when they called it a daycare. The first aid station was called such because they couldn't secure a doctor or even a licensed RN to oversee the clinic, yet they were responsible for the health and safety of thousands of teens during boot camp training.

[laura oz]

Words can't express just how much organizations like this piss me off and frustrate me. People who are trying to get clean can go into DT's and die without medical intervention. These people don't need to fucking hike 10 miles, memorize scripture, and shill for someone by giving a testimony about praying for strength so the church folks will open their wallets. They need help developing coping skills, identifying triggers, kindness and compassion from the ones who are charged with their care, and extensive therapy to address why they turned to substances in the first place. People who make a buck off of someone else's suffering just make me stabby.

[fundiefun]

Many states have far less oversight on what they call ministries. I know Teen Missions in Florida is a master at skirting the health codes and medical standards by masking both their daycare and their medical clinic under "ministry." Oh the horror stories I could tell you from volunteering as a student nurse in their "First Aid Station" one summer and the nightmares they hid by simply not calling it a medical clinic. Florida, as I understand it, is very lax on monitoring "ministry." The scuttlebutt the year I volunteered was that the daycare for staffers and volunteers had to be called a day camp ministry program because the state tried to shut it down for lack of access to bathrooms when they called it a daycare. The first aid station was called such because they couldn't secure a doctor or even a licensed RN to oversee the clinic, yet they were responsible for the health and safety of thousands of teens during boot camp training.

Yeah I am truly looking for an affordable program and heard about how "wonderful" they are but once I read on their admissions section that they don't allow or dispense out medication that's when it sounded fishy. Teen Challenge is basically pentecostal evangelical type brainwashing and residents are forced to work all day for nothing. There are many stories of residents being made to basically pan handle and go to churches and lie about how much the program helped them turn it around. Just sickening that parents truly believe a program like Teen Challenge will help their SO or son or daughter get back on the right path, but disguise their program as a real treatment center. There needs to be more oversight on these kinds of places or a crackdown because there are so many horror stories, but as you said they skirt laws to get away with it. Their treatment approach at Teen Challenge is basically prayer and memorizing scripture and their staff isn't made up of medically licensed professionals, but church clergy.

[emiliawasframed]

Teen Challenge is very popular where I live. I have several students who work there, and several more who have been through their programs and rave about them. I knew they were fairly Christian-focused (I work at a Christian college and our counseling program sends students there AFAIK), but I had no idea about the rest. Wow.

[fundiefun]

Teen Challenge is very popular where I live. I have several students who work there, and several more who have been through their programs and rave about them. I knew they were fairly Christian-focused (I work at a Christian college and our counseling program sends students there AFAIK), but I had no idea about the rest. Wow.

These kids have been basically brainwashed and subject to awful things to say such happy things about it if you read the testimonies and stories of so many others. They are trained to give great reviews to bring in more money and donations. If you have any parents considering Teen Challenge I would recommend them go elsewhere because this isn't professional medical help, but prayer god will cure you boot camp. Teen Challenges depending on the location make the residents work for nothing I know some have worked on farms, others in their thrift shop, etc. There are no laws to stop these things from happening and in some cases I've read about where teens have actually died or attempted suicide what they do and many others is take the other residents off the property. They do this so when the authorities show up nothing will seem off and the other residents can't answer questions about what is really going on.

[BigSandy]

Teen Challenge is very popular where I live. I have several students who work there, and several more who have been through their programs and rave about them. I knew they were fairly Christian-focused (I work at a Christian college and our counseling program sends students there AFAIK), but I had no idea about the rest. Wow.

Same here; I work at a public college and know several students who have been through teen challenge. I never knew it was bad like this! :(

[fundiefun]

Doing some more digging I came across this blog which hasn't been updated since 2009 but still good information about Teen Challenge's ties to the Assemblies of God another disturbing thing is how many staff Teen Challenge has hired who are convicted sex offenders. This kind of information needs to be more well known to parents before they make they make the mistake of sending their kids here to a place with no actual treatment and is basically forced labor and bible time.

http://teenchallengecult.blogspot.com/

http://teenchallengeexposed.com/ If you scroll down on here it lists the sex offenders hired in various states and exposes done on making residents work in the telemarketing center for 33 cents a day.

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/nashvil ... BQID0CMEBE This also has stories and discussions of those who have attended TC

We have something like this in IL Mooseheart and I had a friend go there in high school it's run for underprivileged youth minorities at risk. She told me how they were forced to work on the facilities farm for a few dollars a day and had stories of students being given large amounts of seroquel and other psychotropic drugs since they get a kick back from the state for having students under the care of their medical team. It's so bad over there that there are teens who try to run away, but I don't know if it has been investigated since it's such a close off compound type town.

[Freebird]

Have you gone to the AA website, or asked the AA leader(s) in your area?

It stinks because the treatment for addictions and mental disorders pretty much suck here in the US. Most of the free ones are free because they aren't run by medical professionals, and therefor they aren't allowed to give out meds. Don't give up though - your sobriety is worth everything. Trust me I know. My husband died a year ago (tomorrow) from a drug overdose.

[fundiefun]

Have you gone to the AA website, or asked the AA leader(s) in your area?

It stinks because the treatment for addictions and mental disorders pretty much suck here in the US. Most of the free ones are free because they aren't run by medical professionals, and therefor they aren't allowed to give out meds. Don't give up though - your sobriety is worth everything. Trust me I know. My husband died a year ago (tomorrow) from a drug overdose.

I lost one of my best friend last years to a heroin OD so I know it's to a point where help is needed because my friend who convinced me that there is a problem here was like these are things nobody probably said to *Katie*. That was enough for me to open my eyes that drinking everyday isn't normal and that I'm on the fast track to Katie's fate. I am not currently in AA, but will look into it because I know my insurance won't pay out to rehab unless outpatient rehab has been tried among other factors. My therapist will however vouche for me to a treatment center in my area that's supposed to be good.

[Trynn]

Have you gone to the AA website, or asked the AA leader(s) in your area?

It stinks because the treatment for addictions and mental disorders pretty much suck here in the US. Most of the free ones are free because they aren't run by medical professionals, and therefor they aren't allowed to give out meds. Don't give up though - your sobriety is worth everything. Trust me I know. My husband died a year ago (tomorrow) from a drug overdose.

I'm so very sorry for your loss.

I too have a minor drug problem, and stuff like this worries me.

[fundiefun]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/04/2 ... esus-Gulag

This was a series done on TC and they have a list of the rules which includes:

If you need medical or dental care, it must be taken care of prior to admission in to the program. Only emergency treatment

for medical problems or sudden toothache pain will be addressed. We do not want anything to distract you from the treatment for which you came to Teen Challenge.

• You will not be permitted to take any type of psychiatric medications while in the program.

• No radios, clock-radios, tape or CD players, musical instruments, reading materials, inappropriate photos, pornographic

materials, excessive jewelry, earrings or any other type of body piercing jewelry are to be brought to TCWP. Any student

entering the program with any of these items will have them confiscated and discarded unless you quickly provide the means

for sending them home. They will not be stored.

• Non-Christian music, easy listening, or instrumental music, that highlight values contrary to Biblical principles will not be

permitted. The playing or singing of, or listening to, music related to the drug culture is not permitted

• After 4-5 months in the induction center (TCWP), you will transfer to the Teen Challenge Training Center (TCTC). TCTC is a 350-acre campus with approximately 270-300 students located in rural eastern Pennsylvania. The student body is approximately 43% African-American, 32% Hispanic & 25% Caucasian, and lives in a dormitory setting with 4 men assigned to a room. Each incoming class is usually between 40-45 men.

To help defray the cost of your time at Teen Challenge, we ask you to help raise support by providing us with a list of family or friends who may want to sponsor you from $10 to $25 per month while in the program. These can be parents, relatives, churches, friends or concerned individuals. We will provide a sponsor sheet to help you after you have been interviewed and accepted to the program.

* You may have only one phone call per week in the Induction Phase and two phone calls per week in the Training Phase. This includes incoming and outgoing phone calls. The people you may communicate with during the Induction Phase are limited to your Pastor and immediate family only. During the Training Phase, your counselor may add other people to your approved phone and mail list as deemed appropriate.

* All incoming and outgoing mail will be reviewed by your counselor. If you are put on discipline your mail will be held by your counselor until your discipline has ended.

* No talking about your past life around other students. However we do encourage you to talk about your past during counseling for problems concerning your past life.

. . .

ATI Journey to the heart sounds like heaven compared to TC. It's odd how they have different phases the residents go through and I wonder what "training" they go through.

[France Nolan]

A few years ago I read a memoir by a mother and daughter duo who did the whole "ship troubled kids off to a foreign country and enroll in boot camp" bit. The authors maintain that it was ultimately a positive experience and spew the party line that these centers are an effective way to "reprogram" troubled teens.

http://www.amazon.com/Come-Back-Daughte ... roduct_top

[Dev83]

My cousin went through their rehab program for meth. While he has stayed clean so far (to my knowledge), any rehab that is solely religion focused and not working with medical staff and lisenced psychologists is going to have a lot of people fall off the wagon.

He went in midly religious, and came out a fanatic too. So there is that.

[Sailing on Europa]

One of my relatives recently went through Teen Challenge. His parents gush about the program. Now, less than a year after being addicted to many hard drugs, he is a missionary in the Philippines. All of his facebook posts are along the lines of "praise Jesus!", etc. It's like he's high on Jesus now. I don't think he had a negative experience with TC - I think he actually liked the program.... but now it's like he's in a manic state, and I'm afraid to watch him crash and burn when it wears off.

[BlondeAgent007]

A.A. has been helpful for me personally. One thing I will say though, is that most people there believe that the only problem is the alcohol, and that nobody there has real mental health issues. Which is frustrating because I had mental health issues before I started drinking. That can be infuriating and turned me off for awhile. However, it is nice to have other people to identify with you and help with triggers. There are tons of meetings in my area, and I have met a lot of very nice, helpful people. I'm also not one to pray, which is encouraged a LOT. I think going to meetings for social support, while going to your own therapist on the side to help with meds, should be a cost effective way to try to get treatment. There are a lot of meetings in my area, and I'm sure you will find quite a few in yours, too :) It's not a perfect program but having people to talk to, and making new sober friends is really helpful.

[Freebird]

Well, here are a few of my thoughts - but, I am a Christian, so take them or leave them...

- Most insurance companies do not realize that most addicts need a minimum of a 6 month in patient rehab program. Heck, it takes that long to detox fully.

- Sadly, a lot of Christians - and non - do not see the need for antidepressant medications. a LOT of addicts also suffer from mental illnesses such as BiPolar, Depression, etc. and they NEED to be on these medications to help in their recovery.

- Addiction is not a bad word. I have known addicts who are Dr's, Lawyers, housewives, and just generally great people. But people with a disease. So, good for you for seeking help!

[Freebird]

That is a good point. When my husband was going to AA, he got a lot of negative feedback from other AA members - as well as his parents - because he was on Bipolar meds. Honestly, I think that if his Bipolar had been properly treated, he would still be alive.

[frumper-rump]

I know several men (through my old church) who went through Teen Challenge as teens or young adults and every single one of them relapsed and/or continues to live an unstable life years later. I dont feel that they are bad guys- they just didnt get the intensive medical and psychological help that they needed. A lot of them have underlying mental health issues that need to be tackled. The addictions are almost all a result of self-medicating among the guys I have known.

[BlondeAgent007]

That is a good point. When my husband was going to AA, he got a lot of negative feedback from other AA members - as well as his parents - because he was on Bipolar meds. Honestly, I think that if his Bipolar had been properly treated, he would still be alive.

That is so sad. I am so sorry. I know what that's like. I get it a lot in A.A. and it makes you feel like a failure, since your moods are still screwed up even though you're crossing all your T's and dotting all the I's.

[lorem ipsum]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/04/29/504015/-Teen-Challenge-Life-within-the-Jesus-Gulag

This was a series done on TC and they have a list of the rules which includes:

If you need medical or dental care, it must be taken care of prior to admission in to the program. Only emergency treatment

for medical problems or sudden toothache pain will be addressed. We do not want anything to distract you from the treatment for which you came to Teen Challenge.

• You will not be permitted to take any type of psychiatric medications while in the program.

• No radios, clock-radios, tape or CD players, musical instruments, reading materials, inappropriate photos, pornographic

materials, excessive jewelry, earrings or any other type of body piercing jewelry are to be brought to TCWP. Any student

entering the program with any of these items will have them confiscated and discarded unless you quickly provide the means

for sending them home. They will not be stored.

• Non-Christian music, easy listening, or instrumental music, that highlight values contrary to Biblical principles will not be

permitted. The playing or singing of, or listening to, music related to the drug culture is not permitted

• After 4-5 months in the induction center (TCWP), you will transfer to the Teen Challenge Training Center (TCTC). TCTC is a 350-acre campus with approximately 270-300 students located in rural eastern Pennsylvania. The student body is approximately 43% African-American, 32% Hispanic & 25% Caucasian, and lives in a dormitory setting with 4 men assigned to a room. Each incoming class is usually between 40-45 men.

To help defray the cost of your time at Teen Challenge, we ask you to help raise support by providing us with a list of family or friends who may want to sponsor you from $10 to $25 per month while in the program. These can be parents, relatives, churches, friends or concerned individuals. We will provide a sponsor sheet to help you after you have been interviewed and accepted to the program.

* You may have only one phone call per week in the Induction Phase and two phone calls per week in the Training Phase. This includes incoming and outgoing phone calls. The people you may communicate with during the Induction Phase are limited to your Pastor and immediate family only. During the Training Phase, your counselor may add other people to your approved phone and mail list as deemed appropriate.

* All incoming and outgoing mail will be reviewed by your counselor. If you are put on discipline your mail will be held by your counselor until your discipline has ended.

* No talking about your past life around other students. However we do encourage you to talk about your past during counseling for problems concerning your past life.

. . .

ATI Journey to the heart sounds like heaven compared to TC. It's odd how they have different phases the residents go through and I wonder what "training" they go through.

This sounds a LOT like a program a sibling of mine was enrolled in when they were 14-15. uturnforchrist.com

Similarly isolating, no real therapy, etc. It had a lot of emphasis on pointless physical exercises all day (like digging and filling in holes all day).

My sibling was enrolled due to "rebellion" and was later diagnosed with bi-polar. Sibling feels this experience was severely damaging and I agree -- I've yet to truly forgive our mother for choosing that vs an actual medical/psych evaluation.

[Cran]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/04/29/504015/-Teen-Challenge-Life-within-the-Jesus-Gulag

* All incoming and outgoing mail will be reviewed by your counselor. If you are put on discipline your mail will be held by your counselor until your discipline has ended.

Is this even legal? "Reviewed" means the mail will be read, does it not? Privacy of correspondence is highly valued. Of course, if your inmate in a prison, your mail will be checked, but it seems rather over the top to me that they will read mail to and from persons of a very limited lists, like parents. Obviously, this will also be practised in psychiatric wards, but they are a ministry, are they not? :?

[fundiefun]

Is this even legal? "Reviewed" means the mail will be read, does it not? Privacy of correspondence is highly valued. Of course, if your inmate in a prison, your mail will be checked, but it seems rather over the top to me that they will read mail to and from persons of a very limited lists, like parents. Obviously, this will also be practised in psychiatric wards, but they are a ministry, are they not? :?

A "ministry" that somehow skirts the law and they aren't legally medically trained to practice therapy which after reading survivor stories consists of mostly scripture memorization since nobody on their staff is licensed. Sadly places like this exist all over the world, but nobody will shut them down because they do it just so they are within the law. New Horizons which bills its self as a Christian girls Baptist boarding school had similar rules and their punishments are harsh including making them stand against a wall for hours at a time among other horrible things. I found out about teen challenge since I'm trying to recover from my alcoholism and because teen challenge made itself look like they were your normal everyday mental health and substance abuse facility.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/independen ... bMsWkDFUcY