PHYSICAL - Our residential setting provides temporary separation from former lifestyles: including drugs, alcohol, street habits, influences, and conflicts. Teen Challenge provides a safe environment, food, counseling, and other tools needed to overcome an addicted life-style.
The students follow a very structured daily routine. There are specific times for morning wake-up, meals, classes, work assignments, recreation. prayer, and an evening curfew. The program is designed to create positive behavioral changes, resulting in a life-style free from substance abuse.
PSYCHOLOGICAL - Individual counseling sessions are interwoven into our educational plan. Our instructors use a syllabus designed by the National Teen Challenge Curriculum Committee as a guide.
The curriculum is designed around Biblical principles. By teaching and applying these principles. we discover the root causes of the students life controlling problems. Their progress is closely monitored by their counselor, providing an optimum atmosphere for personal development.
Through interaction with the other students and staff, the individual is given the opportunity to develop interpersonal relationships. This interaction becomes an integral part of the overall therapeutic process.
A program such as this provides the students with an opportunity to become psychologically and emotionally free from drug and alcohol dependency. In most cases, these dependencies are stronger than the physical addiction.
SPIRITUAL - Freedom from life-controlling habits however, cannot be realized without the student taking the initial step to receive help. That first step is evidenced by a life personally committed to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
A commitment to Christian principles and morality is essential to maintaining freedom. Our approach is to confront the underlying problems that cause the addictions. This allows us to deal with the “root” problems which resulted in alienation, crime, and other self destructive, antisocial behavior. By adhering to a strong Christian faith and philosophy, the students receive opportunity to overcome their addictions and live totally free from substance abuse. The result is an individual who has love and respect for himself and others, and a positive view of his future. The spiritual emphasis is incorporated into the program through group and personal prayer time, Bible studies, classes, and church attendance.
The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sponsored a National Institute on Drug Abuse study stating that Teen Challenge maintained the highest cure rate for drug and alcohol addiction of any in-residence program in the United States.
Since it’s beginning, Teen Challenge has been ministering to hurting people. Today we have facilities for men, women, adolescents and families. There are 140 Teen Challenge centers in the United States and 150 centers in over 50 other countries.