Investigating Teen Challenge

GET YOUR VOICE HEARD ABOUT YOUR TEEN CHALLENGE EXPERIENCE!

2009-02-10T05:40:00.007-06:00

I have decided to write a post concerning the comments that others have left about Teen Challenge because they are the voices of the people who have been directly involved in Teen Challenge.

Today I encourage everyone to take the time to 'really' read these comments and to leave your own comments about your own experience with Teen Challenge!

You can read or post comments by clicking on either of the posts below:

TO ADD YOUR BAD TEEN CHALLENGE EXPERIENCE, PLEASE CLICK HERE:
http://teenchallengecult.blogspot.com/2007/02/did-you-have-bad-experience-at-teen.html

You can read more comments here:
TEEN CHALLENGE FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

Attention Teen Challenge: The Bill to Stop "Kiddie Gulag" Industry Passes House!

2008-07-19T15:36:00.002-06:00

On June 25th, HR 6358--the bill that may well shut down the "kiddie gulag" industry for good--passed the House.

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:h6358eh.txt.pdf

To read an in-depth article please visit- http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/2/114611/5680/781/545366

Dogemperor at Daily Kos: An In-Depth Series on Abuse at Teen Challenge

2008-05-05T14:44:00.009-06:00

An In-Depth Series on Abuse at Teen Challenge

Part 1: Teen Challenge: The Assemblies' Own "Kiddie Gulag"

Part 2: Teen Challenge: Coercive Groups Disguised as Rehab

Part 3: Teen Challenge: A Typical Week in the "Jesus Gulag"

Part 4: Teen Challenge: Life Within the "Jesus Gulag"

Part 5: Teen Challenge: Possible Missionary Mill?

Part 6: Teen Challenge: The Depths of Coercion at a "God Warrior" Training Camp

Part 7: Teen Challenge: Sex Abuse and Sexual Predators

Part 8: Teen Challenge: Court-Ordered Coercion and CYA Indemnity Contracts

Part 9: Teen Challenge: Your Tax Dollars, Paying For Institutionalised Abuse

Links:

Bill HR 5876--A Chance to Protect Kids from Abusive "Kiddie Boot Camps"

Join Teen Challenge Lawsuit!

DID YOU HAVE A BAD EXPERIENCE AT TEEN CHALLENGE?

2008-01-13T14:11:00.000-06:00

If you have had a bad experience at Teen Challenge, I invite you to post your comments about it here. You may even be able to exchange e-mail addresses to talk with others who have had similar experiences. And, if you are a family member wanting to make contact with other family members who have questions and concerns, please read my post below regarding family members.

Known Front Groups for the Assemblies of God

2007-09-20T08:37:00.000-06:00

Scroll down this page to find the list of "Known Front Groups for the Assemblies of God"-

http://community.livejournal.com/dark_christian/264750.html

Teen Challenge is a Mission of the Assemblies of God!

2007-09-18T07:27:00.000-06:00

This post is for those of you who don't believe that Teen Challenge is a Mission of the Assemblies of God! Here is the proof:

Missions of the Assemblies of God - http://usmissions.ag.org/

The Assemblies of God U.S. Missions is comprised of six departments, which includes TEEN CHALLENGE! - http://usmissions.ag.org/top/faqs.cfm

You can also find the link to the Teen Challenge Mission on the Assemblies of God website by going to the links on the left of their website and clicking on "Missions" and then "U.S.Missions".
http://ag.org/top/

And, as I've stated before- The Teen Challenge websites do not make the public aware that Teen Challenge is actually a Mission of the Assemblies of God Church!

Teen Challenge Programs Draw Some Criticisms About Methodology, Funding

2007-08-20T19:50:00.000-06:00

Excerpt from the Montrose Daily Press (Montrose, CO)
http://www.montrosepress.com/articles/2007/08/19/news/doc46c7bda0a99cd874857761.txt

By Maggie Stehr
Daily Press Writer
Published on Sunday, August 19, 2007

According to the organization’s Web site, Teen Challenge programs are the “solution to the addiction crisis.” Since opening in 1958 and with more than 170 centers in the U.S., Teen Challenge officials claim to have cured thousands from drug and alcohol addictions.

But such testimonials have drawn criticisms from some former students, civil liberties experts and addiction specialists.

Some experts have argued that because some Teen Challenge centers and students receive federal funding, the programs violate the separation between religion and government. High success rates have contributed to ongoing governmental support of the faith-based drug treatment program, but not without opposition.

“These figures dramatically distort the truth, as they represent the successful treatment rate of only those participants who do not drop out of the program before completion, which includes less than one-fifth (18 percent) of the total number of students who actually participated,” argued Samantha Smoot, executive director of Texas Freedom Network Education Fund, which promotes church-state separation. In 2001, Smoot testified in Congress that funding for Teen Challenge should instead go towards secular drug rehab programs with stronger medical components.

Other opponents of Teen Challenge have labeled the evangelical groups as cults, alleging psychological abuse and manipulation by staff members.

Vicki Proffit, director of Teen Challenge House of Promise near Olathe, denies such negative claims but acknowledges the program contains a strong Christian focus.

Obviously Teen Challenge Didn't Work For This Teen Challenge Graduate

2007-08-19T00:25:00.000-06:00

Hmmm, he recently graduated from Teen Challenge but now he's already on his way to prison for 3 years!

Winnipeg Theft News - Friday August 17, 2007
http://www.winnipegtheft.com/2007/08/17/robber-falls-off-rehab-path/

Recovery Center Plan Draws Concern From Neighbors

2007-08-16T19:04:00.000-06:00

Looks like another neighborhood also has issues with Teen Challenge!

KVAL News- August 16, 2007- Eugene, Oregon:
http://www.kval.com/news/local/9184537.html

Why Does Teen Challenge Need to Be Investigated?

2007-08-10T20:05:00.000-06:00

To learn more about why people feel that Teen Challenge needs to be thoroughly investigated, I highly recommend reading my web blog in its entirety and then paying a visit to the following websites:

The "Investigating Teen Challenge" Web Forum at- http://wwf.fornits.com/viewforum.php?f=57, which is proudly hosted on Fornits Home for Wayward Web Fora Forum (http://fornits.com/wwf/index.php). Fornits Forum covers many of the Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification and Thought Reform facilities!

"Behind the Walls: The Teen Challenge You Won't See" by Michael Kincheloe - http://www.teenchallengeexposed.com/

A very active thread about Teen Challenge at- http://www.topix.net/forum/city/minneapolis-mn/TN94VATH520HE9UQM#lastPost

Another thread on Teen Challenge at- http://www.topix.net/forum/blogs/TEV4TDE8D9LDKTISS

A Thread at The Bismarck Tribune - http://www.bismarcktribune.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=33

Many more opinions about Teen Challenge can be found here- http://www.badsamaritan.com/archives/2001/10/the_teen_challenge_lady.php

"Returning to Sanity" - http://www.exchristian.net/testimonies/2006/02/returning-to-sanity.html

A new thread about Teen Challenge called- 'Subsidized Religion in MA' at Aces Full of Links - http://www.drmomentum.com/aces/archives/002976.html

NEW: "Exploring and Exposing Dominionist Christianity" - http://community.livejournal.com/dark_christian/894971.html

NEW: "watchpaul: Could it happen here?" - http://watchpaul.blogspot.com/2007/06/could-it-happen-here.html

"The Texas Faith-Based Initiative at Five Years: Warning Signs as PresidentBush Expands Texas-style Program at National Level" - http://www.tfn.org/files/fck/TFN%20CC%20REPORT-FINAL.pdf

(Note: If you cannot open the above pdf file, you can download the "Foxit Reader", which is a free PDF document viewer and printer. http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php)

To learn more about the the faith-based initiative, go to Americans United for Separation of Church and State website- "The 'Faith-Based' Initiative- Churches, Social Services & Your Tax Dollars" - http://www.au.org/site/News2?abbr=resources&page=NewsArticle&id=9051&security=1441&news_iv_ctrl=2422

"Charitable Choice, Faith-Based Partnerships, and the Public Funding Of Religion" - http://www.atheists.org/public.square/charitablechoice.html

"A Stark Truth For Policy Makers: Data Lacking to Support Claims of Faith-Based Social Program Success" - http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/faith14.htm

"Faith Without Works" - http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0410.sullivan.html

I am also posting the following web forum just in case someone feels it would suit them- , the "Ex-Pentecostal Forum" - http://p212.ezboard.com/bexpentecostalforums

Read more about the Ex-Pentecostal Forum at the "Association of Former Pentecostals" - http://expentecostals.org/index.htm

ANOTHER GOOD READ:

JESUS ‘LOVE-BOMBS' YOU - By Chris Hedges. http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/jesus_love_bombs_you/

Many other links are also listed over on the right-hand sidebar, along with the comments / concerns that people have about their bad experiences with Teen Challenge. Be sure to stop back as I add more info often!

Something to Really Think About!!!

2007-07-13T08:45:00.000-06:00

You are all aware that Teen Challenge Director Fred Lamberson III said that the Teen Challenge facilities are Christian discipleships, not drug and alcohol programs. Well, I am now wondering why the rest of the nation, including the judges in our court rooms, aren't aware of what Teen Challenge really is.

The following is from the Lebanon Daily News Jun 29, 2007:

Jesse L. Smith, 34, of 205 Strack Drive, Myerstown, was sentenced to two years probation and fined $3,000 for three drunken-driving convictions. Smith requested placement in the Teen Challenge residential drug-and-alcohol program at Rehrersburg. The judge ordered Smith to successfully complete the program or face a probation violation and a jail sentence.

I really don't believe that a judge would have imposed such a sentence if he/she was informed of the fact that Teen Challenge is not a drug and alcohol treatment center!

I would also like to point out the following court conviction that really deserves attention! Why? Because most of you already know that Teen Challenge states that they do not take in people who have prior sexual offenses or violent offenders. Obviously, that is not true!

The following is from the Lansing State Journal July 5, 2007:

David Leon Davis, 26, of Charlotte, criminal sexual conduct, fourth degree, habitual offender, fourth conviction, 365 days in jail, 173 days credit, 90 days suspended upon completion of Teen Challenge program and aftercare, $83.60 restitution, $600 supervision fee, $60 state cost, $60 to Crime Victims Rights Fund.

The following is from the Criminal Court Docket (published July 13, 2007) in Cumberland County, Tennessee:

Brian E. Elmore, in community corrections on a four-year sentence for burglary and theft more than $1,000, pleaded guilty to violation of probation and was ordered to serve 180 straight days with credit for 91 days already served with only release being directly into the Teen Challenge program. If he fails in the Teen Challenge program, he will be facing the remainder of the four-year sentence.

_________

The above convictions/sentences prove that not only are the courts sentencing all kinds of convicted criminals to Teen Challenge but Teen Challenge obviously accepts a wide range of criminals into their program!

For proof of more types of criminals being accepted into Teen Challenge, please read my post entitled- "PROOF THAT COURTS ARE SENTENCING PEOPLE TO TEEN CHALLENGE"

I think this also proves why you should be very concerned about what
type of criminals live in the Teen Challenge near you!*

Understanding Why Eureka, CA Residents Have So Many Issues With Teen Challenge

2007-07-01T13:25:00.000-06:00

To truly understand all aspects of the issues that many residents in Eureka, CA have been dealing with regarding Teen Challenge, one would have had to have been paying close attention to the newspapers in this city. When the articles are read in order, as a whole, you will begin to fully understand why so many people fought to stop Teen Challenge from operating in Eureka. You will hear much frustration as residents try to stand on their own to fight a battle that literally seems to be a no-win situation. They are left with some very important, unanswered questions, just as you will be.

From this point out, not only will the posts on my blog make much better sense to you, but you will also learn about aspects that you may not have even known about how Teen Challenge operates!

Below, I have posted the news articles from both the Times-Standard and The Eureka Reporter. Please take the time to read them before Teen Challenge comes to a city near you!

Below are the articles on the Teen Challenge Issue in Eureka, CA from the The Times-Standard:

Challenges to Teen Challenge 06/04/07 Comments(35)

Eureka Debates Proposed Recovery Center 06/06/07 Comments(48)

Council Regroups for Teen Challenge Decision 06/07/07 Comments (35)

Eureka Delays Vote on Teen Challenge 06/08/07 Comments(21)

Next Time, Go The Extra Mile 06/09/07 Comments(11)

Good News, Bad News 06/10/07 Comments(7)

Teen Challenge Back for Round Four 06/18/07 Comments(18)

Public May Get Second Chance For Comment 06/19/07 Comments(16)

Recovery Facility Approved 06/20/07 Comments(32)

Teen Challenge Debate Reveals A Neighborhood In Crisis 06/24/07 Comments(39)

Hot Eureka Issue Bubbling in State Capitol 07/05/07 Comments (14)

UPDATE: Property Buy Falls Through; Redwood Teen Challenge Back To Drawing Board 07/14/07 Comments (57)

"God works in mysterious ways preventing that "faith based" B.S. from setting up shop." - The Real Bubba Joe
~

Below are the articles on The Teen Challenge Issue in Eureka, CA from the The Eureka Reporter:

Commission OKs Center- Permit Planning Commission Grants Permit to Treatment Facility Over Residents' Objections 5/14/07

City Council to Review Appeal of Teen Challenge Decision 5/17/07

Housing Facility Still An Issue- Residents Gather to Discuss Concerns Over Teen Challenge Project 5/22/07

Inside Teen Challenge- Participants, Recovering Addicts Discuss Program; Lawsuit May Be On Horizon 5/25/07

Teen Challenge To Present Town Hall Meeting 5/30/07

Success Rate of Restorative Program' Speaks For Itself 5/30/07

Drugs For Sale Or Godly Recovery Program? 5/31/07

A License or Jesus? - Teen Challenge Director Says He's Not Willing to Compromise Program Philosophy 6/1/07

Redwood Teen Challenge Appeal Goes to Eureka Council 6/3/07

Meeting Gives Voice to Concerns 6/4/07

Council Should Allow Teen Challenge a Chance to Succeed 6/4/07

Writer Poses Questions For Teen Challenge to Consider 6/5/07

City Council Hears Brandenberg's Appeal- Lamberson Said License Not An Option 6/6/07

Eureka City Council to Look at Teen Challenge Appeal This Evening 6/6/07

Teen Challenge Vote Postponed- Eureka City Council Convenes Committee to Consider Revised Conditional-Use Permit 6/8/07

Newly Formed Advisory Group Meets to Discuss Teen Challenge 6/15/07

City Council to Hold Public Hearing on Teen Challenge Appeal 6/16/07

Hearing on Teen Challenge Appeal Continues 6/18/07

So Be It- Council Grants Conditional-Use Permit to Teen Challenge 6/20/07

A Law That Suits Or A Lawsuit? 6/25/07

Former (Teen Challenge) Member Talks About 'Abusive Ministry' 6/25/07

Rehab Facility Raises Ethical Questions 7/4/07

Teen Challenge May Feel the Effect of Senate Bill 992 7/5/07

UPDATE: Teen Challenge Deal is Dead! 7/16/07

Dallas Residents Urge Others to Sign Their Petition So They Can Stop Teen Challenge From Locating Next to Girl Scout Camp!

2007-06-21T09:52:00.000-06:00

As of this morning, 441 people have signed a petition begging the city not to allow Teen/Life Challenge of Dallas to set up camp next to the Girl Scouts' longtime home at Camp Whispering Cedars. According to Allen Gwinn, this week the city's Planning Commission is set to take up the request of Teen/Life Challenge, which wants to buy and rezone the former Camp El-Har to accommodate up to 100 men!

Read more here: Fury Over Plan for Rehab Near Girl Scout Camp

The Petition can be found here: Petition in Opposition of Teen/Life Challenge of Dallas, Inc., Zoning Case No. Z067-191

"No sexual abuse allegations at Teen Challenge? Bull crap!"

2007-05-10T19:23:00.000-06:00

This was posted by Cameron at- http://www.topix.net/forum/city/minneapolis-mn/TN94VATH520HE9UQM/p10#lastPost

"No sexual abuse allegations at Teen Challenge? Bull crap!"

http://www.tfn.org/religiousfreedom/faithbased/teenchallenge/

"There is no question that eliminating basic health and safety standards made operations easier for a few faith-based programs in Texas, however the lack of minimum standards has threatened the safety of those participating in the program. In 1998, a boy filed suit against Dallas Teen Challenge Boys Ranch and Assemblies of God, alleging that a counselor, who was a convicted drug trafficker, sexually molested him and two other boys. The lawsuit also claimed that the ranch’s Executive Director, the church and the ranch’s board knowingly hired people with criminal histories to serve as counselors." (Austin American-Statesman, 5/13/1998)

More here: http://www.texnews.com/1998/texas/molest0513.html

FYI:
http://www.schaler.net/inthenews/washblade.html
"Texas Freedom Network, a 23,000-member non-partisan grassroots watchdog group based in Austin conducted a five-year study of the policy and found, “As exempt faith-based drug treatment centers, [such] facilities are not required to have licensed chemical dependency counselors, conduct staff training or criminal background checks, protect client confidentiality rights, adhere to state health and safety standards, or report abuse, neglect, emergencies and medication errors.”

CAMERON ALSO E-MAILED THIS TO ME TODAY-

"And if you really want to have a look at sexual abuse cases involving the Assemblies of God Church (which runs all Teen Challenge programs) have a look at this page!" - http://sportsforum.ws/the-tavern/t-the-official-post-all-your-stupid-religious-propaganda-shit-in-here-thread-153972.html

Note- The original source for the above page is here: http://reformation.com/

Teen Challenge's Primary Purpose

2007-05-06T18:31:00.000-06:00

This excerpt is from the Proselytizing Report: "Teen Challenge" -

"Mr. Soemo (Phoenix Center Director for "Teen Challenge") openly admitted that the primary purpose of Teen Challenge is the promotion of a specific religious belief system. He made it clear his focus is conversion." "In conclusion, Teen Challenge represents a direct violation of the guidelines of our religious manual which preclude any "proselytizing."

An organization, which has as it's primary goal "confrontational evangelism," obviously has no place within ADOC religious programs. Unlike Christian denominations, which may contain an evangelical message within the context of their denominational liturgical service, this organization has confrontational evangelism as its stated goal and essentially its only function.

Chaplains throughout the ADOC are expected to facilitate religious programming in a neutral, non-biased manner. Teen Challenge therefore presents an obvious problem. Any chaplain who engages in facilitating a program for this organization could easily be seen as assisting in proselytizing."

WHY JOE QUIT TEEN CHALLENGE

2007-04-28T20:01:00.000-06:00

This is a post I found tonight on the net that directly tells why someone quit Teen Challenge. Click on the title to view the original post.

Prayer for Intercession for Joe

27 April 2007

"Joe left teen challenge yesterday and is enrolling in a salvation army program instead. The teen challenge program was a little too much for him—no visitation, can’t communicate with family—he really wants to be able to see his son. The mandatory fasting two days a week shocked him as well. The salvation army program is a 6 month residency program that allows attendees to visit family, and even hold a job after a period of time. It is also a Christ-centered program. The other good news is that his insurance apparently will cover the new program, which means he does not need our support. I thank you all for your prayers and for your eager willingness to support Joe in this major life change. Please keep praying, but use your resources to bless another. It is our willingness to give that pleases God, not the act of giving. May He richly blessed for your generosity."

MIND CONTROL TACTICS THAT TEEN CHALLENGE USES

2007-03-31T13:16:00.000-06:00

Using Mind Control - The BITE Model, how many and which mind control techniques do you feel that Teen Challenge uses? (I highly recommend that you ask previous Teen Challenge members or compare Teen Challenge's Daily Schedule, Overview of the Teen Challenge Program and their Student Guidelines to help you decide.)

I have compared the Teen Challenge Daily Schedule, Overview of the Teen Challenge Program and the Student Guidelines to the BITE Model and was absolutely convinced that Teen Challenge uses the majority of these mind control tactics! Print them all out! I think you will be convinced also!

THE BIZARRE REALITY BEHIND THE DOORS AT TEEN CHALLENGE

2007-03-28T18:45:00.000-06:00

I found this post at Topix.net and it seems to depict one aspect of the very bizarre reality of what it's really like behind the doors at Teen Challenge...

"I was at Teen Challenge in Nashville, and I can honestly say that I left because I felt as if I were part of an infomercial for Teen Challenge to receive money. We were guests at many churches in and around the area and each time we were all herded to the front of the church and without choice and whether or not we were okay yet we were to tell our story of how the program had completely changed our lives, even if we had only been there for two days. I can understand the God part of it because I do know that he is the only one that can completely heal us of our addictions, but come on....once you get out of there you need to have been taught the skills to live in the real world and not the world of teen challenge where each and every move you make is monitored and punished. You cannot force someone that has no Christian background to stand up in a church and praise God and beg for money to help others like themselves if they haven't even gotten the help they need yet. It is like Bible College and Military Bootcamp all rolled into one and for someone who may not even know who they are yet it can be so overwhelming. I do know it helps some people, because I have seen it, but I also know that it can drive some people right back to the world they came from because if you feel that it is not the place for you and discuss leaving with them you are given the third degree and told by EVERYONE you come on contact with on your way out that you are making the worst mistake of your life and that you will never make it. You will die if you leave there because Satan will attack you so hard that you cannot possibly survive. That IS NOT what an addict who is really trying to get better needs to hear. You cannot scare someone into getting sober. It is a hard thing to do in the first place and to me compassion and love go a lot farther than bullying someone into becoming a "Robot " for the sake of Teen Challenges survival as a program. Let time be the proof, when many who have been helped simply let others know that Teen Challenge may be what they need, because it helped them. If you have more people dropping out of the program then staying and "Graduating" then there is obviously a problem."

Rene
Trenton, TN
Friday Mar 23, 2007

BBB WISE GIVING ALLIANCE: INVESTIGATE TEEN CHALLENGE BEFORE YOU DONATE

2007-03-26T22:42:00.000-06:00

BBB Wise Giving Alliance: Investigate Before You Donate

NATIONAL CHARITY REPORTS INDEX - This page lists the current BBB Wise Giving Alliance reports on charities and other organizations that solicit nationally.
http://www.give.org/reports/index.asp

TEEN CHALLENGE'S REPORT: http://charityreports.give.org/Public/Report.aspx?CharityID=1300

BBB WISE GIVING ALLIANCE STANDARDS FOR CHARITY ACCOUNTABILITY:
http://www.give.org/standards/newcbbbstds.asp

JOURNALIST MAY CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT ALL THE TEEN CHALLENGE HOOPLA!

2007-03-25T13:28:00.000-06:00

Read one journalists view that may change your mind about all the Teen Challenge hoopla!

Blog article:
http://vkshashikumar.blogspot.com/2007/02/eagle-on-altar.html

Newspaper article:
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main.asp?filename=ts013004shashi.asp

NOTE: This is an absolutely incredible article and I highly recommend reading it in its entirety!!!

CHURCH-BASED PROJECTS SUCH AS TEEN CHALLENGE LACK DATA ON RESULTS

2007-03-24T12:53:00.000-06:00

Excerpt from: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n721/a01.html

The truth, Mr. Johnson and many other social scientists say, is that there is little reliable research proving the effectiveness of religious programs. They also add that there is scant evidence showing which religious programs show the best results and how they stack up against secular programs.

"From the left to the right, everyone assumes that faith-based programs work," Mr. Johnson said. "Even the critics of DiIulio and his office haven't denied that. We hear that and just sit back and laugh. In terms of empirical evidence that they work, it's pretty much nonexistent."

"They'll hand you a three-page in-house report," Mr. Johnson said, "showing that they reached 1,300 people that year. But what does 'reach' mean? That's not going to cut it."

Social scientists have pointed out that the 86 percent success rate of Teen Challenge is misleading. It does not count the people who dropped out during the program. And like many religious and private charities, Teen Challenge picks its clients.

Before they are accepted, most of the addicts have already been through detoxification programs, said the Rev. John D. Castellani, president of Teen Challenge International U.S.A. In the program's first four-month phase, Mr. Castellani said, 25 to 30 percent drop out, and in the next eight months, 10 percent more leave.

This raises questions for David Reingold, a researcher at the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs. A study Mr. Reingold has just completed of social services in Indiana found that religious programs are more likely than their secular counterparts to limit the clientele they serve. As a result, Mr. Reingold said, "It's an extreme exaggeration to say that religious organizations are more effective."

PROOF THAT COURTS ARE SENTENCING PEOPLE TO TEEN CHALLENGE

2007-03-11T17:53:00.000-06:00

I have received several inquiries regarding this particular quote that is on the side-bar of my blog:

"What's worse, is that I have heard that some Probation officers are CHOOSING Teen Challenge and demanding graduation OR else their "person on probation" goes to prison / jail. In other words, sign onto the "Assemblies of God" religion, walk the walk, "speak in tongues" etc.... or you'll go to jail. Doesn't this smack of civil rights violations!!!??? " posted by Cherokee lady of Fowler, CA Tuesday Jan 23

The inquiries were about whether a judge can really sentence you to go to Teen Challenge or not. The answer is yes, a judge may court order you to complete Teen Challenge. If you do not complete the program you will violate your terms of probation and then you will have to complete your full jail or prison sentence!

Here are several court files that prove this:

STATE OF OHIO v. BARTLEY S. MEADOWS (One count of felonious assault and one count of aggravated burglary.)
http://www.fifthdist.org/november62006/meadows.pdf

STATE OF FLORIDA v. KEVIN DANIEL SMITH (Willfully violated two of the conditions of his community control.)
http://opinions.1dca.org/written/opinions2005/8-19-05/04-0847.pdf

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v DAVID BENJAMIN TURNER (Violated the terms and conditions of his probation in all four cases- felonious larceny, larceny of a firearm and possession of stolen goods. Eight consolidated charges, including breaking and entering a motor vehicle, breaking and entering a residence, felonious larceny, and felonious financial card theft.)
http://www.aoc.state.nc.us/www/public/coa/opinions/2002/unpub/010134-1.htm

STATE OF TENNESSEE v. RONALD EUGENE PURDY (Probation violation for aggravated burglary, a Class C felony.)
http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/OPINIONS/tcca/PDF/023/purdyr.pdf

STATE OF MISSOURI v. RICKY LEE BEACH (First degree armed robbery.)
http://www.courts.mo.gov/courts/pubopinions.nsf/ccd96539c3fb13ce8625661f004bc7da/b2c22848c6f236e58625729100751e26?OpenDocument

STATE OF TENNESSEE v. BILLY M. HIGGINS (The defendant was convicted on December 10, 2001, of one count of delivery of .5 grams or more of cocaine, a Class B felony, and one count of delivery of under .5 grams of cocaine, a Class C felony.)
http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/OPINIONS/tcca/PDF/041/Higginsb.pdf

STATE OF TENNESSEE v. GREGORY SCOTT ALLISON (Burglary, a Class D felony, and misdemeanor theft.)
http://www.tncourts.gov/OPINIONS/tcca/PDF/021/allisong.pdf

EVIDENTLY ADULT TEEN CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS SIGN AWAY ALL THEIR RIGHTS TOO!

2007-03-05T21:48:00.000-06:00

Excerpt from page 14 of the Saint Louis Teen Challenge Application: "In consideration for the opportunity to obtain this counseling, I promise that I will not take any legal actions in the future for anything said, done, or omitted by my case manager, Teen Challenge of St. Louis, their agents, or family members during this case management program. I agree to hold Teen Challenge of St. Louis, their agents, and family members harmless for any legal claims of negligence or damage of any sort, which a person could assert, related to the Teen Challenge of St. Louis case management programs."

Excerpt from page 15 of the Saint Louis Teen Challenge Application: "8. I release Teen Challenge from all financial or legal responsibilities in case of accident, injury, illness or other misfortune."

Link location: http://www.saintlouistc.org/pdf/stltc-application.pdf

TEEN CHALLENGE HAS A PARENTAL RELEASE OF LIABILITY AGREEMENT!

2007-03-03T01:11:00.000-06:00

This excerpt is taken from page 17 of this Teen Challenge Application!

PARENTAL RELEASE OF LIABILITY AGREEMENT

"I/We, ______________________________________, parent(s), guardian(s), or conservator(s) of _____________________________, a minor child born on _______________, hereby agree that he/she can enroll in Minnesota Teen Challenge Academy (MTCA), a 12-month Christian residential rehabilitative program. I/We further agree that I/we relieve MTCA, its Staff, Employees, Students, and Board Members from any responsibility or liability for any damages to him or his property during his residence at MTCA or during any related travel and/or activities. I/We also agree to release, hold harmless, and relinquish all rights to pursue any cause of action whatsoever against MTCA, its Staff, Employees, Students, and Board Members if a student voluntarily leaves MTCA or for any damages incurred during his/her residence."

Link location: http://www.mntc.org/pdf/LC_Adolescent.pdf

Why would Teen Challenge require a parent to sign this? This is absurd!!! This truly opens the door to exploitation, mistreatment, and abuse!!!
~

NOTE: I am adding a link that I found at Find Law to show you just how long and complicated your case can become regarding the signing of a Parental Release of Liability Agreement. http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=co&vol=2002sc%5C724&invol=1

I think you may have to register at the FindLaw website to review this case so I am posting the specifics so you can find it just in case the link I posted doesn't take you directly to it-

Cooper v. Aspen Skiing Company.

SUPREME COURT, STATE OF COLORADO

Two East 14^th Avenue

Denver, Colorado 80203

Certiorari to the Colorado Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Case No. 99CA187

Case No. 00SC885

"THINK" BEFORE YOU OR YOUR CHILD JOINS TEEN CHALLENGE

2007-03-02T20:14:00.000-06:00

Here is a START Fact Sheet with warnings to parents considering Residential Placement. If you are a parent or an adult who is considering committing either your child or yourself into the Teen Challenge Program, I strongly suggest that you also read this fact sheet.

I also highly recommend that you print out and compare this fact sheet to the Teen Challenge Daily Schedule , the in-depth Overview of the Teen Challenge Program and the Student Guidelines. You will be amazed by how many of the warning signs that the START Fact Sheet points out that are happening at Teen Challenge!

Also, to get a better picture of the program, below I have included the Daily Schedule just in case Teen Challenge pulls it off of the only website they have it posted on. (It took a lot of searching through there many websites to find this schedule!)

This is the Teen Challenge Daily Schedule:

I recommend that you print this schedule so you can evaluate just how many hours per day and week that a person would be required to spend doing the religious aspect of the program. Lecture, PACE and Study Hall are all centered around the Bible. Add up those times with the amount of time a person would spend doing Devotions and Praise & Prayer and you will realize that the students pretty much 'live & breathe' religion the good part of the day, every day, for an entire year!!!

Also, check out how many hours are spent in church on Sunday! The students must attend church, not once, but twice every Sunday!!! This totals 6-1/4 hours of solid religious programing every Sunday, not to mention the 1/2 hour that is spent doing the daily Devotion forty-five minutes after waking up every Sunday morning!

This schedule reeks of total conversion to their specific religious belief system, which is the primary purpose of Teen Challenge! As I've stated before- Teen Challenge's main goal is to recruit you so they can convert you to their extremely 'hyper-religious' religion!

Link location of the Daily Schedule: http://www.tcfarm.org/About/daily.html
Link location of the Overview of the Teen Challenge Program: http://www.tcfarm.org/About/program.html
Link location of Student Guidelines: http://tcmid.org/documents/Guidelines_jan07.pdf

TEEN CHALLENGE SUCCESS RATES ARE FROM HOW LONG AGO? INVOLVING HOW MANY PEOPLE?

2007-02-19T11:22:00.000-06:00

Teen Challenge continually boasts about their unbelievably high success rates. You've heard those success rates being told by Teen Challenge over & over again to promote their faith-based treatment program. So where do these unbelievably high success rates come from?

-The last statistically significant evaluation of the Teen Challenge program was in 1975, which was done by The National Opinion Research Center of the University of Chicago. They developed the survey instrument, located survey participants, conducted the personal interviews, and obtained a urine sample to test for drugs. The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) funded the first year of the study. The evaluation came from a sample of Pennsylvania Teen Challenge graduates from 1968!

FYI: 1975 was 32 years ago! 1968 was 39 years ago!

-A total of 186 persons, divided into 3 groups, were interviewed for this project:

P1=70 people (students that entered Brooklyn Teen Challenge, but dropped out and never attended the Rehrersburg program.)
P2=52 people (students that completed the Brooklyn program who later dropped out of the Rehrersburg program.)
P3=64 people (graduates of the Rehrersburg Training Center program.)

The results claim that 67% of the graduates (P3) are drug-free as indicated by the urinalysis test, even though 86% stated they were drug-free on the questionnaire. So, that would mean that 67% of the P3 group, or 43 people remained marijuana and heroin-free 7 years after graduating from Teen Challenge.

So, if 43 graduates remained marijuana and heroin-free 7 years after this survey, what about the other 21 graduates and the remaining 143 people who dropped out of the program? Also, the test results do not indicate whether the graduates tested positive for other drugs such as alcohol, other narcotics or nicotine!

This study suggested that Teen Challenge had a success rate of 86%. But Bill McColl, executive director of the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, dismisses both the statistic and the study. He states that the study was done too long ago and conducted with an extraordinarily small sample group. This leads us to believe that this study has almost no statistical validity. I tend to side with his opinion.

FYI: Upon doing an internet search of this study, I am only able to find 'excerpts' of this particular study only on the Teen Challenge websites, which leads me to once again wonder, "Why?"

TEEN CHALLENGE FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

2007-02-17T11:26:00.000-06:00

Family members who have loved ones in Teen Challenge programs across the country have many unanswered questions. Many seem to be crying out for help because they are not able to find out how their loved ones are 'really' doing! Please read the side-bar on the right to read excerpts from some of the family members comments and questions. These excerpts are linked to the original website that they were posted on, which is where you can read the full post.

Upon reading the excerpts and original posts, you will also realize that many people are complaining about many issues, including:

Teen Challenge staff are not returning phone calls to concerned family members.
Teen Challenge staff closely monitor conversations and visits so as not to allow the person who is in for treatment to be able to tell their family members exactly what is happening or has happened to them (or others) while in Teen Challenge.
Teen Challenge staff will actually disconnect telephone conversations when either party mentions something they do not think is appropriate.
Teen Challenge staff reprimands your loved one using various forms of punishment as discipline that you may not approve of.
Teen Challenge severely limits contact with the outside world during the entire one-year (or more) stay at Teen Challenge.
Teen Challenge staff have also been accused of physical, mental and spiritual abuse.
Very high drop-out rates that will completely change the publics perception of those incredibly high success rates that Teen Challenge continually boasts about.

It is also becoming quite clear to me that people are having a very hard time finding others who also have loved ones in Teen Challenge. You can only begin to imagine what they are also going through.

INVESTIGATING THE TEEN CHALLENGE PROGRAM

2007-02-16T08:05:00.000-06:00

The Teen Challenge Program

Teen Challenge is offered as a Drug & Alcohol Treatment Center not only for teenagers, but also for adults. The program seems to be based solely on the fact that a person can literally 'pray away' their alcoholism and drug addiction. As far as I can tell, the program is not even certified because it uses pastoral counselors instead of licensed clinical counselors. This has led me to do some research to find out what Teen Challenge is really all about and I highly recommend that you do the same before either admitting your teenager or yourself into it! (I feel sorry for the people who join while they are incarcerated. Teen Challenge does alot of their recruiting in jails and prisons! Nothing like getting you when you're already down, hey?)

Based on my findings, I feel that Teen Challenge should be classified as a brainwashing cult. Why? Well, first click here to view their Daily Schedule. (If you spend some time exploring their many websites across the U.S. and world, you will find that this schedule is rarely modified and strictly adhered to. You will also find that their Daily Schedule is quite hard to find!) Note how the schedule incorporates the daily times for the morning Devotions, Praise & Prayer and evening Devotions. From what I've heard, after you wake up and right before bedtime are when your subconscious is the most susceptible to change.

I printed out the schedule so I could evaluate just how many hours per day and week that a person would be required to spend doing the religious aspect of the program. I also realized that Lecture, PACE and Study Hall are all centered on the Bible. So, if you add up those times with the amount of time you needed for Devotions and Praise & Prayer, you realize that the students pretty much 'live & breathe' religion the good part of the day, every day, for an entire year!!!

I was also amazed at how many hours are spent in church on Sunday! The students must attend church, not once, but twice every Sunday!!! This totals 6-1/4 hours of solid religious programing every Sunday, not to mention the 1/2 hour that is spent doing the daily Devotion forty-five minutes after waking up that morning!

This is an Overview of the Teen Challenge Program. Some of their websites call it 'The Student Manual'. This site calls it Student Guidelines. (I recommend reading both of them in their entirety!) Regardless of what it is called, it is also very hard to find because most of the Teen Challenge websites do not offer it! (I wonder why? Is it because they don't want the public to know?) I also wonder if new 'recruits' are informed of these very strict rules before they are admitted. Strict dress-codes, no television, no contact with boyfriend / girlfriend / friends, no speaking to the opposite sex unless you have permission, very limited telephone usage, 5-min. showers? The list of no-no's goes on & on!

Here is their Global Teen Challenge Worldwide Directory. If you dig deep enough, you may be able to uncover a few more of their secrets that aren't disclosed on most of their websites!

Another good place to start finding out more would be to read the Proselytizing Report about Teen Challenge from the website of The Rick A. Ross Institute For The Study Of Destructive Cults, Controversial Groups and Movements.

Personally, I highly recommend doing some serious investigating before either admitting your teenager or yourself into it! And if you know someone who is incarcerated that is thinking about applying to this faith-healing treatment center, let them know what your findings are!

Also, ask questions! Ask others if they agree that Teen Challenge very aggressively pushes their religious beliefs upon those who do not share them and whose main goal is to recruit you so they can convert you to their extremely 'hyper-religious' religion. And don't forget to ask others if they sometimes have to behave like Holy Rollers / Jesus Freaks who roll around on the floor and 'speak in tongues' in an uncontrolled manner.

"Is this really what I want my loved one to experience?"