Download PDF of the Teen Challenge Program Manual
1.0 About Teen Challenge
2.0 Entrance Into Teen Challenge
3.0 What to Expect
1:0 ABOUT TEEN CHALLENGE
1:1 HISTORY OF TEEN CHALLENGE
Early in 1957, David Wilkerson, a young pastor from Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania, was led by the Lord to New York City to minister to troubled youth on the streets. After reaching hundreds who wanted help, he found that many needed a long-term residential program. It was then that Teen Challenge was founded to provide a structured program for those with life-controlling drug and alcohol problems. This is how the ministry of Teen Challenge began.
Today Teen Challenge is a non-profit, inter-denominational, Christian program operating in over 80 countries, with over 500 autonomous locations internationally. Although we share the same "Teen Challenge" name, we are not affiliated or connected to other Teen Challenge centers in other countries.
Teen Challenge Alberta started in 1986 through the efforts of a Calgary pastor who was instrumental in purchasing the ranch property where we are located today near Priddis, Alberta. Other Teen Challenge centers currently operate in Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia. To find out more about Teen Challenge across Canada, visit our national website at www.teenchallenge.ca
1:2 OUR PURPOSE
What We Do
- We minister to men with drug and alcohol problems, who abuse substances on a daily or several times weekly basis.
- Our age group is 18 years of age and over.
- We believe strongly that as a man yields himself to God, he will change. At all points we preach, teach and counsel that God can change any life with an emphasis on daily practical application.
- Our ministry is entirely based upon a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
- Our counseling is not psychological but Biblical in perspective.
- We are a Christian Discipleship program endeavoring to make men into disciples of Jesus Christ, based on inter-denominational teaching.
- We teach basic life skills, such as responsibility, good work habits, integrity, self-discipline and ethical morality.
- We prepare our students to re-enter society as good citizens, good husbands & fathers and good employees, functioning as "substance-free" individuals.
We Are Not
- We are neither a psychiatric facility nor a medical facility. We do not admit persons who have existing mental problems that would prohibit the individual from cooperating with the program schedule and overall agenda of activities.
- a) We are not qualified to dispense psychotropic medicines and thus we do not accept applicants requiring these medications
- b) We currently do not make referrals on mental health conditions as we are not a mental health facility and feel it should be the responsibility of the family and a qualified professional.
- We are not a government agency. We do not accept government funding but are privately funded.
- We are not an alternative to jail. All applicants (where possible) must resolve legal issues before entering Teen Challenge.
- We reserve the right to refuse admission to applicants at our discretion and to dismiss students who disrupt the program.
- We do not exclude people who are:
- HIV positive
- Hep. A, B or C positive
- ex-convicts
- those with multiple addictions
- We do not give long-term care to the consistently violent, unteachable, sexually aggressive or game-players. These are character traits that warrant dismissal from the program.
1:3 TEEN CHALLENGE PROGRAM
The Teen Challenge program is a twelve month program that is divided into two separate phases; the Induction Phase and the Training Phase.
The Induction Phase is four to six months in length, and it is characterized by a strong emphasis on counseling, structure, discipline and teaching on the basics of Christianity. The program also includes overcoming life problems that cause men to become dependent upon drugs and alcohol.
The Training Phase is eight months in length, and it is characterized by a strong emphasis on in-depth counseling, Christian Education, Christian Outreach to churches and the community and more personal responsibility. At the end of their year they will receive a Graduation Certificate.
In order to successfully graduate, you must complete both phases of the program. Graduation Ceremonies are held after completing the Training Phase, at the end of the month.
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2:0 ENTRANCE INTO TEEN CHALLENGE’S PROGRAM
2:1 COSTS
The cost to apply to Teen Challenge is $50. Mail in applications should include a bank draft or money order payable to Teen Challenge when you send in your application. We DO NOT accept personal cheques.
The entrance fee to the program is $700, which must be paid by certified cheque or money order before an entrance date may be given. (We also accept American Express, VISA and MasterCard.) Teen Challenge does not charge any fee(s) to any student, parent, or spouse of a person in the program. The program is largely dependent on free will offerings from concerned individuals to meet daily costs. The program does not receive any government funding whatsoever.
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 for $30 or more 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.
Other daily expenses of Teen Challenge are raised through free-will offerings, newsletters, church meetings, book and CD sales, used vehicle donations, and a variety of other means.
Teen Challenge Inc. is a member in good standing with the Canadian Council of Christian Charities. The ministry subscribes to their fiscal standards of operation. Teen Challenge Inc. is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, with the National Director (and staff) handling day to day operations. Teen Challenge Inc. is audited annually by the Chartered Accountancy firm of Deloitte and Touche.
2:2 HOW TO APPLY TO THE PROGRAM
There are 3 types of interview procedures to gain entrance into the program:
A. ON SITE INTERVIEWS
If you live within a 3-hour driving radius of a Teen Challenge centre, you must apply to the program in person by calling to arrange an interview on-site. When you come for an interview you will be required to read this Program Overview (if you have not done so already) and fill out an application form. You will also be given a brief tour of the main building and property when you come in person for an interview. You will then be interviewed for possible entrance into the program. Our fee to process your application is $50 payable by cash, bank draft, credit card or money order.
B. BY MAIL or FAX
If you live outside a 3-hour driving radius of a Teen Challenge centre, read this Program Overview thoroughly, and fill out the application form for the program. When the application form has been filled out, mail or fax it back to us. We will then call you to arrange a time for a telephone interview. As a result of this interview, it will be determined first if you are eligible, and secondly, if you will be approved for entrance into this program. You may also apply to the program from this website.
C. CURRENTLY INCARCERATED
If you are currently incarcerated (in jail or in custody) you may apply to a Teen Challenge centre by mail or by fax as in the section above. A suitable interview will then be arranged.
After being interviewed and if you are approved for entrance into this program, you will then be placed on our waiting list.
D. PRE-ENTRANCE PROCESS
After being interviewed, if accepted for the program, you will be placed in the Pre-Entrance Process. You will be required to call every Monday to ensure your place in the program. This usually takes less than 3 weeks; however, it may be longer depending upon bed space. You may call any time between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm on Monday to report in. If the Intake Coordinator is not available, you must leave a voice mail to ensure your spot in Teen Challenge.
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2:3 OTHER RESOURCES
The Teen Challenge program is not for everyone. It is demanding physically, mentally and socially. Students in the program must be self-motivated to change, physically healthy, mentally competent, emotionally stable and able to function peaceably in a community setting. If a prospective student is declined for our program, there are other programs in Canada which may be more appropriate. You may inquire about these programs by visiting your local Assessment and Referral Centre. You can find their phone number in the Yellow Pages under Addiction or by calling Drug & Alcohol Registry of Treatment (DART) 1-800-565-8603. You can also contact the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health at: 1-800-463-6273.
Other Christian based programs for men:
- Hope Acres, Glen Carin, ON (705) 466-3435
Christian based programs for women:
- New Life for Girls (613) 394-3341
- BC Teen Challenge Women's Centre (604) 864-4232
Other Teen Challenge Ministries in Canada not affiliated with Teen Challenge Inc.:
- Teen Challenge Winnipeg (204) 949-9484
- BC Teen Challenge (604) 823-0133
- Quebec Teen Challenge (418) 796-2137 French Language Only
2:4 ADMISSION INTO THE PROGRAM
Intake is usually on Wednesday at 10:30 am. You will be required to bring your $700 entrance fee on your admission day into the program. (Please remember that we DO NOT accept personal cheques.)
Upon your arrival at a Teen Challenge centre, you will be checked into your dorm and meet with a staff member to complete the necessary entrance forms, including legal release forms.
All belongings will be thoroughly checked to make sure you have only what is allowed as mentioned on the Admission Information Sheet (Word DOC or PDF), which was enclosed with your application. At this time, you will also be checked to make sure you are not carrying anything illegal on your person.
In the following days you will meet with Staff who will help you understand the program, the rules, and our expectations.
The Student Legal Liaison will assist students who are enrolled in the Teen Challenge program that has obligations to Probation and/or other types of legal appointments. Management of such obligations will include, but not be limited to, written and verbal communication (i.e., phone or in-person appointments), the arranging of such communication within the confines of the program as well as with outside agencies.
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3:0 WHAT TO EXPECT
You are entering one of the world's most successful programs with a track record of over three decades. We provide Bible-based counsel and instruction, structure and discipline, along with 24-hour-a-day supervision.
At Teen Challenge, you will encounter the power of God dynamically as your life is changed. You will have the opportunity to make choices that will affect not only your life, but your destiny.
Over the 40-year life of Teen Challenge worldwide, we have learned some principles that may appear "tough" at first. At Teen Challenge you will encounter staff who love you and are vitally concerned about your Christian growth. You will experience an atmosphere charged with prayer and be exposed to some of the finest Christian teaching available. But it will be YOU who will make the decisions.
Remember... we are more interested in the development of your character than the provision of your comfort. You will always be challenged to yield your life to God.
Our prayer is that God will do a miraculous work in your life while you are here. Many graduates of Teen Challenge are working today in society, and in Christian work. This makes us happy; to be a part of what God is doing to help people today. You need to know that no matter what you have done in the past – God is able to forgive you, heal you, change you – and start you on the road to a new life!
3:1 WHEN YOU ARRIVE
When you arrive at the centre you will be assessed and a treatment plan will be drawn up for you. Your individual plan will be completed through personal work on your part, one-on-one counseling with our team of counselors, group counseling and our Induction Program curriculum. You will also be assigned a personal counselor who will oversee your progress. We encourage you to discuss specific problems with your assigned counselor who is available to answer a variety of your questions. All counselors are committed to helping you if you are willing to be helped. No amount of counseling will help if you do not desire to change and be helped.
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3:2 PERSONAL RIGHTS & FREEDOMS
While at Teen Challenge you are entrusting your life to the care of people who are committed to your healing and growth. We ask for your trust. You show trust by laying down certain personal rights and freedoms. Addicts have learned certain responses that actually cater to their addictive lifestyle. All of the game-playing, manipulation, and street survival techniques that have been a part of your day to day philosophy must be laid down. We require honesty with yourself, with God, and with the Teen Challenge staff. A person, who is open and transparent, will be able to focus on his desperate need to be free of his addiction.
The personal rights and freedoms that we ask you to lay down include the following:
- No relationships with women (unless you are married). We do not have housing of any kind available for wives or children, which means you will have to make alternate arrangements if applicable. Relationships with legitimate fiancées (a woman you have had a long-time relationship with and are planning to marry) will be put on hold, unless biological children are involved. All other relationships with women must be put on hold for the entire time you are in the program. Remember, you are not here to date girls but to get your life together!
- 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 sessions.
- No use of cigarettes, alcohol, drugs and no fighting. All of these may result in immediate dismissal.
- No giving your last name or address out to anyone (this is to protect you from well meaning people who want to befriend you but can end up causing problems. We have found that these relationships can become detrimental to what God wants to do in your life because they can be distracting.)
- You must be with an approved student partner during any group outing and you must have permission to leave the group.
- Medication is kept in our medication room and is administered by staff only, at set times. All medications must be declared when you enter the program.
- No alcohol products are allowed (e.g. mouthwash, cologne).
- Hair must be above your collar. No earrings, no beards and no 'T' shirts promoting non-approved lifestyles
- All your money will be put into a Teen Challenge bank account onsite and you will be allowed to withdraw $10 per week in the Induction Phase and $20 per week in the Training Phase. If you leave the program prematurely, any outstanding bills must be settled before you leave in order to cash out your account.
- If you leave prematurely, we will hold your belongings for up to three (3) days. After this time, anything you have left behind will become Teen Challenge property, unless you make special arrangements with us.
- Your belongings and person are subject to staff inspection at anytime while you are in the program. Upon entrance, your belongings will also be inspected.
No matter what your reason for coming to Teen Challenge, God is willing to help you. We believe that a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will give you answers and the ability to face and overcome whatever are your difficulties. However, you must continue to give your life over to God no matter what you are facing. This will mean that you will have to follow direction given by our staff at all times. We are serious about helping you change your life, so we expect that you must also be serious! This will involve giving up things like street games, manipulation and will require you to put your total effort into the program here. We expect you to also be open to consider a personal relationship with Christ, since we believe He is the only one who can permanently change you!
It is important that no one come into the program thinking that he is going to change the program or the staff. You are only responsible to change what needs to be corrected in your life. At Teen Challenge, you will no longer be able to just "push" your problems aside. You must confront each problem and with help from God, overcome it. As you overcome your problems, you will be a step closer toward maturity and complete freedom from the problems you were facing when you entered the program.
There are no shortcuts to completing this program!! You will be spending a minimum of 12 months in the Teen Challenge program. In order to graduate you must successfully complete both phases of the program. As it has always been... the final choice is YOURS!
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Click here to continue reading the Program Manual (Induction and Training Phase)
