Teen Challenge
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Teen Challenge is an evangelical Christian recovery program and a network of Christian social and evangelizing work centers. It is a 12-18 month program that serves drug addicts, alcoholics, gang members, prostitutes and people with life-controlling problems.
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[edit] History
Teen Challenge was established in 1958 by Pastor David Wilkerson, who worked among teenagers and socially-marginalized people in New York City. Teen Challenge was launched from a small office on Staten Island. In 1960, the Teen Challenge headquarters relocated to a large historical house in Brooklyn, New York. Currently Teen Challenge USA is headquartered in Springfield, MO [1] and Global Teen Challenge is headquartered in Columbus, GA [2].
By 2004, Teen Challenge had grown to include 173 residential programs and numerous evangelical outreach centers in the United States, as well as 241 centers in 77 other countries. Teen Challenge centers are either organized as a network of cooperating centers with one central governing board or as stand alone autonomous centers. Teen Challenge USA serves as the accrediting organization for all centers in the United States. Global Teen Challenge serves a similar function for centers located outside of the United States.
Teen Challenge USA functions as division of the U.S. Missions department of the Assemblies of God[3], but maintains a governing board separate from the denomination. Local Teen Challenge centers are independent of the Assemblies of God governing structure, but do have an affiliation agreement with Teen Challenge USA. Global Teen Challenge maintains its own board and has no official relationship with the World Missions Department of the Assemblies of God. Some U.S. and foreign Teen Challenge missionaries are recognized by the General Council of the Assemblies of God.
[edit] Studies of Teen Challenge Effectiveness
Teen Challenge has been cited in public policy debates as an example of why such programs merit the federal funding of faith-based organizations. Its documented success rates played a role in the establishment of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in 2001.
[edit] National Institute on Drug Abuse Report
Teen Challenge claims of a 70-86% cure rate for the drug addicts graduating from their program attracted the attention of the U.S. Federal Government in 1973. Most secular drug rehabilitation programs at the time only experienced a cure rate of 1-15% of their graduates. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, funded the first year of this study to evaluate the long term results of the Teen Challenge program.
This study focused on all students in the class of 1968 that entered Brooklyn, NY, Teen Challenge, and then transferred to Rehersburg, PA, for the second half of their training. This follow-up study seven years later (1975) sought to determine six variables: what proportion of the program participants were still drug free, no legal involvements, employed or pursuing education, a part of a family unit, participating in church activities and physical and mental health.
The survey was conducted under the leadership of Dr. Catherine Hess, M.D., the former assistant chief of the Cancer Control Program of the U.S. Public Health Service, who had previously served as the Medical Director for the New York Hospital Methadone Clinic. The main premise of the study was to demonstrate that introduction of a religious component into the treatment of drug addicts is the one aspect which produces the large success rate.
The National Opinion Research Center of the University of Chicago developed the survey instrument, located survey participants, conducted the personal interviews, and obtained a urine sample to test for drugs. The National Medical Services, Inc., of Philadelphia, PA, conducted the drug screening detection for this population.
Research results were categorized into three groups. P1 were students that entered Brooklyn Teen Challenge, but dropped out and never attended the Rehrersburg program. P2 were students that completed the Brooklyn program who later dropped out of the Rehrersburg program. P3 were graduates of the Rehrersburg Training Center program.
A total of 186 persons were interviewed for this project, P1=70, P2=52, and P3=64. The P3 group of 64 represented 97% of the total population possible. The results of this survey clearly indicated the success of the Teen Challenge program in the following areas: The Teen Challenge definition of "drug-free" means abstaining from all use of narcotics, marijuana, alcohol, and cigarettes. 67% of the graduates (P3) are drug-free as indicated by the urinalysis test. (86% stated they were drug-free on the questionnaire.) 72% of the graduates (P3) continued their education upon completion of Teen Challenge. The areas include getting their G.E.D., or pursuing college level education. 75% of the graduates (P3) indicated their current status as employed. 73% of the graduates are self-supporting by earning their own salary. Of those who are currently employed, 58% have been at their present job for over one year. 87.5% of the graduates did not require additional treatment in drug treatment programs after leaving Teen Challenge. Over 90% considered themselves addicted to drugs before entering Teen Challenge. 67% of the graduates are regularly attending church. 57% of the graduates are involved in church work. 92% of the graduates (P3) report good-excellent health, whereas the numbers are significantly lower for the other two groups, P1=59% and P2=75%.[4]
[edit] University of Tennessee Report
An independent survey of Teen Challenge of Chattanooga alumni was conducted from 1992 to 1994 by Dr. Roger Thompson, Head of the Criminal Justice Department at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The survey indicates a 67% success rate in living a drug and alcohol free lifestyle. Teen Challenge had received no funding from the government, which means no tax dollars were being spent to sequester the drug and alcohol problem.
The survey represents men whose lives have been influenced by Teen Challenge. Teen Challenge of Chattanooga is a non-profit, Christian, residential organization which helps men ages 16 and up who struggle with alcohol and drug problems. Data shows indicates that once the person has completed the program, a dramatic life-style is apparent and long lasting.
Among the many issues examined in the survey, the major ones included the individuals' status in the following areas: drug-free life style, employment, legal, educational and church attendance. Research focused on those successfully completing the induction program of Teen Challenge of Chattanooga, Inc. These men spend four-six months in the Chattanooga program and then transfer to a Teen Challenge training center in Cape Girardeau, MO; or Rehrersburg, PA; for an additional 8-10 months of training. Alumni from a 13-year time period (1979-1991) were included, totaling 213 individuals. A random sample of 50 alumni was selected for this research project with a 50% response. This adequate response allowed us to analyze the success of the Teen Challenge program in the following areas:
It is noteworthy that 72% of the respondents had attempted drug addiction treatment programs prior to entering Teen Challenge of Chattanooga, Inc. The survey indicated that there have been no additional drug addiction treatment program(s) in the lives of 88% of the respondents since Teen Challenge. In terms of program recommendation, Teen Challenge was named by 88% of the respondents as the treatment program most beneficial.
- 60% of the respondents continued their education upon completion of Teen Challenge. The areas include getting their G.E.D., or pursuing college level education.
- 72% of the respondents indicated their current status as employed. Further analysis of the 28% not employed yields 8% are students and 20% are unemployed. 50% of those who are employed have been at the same job for over one year. 60% of the respondents stated that exercising truthfulness and honesty about the past has helped rather than hurt employment prospects.
- 60% of the respondents were either under the jurisdiction of the court and subject to community supervision or had charges pending when entering Teen Challenge. As of their current legal status 76% are free of legal interference.
- One of the major areas that was researched to determine the success rate of Teen Challenge was the drug free status of the respondents. The survey indicated from the respondents that 67% are abstaining from illegal drugs and alcohol.
- 76% of the respondents attend church regularly. 60% have become members of a local church. Over 60% of the respondents indicated that their relationship with family was categorized as being good in comparison to fair or poor or no change.
- 92% of the respondents claim that Teen Challenge has had a great impact upon their life.
The main focus of Teen Challenge of Chattanooga is that of being a spiritual growth center where biblical principles are taught. 80% of the respondents credited developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as a major influence in helping them to stay off drugs. As a result of this survey, indicators of success include: stabilized life-style due to their personal commitment to Jesus Christ, employment with some level of stability, financial independence, an absence of trouble with the police, an ability to enjoy freedom without condition or supervision and little need for additional drug treatment once completing the Teen Challenge program.[5]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Sullivan, Amy. "Patron Feint." The New Republic. April 3, 2006.
