On 156 West School House Lane in Germantown sits a nondescript house that bares the name Teen Challenge on it’s front. Initially one might think that it’s a summer camp for local teens, but in reality Teen Challenge is a faith based rehabilitation program that has existed since the 1950s
.The School House Lane house itself is a male only facility, with the women’s facility at 329 E Wister St.
“The program itself has a 75 percent success rate. We focus on the spiritual side of drug and alcohol a
buse, we really think that these addictions have a spiritual base. It’s not about drugs and alcohol, it’s about improving life,” said Tomika Vines, who oversees development and public relations for Teen Challenge Philadelphia. Vines herself is a graduate of the program who stayed with Teen Challenge as a staff member in their extended training program.
The 14 month men’s program begins with the induction phase, which focuses on removing people from their addictive surroundings. Once there they focus on prayer while Teen Challenge has the inductees work in a work therapy program within the Germantown area. After that, they go to the Rehrersburg facility in Central Pennsylvania for the second part of the program. That location has less supervision than the Germantown facility and is a step closer to
“Even when this trial is over there’s always something else” Vines says of the program. Although she later added “I could never take another job. Even though I’m making minimum wage I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Historical Society
4 comments:
Someone should look in to this place. Many reports of students forced to do labor all day they do not receive and money for it. Cruel punishments. And unsanitary living condtions. Also many staff members have no certifications they're just former students who had no place to go so they stayed there many of whom relapse and continue to work there...
Also that sucess rate is untrue if u looked into it most of the people who enter the program leave many within the first week..
So grateful for the work of Teen Challenge. I had entered the program 29 years ago totally broken. Through their love, prayers, example, and discipline, I came out a complete and balanced individual. I was taught that with God's help, anything was possible. Could I find someone to love and marry? Could I raise a family that I was proud of? Could I attend college and earn a degree? After being married for 27 years, raising three college grad students (two of which are married), and earning my own degree in Early Childhood Education, I realized that what Teen Challenge had instilled in me was true....NOTHING WAS OR IS IMPOSSIBLE. So very grateful for Rick and Barb Dodridge and the entire staff who helped guide me so long ago. May God continue to Bless this ministry.
I am so grateful for the Teen Challenge Philadelphia program. When I entred in 2009 I was truly broken and had no hope. I am a single mother of 2 who had been through a lot of trials and tribulations in my life. Instead of dealing with them in a healthy way I learned to cope by being numb all of the time with drugs. I tried to handle everything on my own. Through the Grace of God and the loving arms of the staff at Teen Challege I was taught how to love myself again and more importantly how God loves me through everything and will help me and give me the strength I need to walk through whatever life gives me. It is him I need to rely on and I can get through anything. During my stay at the Womans home life continued to throw things in my direction to test my faith. I couldn't tell you how many times I wanted to leave because of the circumstances going on with my children etc... But through the guidance of my friends at Teen Challenge and God leading me each and every day I have now been home with my family for over a year and things have been great. I lean on the Lord each and every day. I also continue with the strong relationships I have built at teen Challenge and know that I have friends for life. I would recommend this program to anyone who is struggling with an addiction!!
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