Teen Challenge of Northern California and Nevada
Teen Challenge offers Christ-centered solutions to Adults, teens, and families who struggle with life-controlling problems.
The mission of Teen Challenge is to provide successful recovery to men, women, teens, children, and families with destructive, abusive, and addictive lifestyles through mentoring, education, training, and spiritual direction. Life-controlling issues affect a person’s emotional, mental, spiritual, social, and physical health. Therefore, our program offers a holistic approach. Through mentoring, character development, life and work skill lessons, spiritual direction, and community outreach, those in the program can become self-sufficient and learn to live a life of freedom and purpose.
The Teen Challenge curriculum is faith-based and uniquely designed to facilitate healing from the inside out by addressing the root of the problem. Many times, life-controlling issues, like addiction, are a symptom of deeper struggles. Components of the curriculum include but are not limited to, topics such as attitude, temptation, successful living, obedience, anger, personal rights, forgiving yourself and others, and personal relationships. Individuals meet with a mentor one-on-one and in a group setting each week to work through what they are processing and learning. Educational resources to complete a GED are also provided for those who did not finish high school. The length of the program allows the time needed to heal and grow in a secure, encouraging environment without the negative influences that contribute to their lifestyle choices. For 12-18 months, individuals and families build a solid foundation and experience the transformation from hopelessness, brokenness, and worthlessness to hope, restoration, and purpose.
There are four levels in the program. Each level is designed to be completed in three months but may sometimes take longer depending on the self-pace and progress of the student. After completion of the program, an additional six-month internship at Teen Challenge is recommended. The internship helps continue to build social and vocational skills, self-confidence, leadership, and other areas of personal growth that better equip them for society. It also gives another opportunity to experience giving - giving back to the ministry where they were helped and to assist others in finding the hope they found.
Teen Challenge of Northern California and Nevada offers centers for men, women, women and their children, as well as an exceptional family center. The family center is one of only a few in the United States where the family can heal together and change their legacy.
The hope of transforming lives through Teen Challenge began in 1958. With a burden to help teen gang members, a minister, David Wilkerson, sacrificially started serving the youth in New York City. From this endeavor to share God’s love and change the lives of teenagers, Teen Challenge grew. It has now grown to over 200 centers nationwide and more than 1,000 centers globally.
To find a center outside of the United States, please contact Global Teen Challenge at www.globaltc.org. To locate a center outside of the Northern California and Nevada area, please contact Adult and Teen Challenge, USA at teenchallengeusa.org. To find help for you or a loved one in Northern California and Nevada, please click on the link below.