Teen Challenge Exposed By Action 9 News

Questions Raised About Local Teen Charity
http://www.wftv.com/news/15212201/detail.html

An Action 9 investigation is raising serious questions about how a successful drug treatment program in Sanford is raising money. Teen Challenge wins high praise, but Action 9 uncovered allegations that the program runs a telemarketing operation that could be putting consumers at risk. Action reporter Todd Ulrich found past clients who say they were paid pennies a day to handle the calls.

Teen Challenge is proud to talk about how it cures drug abusing young men with God-based treatment. But Action 9 has uncovered allegations of a dark side.

Nineteen-year-old Holden Knight spent three months at the Sanford residential treatment center.

When asked,"Did Teen Challenge take advantage of you?" Knight answered, "I felt like they did."

According to Holden, and others Action 9 interviewed, many Teen Challenge clients must work 40 hours a week in back rooms, on the phones, as telemarketers. Knight says he was trained to pressure sell Dish Network services and timeshares.

"I would not hang up the phone until they hung up on me. Just so I could get their credit card numbers," said Holden.

Action 9 tracked down Kyle Kiernan in Michigan, after he spent several weeks at Teen Challenge Sanford, in treatment, and on the phones.

"It was a way for them to make money," said Kiernan.

Teen Challenge's treatment philosophy always included work training as discipline that generated income to support the program.

Kiernan said he knew that, but after paying fees to attend, he didn't expect a 40 hour work week and to be paid the 33 cents a day that he said he was paid.

Kiernan and Knight both say they were paid 33 cents a day and it felt like slave labor. Action 9 also found consumers could be at risk. Inside the charity's phone rooms, some men convicted of financial crimes, gathered consumers' personal information.

"People's first and last name, credit card numbers," said Kiernan. "Security codes to their credit cards. Basically everything you need to make fraud on a credit card."

Kiernan claims he saw other men in treatment take credit card lists back to their dorms. Knight said it happened too.

When asked, "You know one guy took the credit card numbers?" Knight answered, "Yeah."

Action 9 could not find any state registrations for a telemarketing operation at the Sanford address.

Program Director Wayne Gray wrote Action 9, saying Teen Challenge students were not "cold calling" anyone. Instead, they worked "customer service" assignments for private companies. So no telemarketing license is required. And it was part of their recovery program.

But Kiernan said when he worked the phones he didn't tell callers he was in Teen Challenge on a jail diversion program for grand theft and burglary convictions. He just read scripts to sell satellites and time shares and collected credit card numbers.

Action 9 asked Teen Challenge if its clients with criminal records do collect credit card information. There was no response.

After Action 9's calls, Florida's Division of Consumer Services, which regulates telemarketing, sent Teen Challenge a letter demanding answers about the phone rooms.

Dish Network has responded to Action 9's investigation and said an affiliated company has used the Teen Challenge phone rooms, and it thought the system was secure. Dish Network said that contract with the charity is under review

I think that you get out of it what you put into it. I am a alum student of Teen Challenge Sanford Fl. You people always want something for nothing. GET A LIFE. Its not recovery for me its Deliverance or DEATH!!! I choose life. If others don't feel that way then they are not ready to be clean!!!

i worked in the phone rooms i have acess toall the credit card numbers of every customer and their phone numbers and everything... if i was a bad person i could take advantage of that

I am about to send a family member there!
For what i gather, the phones are used to pay for the tution. Most of these programs cost money.
Is it a good program, other than a few addicts who didn't really want help and did bad things?
Can anyone reply to me and let me know if it helped them. Truly Helped Them?
Thanks

The Bible says, "Blessed are you when men persecute you, and revile you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely." Jesus also said the world would hate Christians, because it hated Him first. Its a shame when a news reporter will slight a story just to create conflict...but that is what the media does--thats how you sell a story.

To the reporter who wrote this story, I hope for your sake that Duran still chooses to send their family member there, because Jesus is not only the proven cure for addictions, but the only way to find real joy in one's life. If Duran chooses not too send the family member to what could be the cure for his/her broken life, it would be because you wanted so badly to get a good story you were willing to report false or shaded information to create conflict and therefore "a good story." I wouldn't want a shattered life hanging over my head.

To Duran, I work with these kids every day at a Teen Challenge not too far from Sanford: one of the kids being my own younger brother. I can assure you that it has completely changed his life and the lives of hundreds of other boys here. It is an excellent program, with 50 years of proven results--not only do the children have changed lives, but they go home and change the lives of their entire family for the good. I can't tell you how many times I've heard a father or mother say, "If it weren't for Teen Challenge, our family would still be torn apart," or "Not only did Teen Challenge save my boy's life, but it helped bringing healing to my marriage and I can now bring proper care to my other children." It works. And yeah, every now and again some bitter child finds some foolish reporter to deceive and manipulate because they want to get back at someone who is only guilty of showing them true love and care. But that brings me back to the verses I quoted up top: those things are going to happen. But we can't be shaken. Let the world say what they want--ultimately, it's just an attack on Jesus.

To conclude, I can say that I'm glad my little bro is in Teen Challenge--it has changed the entire course of his life from one of defeat and judgement to one of joy and promise. Go ahead and send your family member--it will change their life too.

as a graduate of Teen Challenge, I have to say that the program works, but while you are there I can see how others say that they are being ripped off. Back when I was going through I would do the work that was asked of me because I was taken off the streets, being homeless. But, there were others who had to pay and still had to work.

Get over yourself wrote:

I think that you get out of it what you put into it. I am a alum student of Teen Challenge Sanford Fl. You people always want something for nothing. GET A LIFE. Its not recovery for me its Deliverance or DEATH!!! I choose life. If others don't feel that way then they are not ready to be clean!!!

My son is going to Sanford tomorrow. I read that this place is a cult and they abuse the people there. Is this true? I need to know as soon as possible. He wants help, but not abuse. Any response is appreciated.

I went to a Teen Challenge in Florida. I have heard bad about some and good about some. Only good from Sanford. Although, staff comes and goes. Different "clients" come and go. Attitude determines alltitude. With Jeff Jones as the new director you will have no worries. He is a man of great integrity and love for his job.

please. Teen challenge has helped a friend of mine tremendously. At first some people aren't going to like it. It depends totally on your attitude. I just don't understand why people get all worked up and exaggerate on things just because God comes into the picture. He's the best thing that will happen to everyone if you let Him.

well, here is the thing and i am going to try real hard to be fair.... the initial idea of something is one thing and the final outcome may be quite different... while some people go there and are changed...and go on and do well some people use it just like they have used every one else in their lives and there are more than just teens there... people nearing 60 - they have alienated every one else and places like teen challenge - but not limited to them are all that is left.... and while these "lifetime users" are using the program in many cases they too are being used - some times for the good of others and some times for the ultimate good of the administration - seems to be a never ending circle of mess huh? so why mention it... i just don't know - but it felt right.

Duran wrote:

I am about to send a family member there!
For what i gather, the phones are used to pay for the tution. Most of these programs cost money.
Is it a good program, other than a few addicts who didn't really want help and did bad things?
Can anyone reply to me and let me know if it helped them. Truly Helped Them?
Thanks

Go to Amazon.com buy the Teen Challenge 50 year book. There is testimonial after testimonial of people who were helped. Before and after pics. I couldn't afford $3000 a month for my grown sons rehab let alone $12k as all of them are in the range of...Teen challenge makes you work which is good for a person to contribute to their own existence. Owning your own air space and realizing responsiblity for self. The ministers and workers have lives that they support. They cannot work 40 hours a week for free and if the people in the program were not in destitute shape they would not have to earn the money somehow.

I was in the program in texas they had us doing rodeos for 2 bux a month 33 cents a day sunds like a dream come true

concerned parent wrote:

<quoted text>
My son is going to Sanford tomorrow. I read that this place is a cult and they abuse the people there. Is this true? I need to know as soon as possible. He wants help, but not abuse. Any response is appreciated.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ ALL POST
http://blogto2010.blogspot.com/
http://home.earthlink.net/~forever2again/id28...

I finished teen challenge in April of 2001. I went to Teen Challenge of Memphis for the first 4 months and Sanford for 8 months. I was heavy into drug selling and drug use. The program shouldn't even pay the 33 cents because to me it was working for the Lord and a diversion from jail that changed my life at a time that I had the devil inside working hard. We washed the heck out of cars when I was there I(Manheim and Gator) It was a lot of work but you need to be broken down to be built back up. Keep up the good work Teen Challenge.

As a graduate and former staff member of Teen Challenge in Sanford, Florida, I can attest to the remarkable change in my life. I was tortured for years by alcohol. It ruined my career, family and my self worth. Without Teen Challenge I would be dead. Action News 9 spend your time on helping those in need, instead of looking for some news to pay for your advertisment.

San Fransisco , Monterey Bay, Reno , Spokane , Sacramento, Oakland and San Jose ,, At each one of these places I have seen wonder things .. are they perfect no,,, But they sure show allot of love I have been on both sides of the fence as a student an volunteer ,,,

God bless you folks in the love of Christ .......>>>>> >>>>>t< <<<<<<< <<

Teen Challenge in sanford is a sham. A 23 yr old intern overdosed on thursday aug. 6th 2009. The staff provides drugs for all takers....PLEASE HELP .............Student

Even in Churches problems arise this may be an isolated incident ..

This is not so at the Teen Challenges I have spent time at..

yes there are failures but many are the victories ...

Lets pray for more miracle moments ...

Lord let us as Christians don our parts to encourage others with Love and good stewardship..

Give us hearts for the broken hearted and needy even those who are angry are in need of compassion and love ..

Praying for you all to be blessed...

Joe jones wrote:

Teen Challenge in sanford is a sham. A 23 yr old intern overdosed on thursday aug. 6th 2009. The staff provides drugs for all takers....PLEASE HELP ..........Student

are you serious? my son is in there right now. who overdosed? from what i can tell, this is a good place. i don't think it's perfect, but i really believe they are trying to help the students.

Joe jones wrote:

Teen Challenge in sanford is a sham. A 23 yr old intern overdosed on thursday aug. 6th 2009. The staff provides drugs for all takers....PLEASE HELP ..........Student

Please tell me more information or where can I find it. I have someone there that told me about the news this morning and he wants out.