Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey’s Brockton Men’s Campus utilizes a faith-based approach to inspire lifelong recovery in men 18 years of age and above. Individuals struggling with drug and/or alcohol abuse are invited to participate in a rigorous, compassionate addiction treatment program that engages the word of Christ to produce an enduring transformation. Through spiritual, academic, and vocational training, Teen Challenge ensures that each participant receives the necessary skills to succeed after treatment.
ABOUT TEEN CHALLENGE NEW ENGLAND AND NEW JERSEY – BROCKTON
One of ten Teen Challenge New England and New Jersey facilities (and more than 200 U.S. locations), the Brockton Teen Challenge location has been in operation since the 1960s. Located south of Boston, the long-term residential rehab facility offers Christian faith-based addiction counseling, education, and vocational training to assist adult men struggling with substance abuse disorders. Clients involved in the justice system can be accommodated in some cases. Nearby women’s programs are located in Boston and Providence, R.I.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
The long-term residential program at Teen Challenge (TC) Brockton runs for 15 months, with an optional six-month apprenticeship program after graduation. A six-month Restoration program is also available to alumni in the case of relapse. Men begin the admission process with an online application. If necessary, clients must be physically stable (post-detoxification) prior to intake.
At the core of the Christian program are Bible study, chapel services, educational sessions, peer support, work therapy and clinical counseling, which can address co-occurring mental health disorders, according to the facility’s website. In a five-phased process, residents receive increased responsibility as well as vocational training. If applicable, clients are expected to obtain their GED before graduating from the program.
Vocational opportunities include obtaining work experience through the Teen Challenge Brockton thrift store or car wash, helping with construction projects, participating in catering services, and refurbishing furniture. Along with continued connection with other alumni, discharge plans prioritize five areas of personal progress: college enrollment, trade school enrollment, employment, Christian ministry, or the Teen Challenge apprenticeship.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
Many of the staff members at Teen Challenge New England and New Jersey are graduates of the Brockton or other TC programs in the region. Among the staff credentials listed on the Brockton facility’s website are a master’s in counseling, a master’s in divinity, and various diplomas in bible study.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
New England and New Jersey Teen Challenge’s Brockton facility houses 108 beds for its 15-month men’s program. Plans to add more than 30 in a new building for short-term treatment are in place for summer 2018, according to a July 2017 Enterprise News story. Most rooms are semi-private. Letters and phone calls are limited to immediate family during approved times, according to the TC website.
Clients participate in a range of recreational activities including basketball, softball, and attending organized events. The facility also operates a men’s choir that schedules regular performances in the area. Information sourced through TC Brockton’s official Facebook page also suggested that residents receive some donated dental services.
REVIEWS
Best-rehabs.com has not yet received any reviews from this facility’s alumni, affiliated friends or family members, or staff. However, feedback for Teen Challenge Brockton on Google and the program’s official Facebook page (which its staff may monitor) was overwhelmingly favorable at the time of this writing. All 22 individuals who submitted Google reviews awarded the facility five out of five stars and on Facebook, 96 maximum five-star ratings dominated the nine total lower ratings.
Written comments from a mix of TC former clients, their loved ones, staff, and local community members tended to highlight the value of the program’s religious approach and to report positive outcomes in changed lives, sobriety, and restored families. Several emphasized the genuine commitment of the staff. In a representative review, alum G.D. wrote on Facebook: “Teen Challenge was one of the toughest but greatest life changing experiences I’ve ever been through that no secular program out there could match.” K.H. wrote of her son: “He feels love and has learned acceptance.”
Likewise, the two former employees of TC Brockton who reviewed the program on Indeed were positive. One, who appeared to be an alum as well, reported developing character along with customer service and other job skills. Their praise for the program fit in the context of 105 employee reviews for other Teen Challenge facilities across the country, which averaged a strong rating of 4.4 out of five stars.
FINANCING
According to the Teen Challenge Brockton website, the facility does not accept insurance or government funding, but is supported by donations and income from its alumni-run businesses. A February 2017 Boston Globe article reported that residents are asked to contribute $750 per month toward their program costs, but that no one is turned away based on financial ability.
Footnotes:
[1] Source: https://goo.gl/xFKMrr
[2] Source: https://www.facebook.com/pg/TeenChallengeBrockton/reviews/
[3] Source: https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Teen-Challenge/reviews?fcountry=US&floc=Brockton%2C+MA