ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN TEEN CHALLENGE
Located in Muskegon, Mich., Western Michigan Teen Challenge operates a one-year faith-based discipleship program with a goal of helping adult men and women overcome addictions of any kind. The facility uses the Teen Challenge USA model, which began in the 1950s and includes over 200 programs nationwide.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
According to Western Michigan Teen Challenge’s website, residents in the program are described as students. The program’s mission is heavily faith-centered and helps clients function as Christians in families, church, jobs, and the community.
Ascribing to a holistic model of drug and alcohol recovery, the focus of the program is the Bible. Students attend classes, partake in individual study, personal monitoring, work ethics training, and are involved in the Christian community.
The facility also sends “rally teams” to churches across Michigan to raise awareness about addiction.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The facility’s website does not include information on its staff at the time of this writing, however, two individuals surveyed by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing gave five out of five stars for the program’s level of staff support.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Western Michigan Teen Challenge’s website notes men and women are housed in separate facilities and sleep in large rooms filled with rows of bunk-beds. Photos on the facility’s website show bare, basic accommodations. Basketball, baseball, table tennis, and volleyball are available on the grounds and the women’s center houses a salon.
The program has many rules, including no use of tobacco and no communication with students of the opposite sex.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The one alum polled by Best-rehabs.com to date provided positive feedback, and indicated they would recommend Western Michigan Teen Challenge. The alum, K.S., reported feeling the program inspired a sense of empowerment to change behavior and provided the proper tools to achieve recovery.
They gave five out of five stars for many survey metrics, including holistic offerings and the overall quality of group and individual counseling. “If u seriously want free from addiction teen challenge will be the best facility,” K.S. wrote.
To date, the 92 people who gave reviews on Western Michigan Teen Challenge’s Facebook page, which it has the ability to manage, provided an average of 4.8 out of five stars. Reviewers appreciated the strong focus on faith and described the effectiveness of the program. “I love this place it helped change my life I graduated from here and my life have never been the same,” David wrote.
The 19 people who gave Google Reviews for Western Michigan Teen Challenge at the time of this writing gave an average of 3.3 out of five stars, and mixed feedback. Of the 19 reviewers, eight people gave one star and described negative experiences at the center, such as inappropriate relationships and employees who judge clients.
However, the other 11 individuals provided four or five star reviews and positive commentary. “This place is Bible based and the pastors and staff are Truly there for the positive outcome and genuine help of All of the men and women who are seeking to be free from addiction,” Tim wrote in a representative review.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The one loved one surveyed by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing gave positive feedback, and five out of five stars for the quality of addiction treatment, executive leadership, and counseling options. In commentary, Douglas appreciated the “Christian facility, cold-turkey withdrawal, low price” and mentioned a “very high cure rate.” The loved one gave mediocre ratings of three stars for the facility’s meals, family involvement, and holistic offerings.
FINANCING
According to Western Michigan Teen Challenge’s website, it accepts insurance, which about 80 percent of all treatment facilities in Michigan accept. The center does not turn anyone away due to lack of funds. The average cost per month is $850 and the facility relies heavily on donations to stay in operation.
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