Connections

Teen Challenge International is a SAMHSA National Recovery Month Planning Partner. We are accepted as a viable and important part of the national planning team. Because we have over 240 centers across America we are a faith-based organization with influence. It is time to use that influence. It is the time for each of our centers become actively involved in National Recovery Month events locally and statewide. Teen Challenge needs to participate more with government leaders and community events. Teen Challenge needs to be more visible locally by highlighting our facilities and our recovery programs.

September is National Recovery Month. During that month government leaders, the media and organizations both government and non-profit come together to promote the message that recovery in all its forms is possible. This year’s theme is “Join the Voices for Recovery: It’s Worth It.” Recovery Month spreads the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, that prevention works, treatment is effective and people can and do recover.

Recovery Month is already getting national, state, and local media coverage. I strongly encourage each Teen Challenge Center to use this opportunity to make your community aware of your existence, your programs, and your involvement locally to help others. Get involved in local Recovery Month events. SAMHSA’s Recovery Month website is full of information and ways to be involved locally and statewide and steps for planning an event yourself. Visit http://recoverymonth.gov to bring up the National Recovery Month website. Select “Get Involved” to see how your center can join in the Recovery Month campaign. It lists every known event in every state so you can find events already planned. Be sure to post your own events so others will join you.

To see the Teen Challenge listing; click on “More Information”, “Planning Partners”, go to the Planning Partners Listing and type in “Teen Challenge” to pull up Teen Challenge International. On the right side of the page you can click on “Planning an Event” for help in planning your own event.

 
Ways Teen Challenge Can Participate

 1. Join a Local or Statewide Event – collaborate with others in an event

•    Set up and man a TC Display at local and state events
•    Offer Student Testimonies at local and state events
•    Choirs sing at a local or statewide Recovery Month Event

2. Organize a Teen Challenge Event – event put on by only your
center(s)

•    Stay Sharp School Presentations
•    Fund Raiser: Walk-a-thon, Benefit Concert, Golf Tournament, BBQ & Entertainment
•    Forums: “Parent Identify, Intervention, Treatment” or “How to Help Your Friends”
•    Church/Youth services

3. Radio & TV Interviews about Addictions and TC Recovery Program

4. Publicity through Recovery Month Website and Local Media

•    Post your events to the Recovery Month website
•    Post pictures of your event to the Recovery Month website
•    Send a report and pictures to Teen Challenge USA to post on our national website

5. Contact Snow Peabody, Washington D.C. Representative, with any questions at: snow@tcaz.org