Wall of Victims

The first annual National Rx Drug Abuse Summit was held April 10-12 in Orlando, Florida. Attendees were introduced to the subject from the moment they entered the conference center through a very poignant visual display – picture upon picture of young people lining the hall like hundreds of sentinels, all silent testimonies to the dangers of abuse and misuse of prescription drugs.

To better understand the scope of the problem of this nationwide epidemic and foster cooperation between agencies and the community, national and state leaders met with state and federal law enforcement officials, medical rofessionals, rehabilitation and recovery experts, educators, insurance managers, and pharmaceutical executives.

Federal and state government officials included: Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske; U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina M. Benjamin; Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear; U.S. Representatives Harold “Hal” Rogers (R-Ky), Mary Bono Mack (R-Ca),Nick J. Rahall II (D-WV), and Jack Kingston (R-Ga); and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.

During a press conference following the Summit’s first session, Kerlikowske told attendees that prescription drugs is the fastest growing drug problem and account for one death every nineteen minutes. He identified Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia as “ground zero” for prescription drug abuse and Florida as the top supplier, but emphasized that the problem is nationwide and no state is exempt.

 “This is an epidemic that stretches from Hollywood to Hazard, KY,” said Congressman Rogers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deaths from prescription drugs now exceed deaths from heroin and cocaine combined and in many states, exceeded deaths from automobile accidents. “In Kentucky, an average of 82 people dies each month as a result of a drug overdose. Medicine cabinets have become more dangerous than cars,” Rogers said.

Rev. Snow Peabody, Teen Challenge, USA National Representative to Washington, D.C. was invited as the sole representative for faith-based drug rehabilitation and recovery programs. “The problem is epidemic in our nation. When you hear approximately 70 people are dying each day, it truly is cause for alarm,” he said. “Teen Challenge is already providing help for those with prescription drug abuse and other life-controlling issues to find freedom through our recovery programs.”

Rev. Peabody was one of four representatives invited to personally discuss the issue with Congresswoman Mack in a private session. Rev. Peabody was able to express Teen Challenge USA’s desire to partner with local, state, and national government leaders to provide our recovery services for those needing help to come off illegal prescription use, and find a new life through our faith-based programs. The need for good prevention programs to the public schools was also discussed, and Teen Challenge USA’s Stay Sharp program was received with interest by Congresswoman Mack. In a letter to Rev. Peabody following the Summit she wrote, “Please know that I will keep your views and recommendations in mind as I work on legislation related to this critically important issue.”

CADCA Chairman Arthur Dean-Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske-US Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin

“We need a federal response, a state response and a local response. All are important,” said Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America (CADCA) Chairman and CEO, General Arthur Dean. “It’s a combination of strategies that are needed, and that’s what coalitions are doing across the country.”

Karen Kelly, president of Operation UNITE and organizer of the summit stressed that the goal of this year’s Rx summit is for agencies to work together on policies to curb pill abuse at the state and federal levels. “If we walk away with that, this will be a tremendous success,” she said.

Progress on a national level is difficult with limited federal funding. However, Congresswoman Mack sees hope: “We must do more with less,” she stated. “We need to become personal activists in the fight against drug abuse.”

The Pill Mill Crackdown Act of 2011 was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Joe Manchin, (D-W.Va), and in the House by Rep. Mark Kirk, (R-Ill.). This bill would increase penalties for pill mill operators and some of that money would pay for drug monitoring and rehab programs. The bill has not yet been refe

During the 4-day conference it was my honor to represent you to our government leaders and agencies as I continue to bring the visibility and emphasize the great work each of the TC Centers is doing across the nation. I also attended a Capitol Reception in the Dirksen Senate Office Building and participated in personalized meetings with federal leaders on Capitol Hill. I was able to share the impact Teen Challenge is having in public schools with our Stay Sharp Drug Awareness, Education and Prevention Program.

This year’s Forum focused on three areas of involvement.

We can Collaborate with other organizations to take ownership of the current “problems” and to share communication, resources, leadership, responsibility, action, risk and reward. I attended workshops on how to develop strategic partnerships with policymakers and community leaders.

We need to be an Advocate. Local drug prevention coalitions can be effective in changing policy. We need to keep issues in front of government leaders and to stand up against harmful legislation. At the CADCA Forum we learned how to be effective coalitions in gathering and judiciously spending political capital to reduce alcohol and other drug use and misuse.

We should Innovate and implement comprehensive strategies to address local conditions, include evidence-based practices and develop solutions in response to emerging trends.

I have found a warm and open reception from federal leaders. They express interest in what Teen Challenge is doing, and they welcome more interaction. The door is open for faith-based organizations to have an influence on and against substance abuse legislation. Teen Challenge needs to participate in local and state events. See the SAMHSA Recovery Month article for more information on how your center can become actively involved.

Attendees at the CADCA meeting

Teen Challenge, as a member of CADCA, receives regular studies and news releases on use and addictions of substances both legal and illegal, how American use and views of use are changing, and government rulings and laws enacted and/or needed.  Click here www.cadca.org to read the newly released study that found “1 in 5 Teens Drive while Under Marijuana’s Influence”. (CADCA, Resources & Research, Issues: Drunk/Impaired Driving; Coalition Resources: Data Analysis: February 23, 2012)

According to the report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) a newstudy shows 7.5 million children under age 18 (10.5 percent of this population) lived with a parent who has experienced an alcohol use disorder in the past year. SAMHSA reports are found at:  http://www.samhsa.gov/

The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) online newletters have helpful studies that can be quoted to add those compelling statistics. The February newsletter at: http://www.cadca.org/  has studies about cocaine and the Teen Brain, How to Educate your Comminity abut the Dangers of Inhalants, and a study that finds 1 in 5 teens have driven under the influence of marijuana.

CADCA also released Research in Action, Jan./Feb. edition, which has an article about the costs associated with excessive alcohol consumption. 79,000 lives are lost annually due to alcohol consumption. According to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine excesive alcohol consumption cost the United States 223.5 billion in 2006, with binge drinking accounting for over 75% of the total economic costs. This is an increase from 184.6 billion in 1998. This CADCA release if found at  http://www.cadca.org/

Another helpful release is NIDA’s Easy-to-Read Drug Facts. http://easyread.drugabuse.gov/ This site is aimed at 4th-6th grade reading level, simply written, but with basic information about drugs and drug abuse. This is another resource that could provide helpful information for a specific audience. This could be referenced in Stay Sharp presentations or information included in handouts for parents.

Check out some of these resources for current statistics to use in printed fundraising, presentations and also in your daily conversations with people.

When a nonprofit organization accepts a volunteer to do an uncompensated internship, there are a couple of important guidelines that should be followed.

Unpaid internships can legally last for up to one year. Most unpaid internships in Teen Challenge last only about 4 months. After one year, if the intern is kept on, they have to be hired as staff. The exception would be if the internship is part of an in-house education program that the volunteer has enrolled in. If you’re not paying a stipend during the first year of program, you definitely want to start paying one the second year.

Interns need to be designated volunteers who provide a service for the ministry in exchange for room and board and training. The person volunteering for an uncompensated internship position needs to sign a written agreement with the nonprofit organization so that both parties understand that the internship is an uncompensated one.

Because an internship position is considered a training position, Interns need to be getting as much cross-training as can be done for them by the non-profit organization they have volunteered to intern at.

Interns enrolled in an in-house education program like TCMI or Emerging Leaders can receive a monthly stipend as part of the education program they’re enrolled in. The student does have to report this on their taxes. When I looked into all the options for reporting such income, I found several different answers depending on which state the center was located in, amount of stipend, etc. My advice is to consult with a good tax accountant for your area.

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

Though we know that we are dependent on God to accomplish anything of significance, we also know that we must work together to fulfill the task that God has called us to.

Therefore, I want to thank everyone who had a role in helping us complete the first phase of the strategic planning process for Teen Challenge USA!

This process began with our Board of Directors meeting in January of 2011. It was then carried on to all four regional conferences where many of our directors and staff had the opportunity to give their valuable input. These were followed by an open meeting in Dallas in which about 30 directors came to help further refine what had come through the previous activities. This culminated with this year’s Board of Directors meeting in which we pinpointed the areas that are most critical for our future. We made these decisions based on all the input that had come in through the six previous meetings.

Before I share these areas with you, I want to sincerely thank a number of people for their tremendous help.

• The Teen Challenge USA Board of Directors. These fine men and women were willing to grapple with the tough issues presented as well as help develop a vision for the future. Though you may not know them all, let me assure you they truly have a heart to see this ministry go forward.
• The regional representatives who allowed a significant amount of time at the regional conferences to be used for this process. I know there were many other topics that could have been presented, so I thank them for allowing us this valuable time.
• Everyone who was able to attend a regional conference or the Dallas meeting. In the busyness of running a local center(s) it takes a concerted effort to take time for meetings like these. In addition, it takes foresight and an unselfish attitude to see what is needed for Teen Challenge as a whole. It was great to hear the voices of so many!
• Finally, I want to extend our gratitude to Rick Souza who guided us through the entire strategic planning process. Rick’s expertise, commitment, and patience kept us on track in finding God’s direction in this whole process. Thanks Rick; I do not believe we could have done it without you!

The tremendous efforts of each one have brought to light five areas that are going to be the focal point of the ministry coming out of our office for the next several years.

• Staff Training and Development. We know that an ongoing need in our centers is to have quality training and development for our workers, from interns to executive directors. We will explore what methods of delivery are most effective and most accessible. Dr. Rodney Hart will be the team leader for this area.
• Sustainability. Fund raising is always a concern and challenge for our ministries both at the local and national level. With the establishment of a Development Department at TCUSA we will, in time, be able to assist local ministries in their fund raising through training and sharing innovative ideas. I will be leading this team as we seek to provide solutions for this long standing need.
• Communication. This area seeks to clarify and facilitate the relationship between Teen Challenge International USA and the Assemblies of God. Tim Culbreth will head up a team to carefully examine this relationship and give a thorough explanation with recommendations for future action through a white paper which will be sent to all the centers once it is written.
• Marketing/Branding/Public Relations. This is a broad area that includes promoting Teen Challenge in a variety of ways. One aspect that is already going strong is our Public Service Announcements through our media department very capably headed up by Lynette Scherber. This team will go even beyond that and look at what it will take to get Teen Challenge to the next level in public awareness and support. This group is headed up by Elizabeth Fletcher, a board member who is also a business professor at Evangel University. She will be joined by Lynette, Snow Peabody, and others.
• Best Practices. This area could be expressed by other terms such as ministry models, templates, etc. The key point is providing proven systems that any Teen Challenge can use in adding to, upgrading, or beginning their program. This will help all Teen Challenge centers operate effectively without having to “reinvent the wheel” each time a new area of need arises. Greg Hammond, COO of Southeast Teen Challenge will head up this important team.

We are working hard to have the initial recommendations of how to implement these plans in practical ways by the National Teen Challenge Conference in Denver, Aug. 5-7. (By the way, I would love to see you there!) We want to have at least one or two proposals to present regarding each of these areas.

This process has taken time and energy and will take much more time and energy as we work through the process. I believe, however, that it will cause us to move forward more efficiently and effectively than ever before to touch those in need with the transforming power of Jesus Christ. Please join with us in praying for the continued leading of the Holy Spirit as we move forward for the glory of God!

A good percentage of volunteers and alumni who may not be candidates for residential internships; it just is not a setting that is conducive to everyone’s giftings and personalities. They may still want to be engaged and connected — and need to be. This is where Lifeline fits in.

Let’s look at some of the reasons to encourage their involvement in the small group ministry of Lifeline Connection;

1. Opportunity to be challenged to a new level of spiritual attainment and much needed accountability for both volunteers and graduates. Volunteers desire the challenges of ministry, and with that desire comes the need for training. Many have not experienced the intense discipleship that Teen Challenge graduates experience; that could be one reason they want to volunteer. Graduates must have a bonding similar to what they experienced as students with fellow students during program participation.

2. It is most likely that if Lifeline Connection is to be an extension of ministry and effective outreach of Teen Challenge, it will be facilitated by volunteers, not residential staff members. The vast majority of our staff and directors have more than enough on their plates, and so volunteers are crucial to a successful nonresidential Lifeline Connection ministry.

3. Alumni must make the decision to continue with positive peer choice, accountability and boundaries if they are to be consistent in their new walk in Christ and be free of relapse. As a whole, Teen Challenge has been lacking in effective follow-up and re-entry. Recovery and discipleship are for a life time. Let’s give our graduates a ministry that maintains their dignity, allows for employment, further education, family restoration, and allows them to be engaged in meaningful ministry that gives both encouragement and accountability, and the camaraderie of caring relationships.

4. Somehow, we must reconcile the ministries of Teen Challenge, and that of the local church! If we are unable to transition the discipleship ministry of TC to the local church, we have failed in our attempts to truly see continued recovery & discipleship. Lifeline Connection can be the bridge between Teen Challenge and the local church. The bonding and closeness that students experience as a part of their Teen Challenge experience must be replicated and extended beyond their TC experience. Some churches may lack the relational component that is present at TC; However, the groups can provide the relational component and bonding that is so necessary for continued growth and discipleship. Churches may use the Living Free training and small group curriculum we use for Lifeline Connection, and have their own effective support group ministry as well.

In conclusion; there is no doubt that Teen Challenge needs to continue to expand and reach a greater percentage of the addicted populace. Volunteers and alumni can be a point of contact for our centers in smaller communities, offering referral ministry, helping the hurting become aware that Teen Challenge centers are available! Ministering to those not able to go, or unwilling to go, through relationships and the Christ-centered groups can be the difference between life and death. Helping families through realignment, ministry to those connected to our students and others who deal with co-dependency issues is vitally important.

Reintegration of our graduates back into society ensures they have every opportunity to be free of relapse and continue their discipleship. Volunteers and alumni are a vital resource to be trained and empowered if we truly want to reach a greater percentage of the hurting and addicted and impact our culture through both residential and nonresidential anointed ministry.

There will be 4 different tracks so be sure to bring as many staff as possible for this exciting event. There is an early-bird registration discount until June 1st for $185.00 per person. After that date the price will increase as the conference draws closer. Please visit www.connect.tc for all the dates, prices and for hotel registration information and be sure to reserve your rooms at the conference hotel by July 4th to receive the special conference rates.

You won’t want to miss the launch of the MyTeenChallenge Student Management System, or miss seeing the Television PSAs. Visit connect.tc for speakers and the session topics. We have a variety of speakers including two who are new to some in Teen Challenge, Dr. Dale Berkey and Dan Prater.

Dr. Dale Berkey

Dr. E. Dale Berkey currently serves as President of BBS & Associates, a development and marketing agency which serves more than 30 Christian ministries and educational institutions. He is also the co-author of several ministry development books and is frequently speaks at various ministry development seminars across the country.

Why Donors Disappear (Disappearing Donor book):

How does a donor slip away from your ministry? This question has perplexed Christian leaders for decades. But now, through an enormous research project, valuable new insight is available based on lapsed donors. Dr. Berkey puts a practical spin on the data – to help your ministry hang on to your donors more effectively.

Donor Performance Index

Learn how to use a 2-3 page multi-year index to monitor key indexes regarding the health of your donor file, new donors, reactivation donors, multi-year donors, average frequency of gifts and average gift trends etc. Dr. Berkey will show how a Donor Performance Index can give you a structure where adjusting your donor plan quarterly, semi-annually or annually can fix problems or maximize opportunity.

Dan Prater

Dan Prater is a communications instructor at Drury University in Springfield, MO. He is also the executive director of Drury’s Centers for Non-profit Communication. He has more than 20 years experience in non-profit and corporate communications and television news.

Profitable Public Relations on a Nonprofit Budget

TV, radio, billboards, and all the other types of good publicity can cost a fortune. This session introduces some simple low-cost steps to help elevate your organization in the community, resulting in a stronger name recognition and additional resources.

Developing a PR/Marketing Plan
Successful communication is never an accident. To be most effective, your organization needs a clearly defined plan of action. This session will walk you through how to build and execute a 12-month calendar.

How to Effectively Communicate with your Staff
Let’s face it; we don’t all think or speak the same language. Age, race, beliefs, heritage, backgrounds – all play a role in the way we communicate. This session will introduce some essential concepts to help you better understand these barriers and be a better communicator and leader.

Teen Challenge USA plans to offer the New Directors conference yearly. If you missed this one make plans for next year.

Every morning began with worship

1. Primacy:
Research shows that people remember what they learn first – the first point, the first piece of information. One way to tap into this ability (the ability to remember the “first thing” more easily) is to share the goals of the class or message at the very beginning; make it clear what your students will be able to do, know, or understand when the session is over. This will also help students mentally settle into the session and the topic, so they’re prepared to retain information.

2. Visual:
Sixty percent of people prefer to receive information visually, so add pictures, graphs and cartoons to your presentation to illustrate your point. Steer clear of text-filled slides and use bullet points sparingly. Visuals help store information in long-term memory, so be careful to choose images that link strongly to your point.

3. Sound:
Music has a powerful impact on the brain — it can increase focus, reduce stress and set the feel of the environment — so consider adding it to your PSNC classroom sessions. Experts say that to best prepare the brain for learning, play instrumental music in a major key with 60-80 beats per minute (the same as an at-rest heartbeat). Ok I’ll have to just say it – classical music or possibly instrumental worship music. Music with lyrics will be more distracting. A song or music video that illustrates the main point of your group class can also be very beneficial to memory. Or consider allowing students to write their own songs to illustrate and communicate the main points of a lesson. This can work for GSNC or PSNC.

4. Movement:
It’s hard to sit still for long periods of time. To keep your students engaged when they’re getting antsy, use games and quizzes to provide fun interaction. Ask basic questions that only require short answers to quicken the pace when you feel like your students need a pick-me-up.

5. Emotion:
Emotion has a direct relationship to motivation. Learning is strengthened when a student enjoys and feels comfortable in the classroom. Learning is weakened when associated with negative feelings. The demeanor, character, behavior, and attitude of the teacher will create an environment that greatly influences the student’s motivation to learn. Stories are one way to enhance your learning content by peaking the students interest and participation by engaging the their imagination and emotions. People connect with stories better than they can connect with learning content alone. Emotional connections help learners stay engaged and retain information.

6. Humor:
We need to emphasize this emotion to engage because it is so powerful. Laughter is the best and quickest path to long-term memories. If you can get your students to laugh, you’ll grab their attention and help to commit the material to memory. Consider adding relevant jokes, quotes, cartoons or videos to introduce or explain your point.

7. Context:
With each point you make in your presentation, explain how learners can use the information and how doing so will benefit them. Think about answering the question “Why am I learning this?” When you make it about your students by providing context, you keep them engaged and help them retain the information.

8. Community:
It’s no secret that as humans we long to belong. If you can create a sense of community with your students they will feel more comfortable with and connected to the material. Ask questions that show common interests, hobbies, likes or dislikes. Assign projects or activities, both big and small) that they must do as a group. As a group have them create a one or two sentence statement that summarizes the lesson.

9. Interaction:
Lecturing is boring, but learning doesn’t have to be. Let your students explore the topic and discover the material by interacting with games, stories, projects, and other activities. Doing so will engage the hearts and minds of the students.

10. Recency:
People remember what they learned last, so make sure to review the key points at the end of the session. The more interactive your review is, the better it will seal the material into long-term memory — so play a game or ask questions at the review the presented material.

Be creative with each of these areas. The ideas suggested under each category are only there to whet your creative juices.  When writing new lesson plans or revising old ones consider adding these elements to help keep the discipleship training active and interesting and help your students retain what they really need to know.

Look over the list and select one area to improve in. Set a specific goal for improvement in the next week and then move on to others in the coming weeks.

*with apologies to GoToTraining.com, adapted from their white paper entitled “The Top 10 Ways to Keep Online Learners Engaged”