dear parents,
when my son was first arrested i contacted a christian program called
youth challenge. they help youthfull offenders. that has been some time but i believe they help offenders from 16 to 35 years of age. i cant remember the mans name i talked to but he was very nice. it is a live in situation and they have very stiff rules but any thing is better than going into state corrections.they are recongized by a lot of courts . the court here would not consider it because of the seriousness of chris offense. from what i was told they deal with drug and alcahol problems. i think it would be worth a try for some of these young people, i hear they have turned some very troubled young people around.
their name is YOUTH CHALLENGE
P.O. BOX 534
NEWPORT NEWS,VA
23607
757-244-1234

AND IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT STATE YOU ARE FROM.
THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HELP SOME OF YOU.
GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS.

SANDY

Thanks Sandy, I hope that parents, who are in need for their children will see this!

thanx.

All I can tell you from own experience is that these programs, actually work well at least for some of us, I have been crime free for about 1 year almost, thanx to a program like that one.

Kauri.

Thanks for posting this information. I have been looking into Youth Challenge, Hawaii for my totally out of control 16 year old daughter. She doesn't come home, she drinks, don't want to go to school. Has been arrested for truancy, run-away, possession of weed. She's disrespectfull, and swears alot. She needs discipline!!!!! because I'm at the end of the rope. She has so much going for her, she's smart, and beautiful, and is popular amongst her peers. Right now the only positive activity she has is that she continues to dance tahitian, and she is very good at it. So I don't want to believe that there is no hope for her. She's been in other programs, that were very good and helped her to be accountable for her choices, and now her choices are getting her into trouble, with the law, the schools, and me. So for now I am filling out her application and she is going to boot camp, at Youth Challenge. As a mom, my job is to make sure she's taking care of, and this is the best option she's got going for her.
Aloha, Kalei