Restoring Hope...Rebuilding Lives

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2 CONTENTS From The Executive Director 3 Who We Are 4 The Teen Challenge Story 5 Our Services 6 Drug & Alcohol Facts 7 Projects 8 Other Sponsorship Opportunities 9 2

3 FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR It is an incredible privilege to be the Executive Director of an organisation that instills hope into seemingly hopeless situations. We are passionate and motivated to walk the journey of recovery with those who are struggling with life controlling problems such as addiction, selfharm, eating disorders, anxiety, depression and homelessness. I am honoured to lead an extraordinary team of dedicated professional staff who are committed to seeing young people break free from the cycle of addiction. Our mission is clear - we exist to restore hope and rebuild lives ; to offer young men and women a second chance at life. Substance abuse is one of the most prevalent issues that this generation faces. It has no socio-economic boundaries and most experts agree that addiction has a ripple effect, bringing discord not only into the home but society as well. The impact of substance abuse on our communities is both significant and complex, causing increase in homelessness, criminal activity, mental health issues and family breakdown. By the time these young people come to Teen Challenge QLD they have lost hope and have given up on themselves; we have many years of experience and we know how to nurture these young people, restore their hope and love them to wholeness. Our young men and women learn how to respect themselves and others in a caring and structured environment that is conducive to their recovery. We are a faith based organisation and our rehabilitation centres are self-funded, we don t receive any government funding for our day to day operations. I believe that every life is precious and the capacity for greatness resides within every individual. It s our mission to help them find it. Kind Regards Joanne Hobbs Executive Director 3

4 WHO WE ARE Our mission is clear, we exist to restore hope and rebuild lives, to offer young men & women a second chance at life. Jo Hobbs - Executive Director Teen Challenge QLD is a not-for-profit organisation, established in 1971 to provide longterm residential treatment and rehabilitation services for young men and women aged who are struggling to overcome addiction and other life controlling issues such as selfharm, eating disorders, depression and homelessness. We also provide Crisis Accommodation for young men on the North side of Brisbane. Teen Challenge provides an environment where young people feel loved, accepted and cared for, and we are currently the only rehabilitation facility that offers residential help to teenagers as young as 16. The Teen Challenge program aims to eliminate their self destructive habits by meeting the needs of the whole person; not only dealing with the addiction, but also rebuilding their self-image, work ethic, relationships and spiritual awareness. We provide young people with a unique and rare opportunity to rebuild their lives. We have a holistic approach to their recovery which includes working with a team of professionals consisting of a General Practitioner, Psychologists, Counsellors, Dieticians and Personal Trainers. Our Teen Challenge program has a proven track record, helping young people address key issues in their lives and instil positive lifestyle values, employability skills, financial literacy and responsibility. In November 2011 the New Life Women s Centre was opened after many years of concern that there were no dedicated live-in rehabilitation facilities in Queensland for women aged As our residential facilities are self-funded; we rely upon the generosity of individuals, businesses, corporations and churches to partner with us in this vital work. By partnering with Teen Challenge you are partnering with an organisation that is passionate about tackling one of the most serious issues facing this generation. For the rst time in 10 years I actually feel free - PHOEBE 4

5 THE TEEN CHALLENGE STORY Teen Challenge began in 1958, when a young man named David Wilkerson was moved with compassion to reach out to young people on the streets of New York. He saw the devastating effects of drugs and alcohol amongst the gang members he was working with; and out of this tremendous need Teen Challenge was birthed. His story is retold in the bestselling book, The Cross and the Switchblade, which has sold over 15 million copies worldwide and was later made into a movie. Since then, Teen Challenge has spread to approximately 1100 centres in over 93 countries around the world. The journey for Teen Challenge Queensland began in 1971 when a man named Charles Ringma travelled to New York and brought the Teen Challenge program back to Brisbane. At that time Brisbane, like many other cities in the seventies, was trying to cope with the rapid increase of substance abuse amongst the youth and it was out of this desperate need that Teen Challenge QLD was established in the South Brisbane area. We now have crisis accommodation for young men on the North side of Brisbane, and residential rehabilitation facilities located in Toowoomba in a peaceful rural setting on 65 acres. Throughout its 42 years of operation in Australia, Teen Challenge QLD has specialised in longterm rehabilitation programs for young people struggling with addiction and other life controlling issues. Teen Challenge is now represented in all seven states and territories in Australia and since our humble beginnings we have helped thousands of young lives and their families. Teen Challenge is also a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), offering Certificate IV courses in: Youth Work Alcohol and Other Drugs Mental Health Pastoral Care 5

6 OUR SERVICES Coordination of detoxification through partner agencies Structured assessment of all applicants in a nonthreatening environment Assignment of every residential student to a qualified, experienced case-worker (max 6 students per case-worker) Weekly onsite medical services Regular counselling sessions with a Psychologist and Counsellors Development of personalised life plans for all residential students Supervised work experience in a range of workplaces within the community for all residential students Facilitation of physical fitness and recreational programs as well as weekly personal training sessions Family support services we have a Family Support Worker who works closely with families of students in our program Extended Care for completing residential students as they transition back to family and working life Residential Internship program is available to students who have completed the longterm program. During their Internship they receive ongoing mentoring and complete a Certificate IV in Youth Work. It has opened my eyes up to a whole new way of living. I can t put into words how much Teen Challenge has changed my life - SCOTT 6

7 DRUG & ALCOHOL FACTS Substance abuse is one of the most prevalent issues that this generation faces. THE NATIONAL DRUG AND ALCOHOL RESEARCH CENTRE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES ISSUED THE FOLLOWING MEDIA RELEASE 3 AUGUST 2012: Mental health and substance use disorders account for more years of life lost due to disability than any other disorder and are second only to cancer and cardiovascular disease as leading causes of disease burden. In young Australians (15-24 years) the top 10 causes of illness are dominated by mental health and substance use disorders. Around 35 per cent of individuals with a substance use disorder also have a mental illness, most commonly depression or anxiety. Around 80 per cent of people in treatment for substance use disorders have experienced trauma and nearly half have active post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When mental health and substance use disorders occur together they are extremely difficult to treat as both conditions serve to maintain or exacerbate the other, says Professor Teesson. These co-morbidities lead to very poor treatment outcomes and severe illness in the long term, shortening lives by years compared to people without such conditions. Treatment and prevention of these comorbid mental health and substance use disorders are one of health s most significant challenges. ALCOHOL (THE MOST COMMON DRUG AVAILABLE) Usage statistics for Australians over the age of 14: 1.8: Heroin, 5:9% Cocaine, 6.3% Meth & Amphetamines, 8.9% Ecstasy, 33.5% Cannabis, 36.6% Tobacco and 88.9% Alcohol 40% of young people see a parent drinking alcohol every week 82% of us believe it is harmful to give alcohol to anyone under the age of 18, yet most young people who drink get alcohol from their parents and friends parents 37% of young people see alcohol and drugs as the most important issue in Australia, yet the number of young people who drink at risky levels rises each year Alcohol causes more injuries, illnesses and deaths among our young people than any other drug The use of Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) can both cause and exacerbate homelessness AOD users are much more likely to be homeless than the general population. For every $1 invested into the treatment of substance abuse there is a return of $7 from social benefits including reduced health costs, crime and lost productivity. (According to the California Drug and Alcohol Treatment Assessment). 7

8 MAJOR PROJECTS: CLIENT SPONSORSHIP: As our rehabilitation facilities are self-funded, client sponsorship is a practical way that you can support the recovery of a young man or woman who is struggling with life controlling issues. This sponsorship covers all aspects of their 12 month program; including everything from the professional services of doctors, psychologists, counsellors and personal case management to providing them with three meals a day. $3,500 per month RENOVATION OF NEW LIFE MENS CENTRE (NLMC): The New Life Men s facility has been operating for 16 years and the building is now over 30 years old and is extremely run-down and in need of refurbishment and repair. The 12 bedrooms at the NLMC have a capacity to accommodate 24 clients; however many of the rooms cannot be used in their current state of disrepair. The ability to utilise all of the rooms enable us to meet the growing demand for beds in our facility and help more young people break the cycle of addiction in their lives. Cost per room - $6,360 ENCLOSE OUTDOOR AREA IN THE NEW LIFE WOMENS CENTRE (NLWC): One of our main challenges in reaching capacity in the NLWC has been the need to provide more common areas for our female students. One way we can achieve this is to enclose one of our outdoor areas which would significantly increase our common area. According to an article by Gary Evans The Built Environment and Mental Health: More crowded residential settings cause social withdrawal and impair the development and maintenance of socially supportive relationships Total cost of $40,000 COMMUNITY SUPPORT WORKER (CSW): To provide a more structured extended care program for students completing our 12 month program as they transition back to family and working life, we are looking to engage a CSW. Providing extended care is vital to ensuring the ongoing success of their recovery as they transition back into their families and community. The CSW would develop future community based programs and assist in the re-integration of students through independent accommodation, employment pathways, support groups and further education. Total cost of $50,000 8

9 OTHER SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES EVENT SPONSORSHIP: Teen Challenge QLD is looking to partner with corporations / businesses to sponsor signature events such as: Gala Dinner Business Breakfast Cycling Event Charity Golf Days Life Free Walk TAX DEDUCTIBILITY: All project support, donations and sponsorships over $2 are tax deductible. IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH AN ORGANISATION THAT IS PASSIONATE ABOUT TACKLING ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS ISSUES FACING THIS GENERATION, WE INVITE YOU TO CONSIDER TEEN CHALLENGE QLD AS A SPONSORSHIP PARTNER Joanne Hobbs Executive Director P: (07) M M: PO Box 3376 South Brisbane QLD 4101 E: joanne.hobbs@teenchallenge.org.au 9