Teen Challenge

OUR STORY

Teen Challenge is a non-profit organization that relies entirely on the generous donations, funding, and volunteer efforts of both individuals and organizations throughout our communities in order to offer services at no cost to the individual. We know that community involvement and support are essential components of recovery and necessary to providing services that address the specific needs of the communities involved. 

Kern County Teen Challenge started in 1969 with one staff member visiting schools, sharing about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Eventually, a small two-bedroom house on 316 S. H Street in Bakersfield became the first Kern County Teen Challenge center. In 1979, one acre of land was purchased in Shafter (about 10 miles north of Bakersfield) and became the Shafter Men's Ranch.

In 1991, through the donation of a long-time friend and supporter of Teen Challenge, a new Women's Campus was purchased for $485,000 dollars. This miracle was a clear indication that God's blessing was on that residential facility.

Since that time, God has continued to bless Kern County Teen Challenge through partnerships with the local community, churches, and supporters. Our Women's Campus now houses 45 women, and the Shafter Men's Ranch houses approximately 80 men.

Both the men's and women's centers are residential induction centers. The induction process, designed to last three months, is phase one of a two-phase, year long program. While in the program, the student will attend class, complete regular assignments, and participate in spiritual and work-related activities.

Kern County Teen Challenge reaches out to the surrounding communities, focusing on drug education and prevention, visits to juvenile hall and jail, crisis counseling, outreach to children and families, evangelism, and more.

MISSION STATEMENT

- 2 Corinthians 5:17

PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY:

We serve our students, churches, volunteers, supporters, and communities
We are ambassadors of a ministry of reconciliation
Personal growth and constant improvement are essential
Our lives teach more than our words
We are committed to Excellence

CORE VALUES:

The Holy Spirit began and sustains this work
Life Transformation is the reason for our existence
No one is beyond the reach of Christ's redemption
We rely on a peer-to-peer discipleship model
We guard our integrity
We highly value our supporter's trust

Who We Are

We provide youth, adults, and families an effective and comprehensive Christian faith-based solution to life-controlling drug and alcohol problems in order to become productive members of society. By applying biblical principles, Teen Challenge endeavors to help people become mentally sound, emotionally balanced, socially adjusted, physically well, and spiritually alive.

Teen Challenge of Southern California was established in 1963 and includes nine regional facilities with seven strategically placed residential facilities throughout Southern California. Last year, Teen Challenge served over 200,000 men, women, and children in Southern California through its resident and outreach programs. The Teen Challenge residential program continues to be one of the largest and most effective substance abuse recovery and prevention programs of its kind.

Teen Challenge is a non-profit organization that relies entirely on the generous donations, funding, and volunteer efforts of both individuals and organizations throughout our communities in order to offer services at no cost to the individual. We know that community involvement and support is an essential component of recovery and necessary to providing services that address the specific needs of the communities involved.