Adult & Teen Challenge CEO, Steve Robinson, joined Doug on Mornings to discuss breaking addiction and putting hope in reach.
Steve began by talking about how the transition to CEO has been for him, since he took on the role 10 months ago.
“It’s an honour to be the CEO, the role is making sure that we as an organisation are continuing to put hope in reach to our students and anyone out there that’s needing to seek that help. For me, God has to be central to that process.”
The Founding of Teen Challenge
Teen Challenge was founded 40 years ago by Malcolm Smith. It started in Gingin and moved to Beverley, WA a few years later. In 1995, he moved it to Esperance, where it is now in Gibson, Esperance.
“It’s always been there to rehabilitate people from life-controlling issues,” said Steve. “We’d take anyone from 16 years and over, and you’d be amazed the amount of people that from a teenage level, are seeking help.”
A Co-Ed System
Steve said that they accept both male and female students in a co-ed environment, with separate accommodation.
“There’s ablution blocks for majority of them, then they can graduate into having their own room with their own bathroom.”
Day to Day
A typical day for an Adult & Teen Challenge student looks like having breakfast when they wake up, doing their own chores such as cleaning their room and then going to chapel.
“We run an hour-long chapel service every morning. Someone does a talk. Students who have been in the program longer will participate in that talk once they’ve advanced through the program.”
There are also a range of classes and subjects, with topics such as temptation or anxiety.
“All our curriculum is all biblically based,” said Steve.
After lunch, students will have one more class in the afternoon, then will go into work therapy.
“A lot of addicts over time have never known what it’s like to work,” said Steve, “So it’s trying to give them that balance of what it’s like to be in the real world and make sure that they get that DNA into them when they’re leaving.”
Graduation Ceremony
Steve was so excited to talk about an event they held at Government House on Friday March 20th. They had a graduation ceremony with close to 200 attendees, including past alumni.
“We had someone that had graduated 39 years ago. There were people who were 20-30 years clean.”
He spoke about two particular teens, Jeannie and Etor, one who was introduced to drugs from a young age, and one who was born in a refugee camp and ventured down the wrong road into addiction.
“Jeannie is now working as a receptionist,” said Steve, “About to get married in May.”
He said that Etor did an internship through Adult & Teen Challenge and Steve employed him in January to work alongside the new students to help them overcome their addictions.
Both participated in the 12-month program.
The Program
Steve said that the Adult & Teen Challenge 12-month program starts out with an intensive week of group therapy, to help addicts understand all the different reasons people turn to addiction.
“Then we start going into a bit more of a training phase in the stage two, which is the six months to nine months.” Steve said that from the nine-month mark, the program prepares its students to leave and the focus shifts to what that actually looks like.
“They’re in a bit of a cocoon when they’re at our centre and we need to equip them for leaving,” he said, “We have a graduate program, where the Jack Bendat Scholarship Fund was set up many years ago.”
The Jack Bendat Scholarship Fund has money available to graduates for different courses, ranging from nursing, apprenticeships and community services.
“We’re about to embark on buying a couple of houses in Perth for graduates to be able to come back and live in prior to finding their own feet,” he said.
Church Partnerships
The company have a lot of church partnerships, with the intent that there continues to be church involvement, and community alongside like-minded people.
“You don’t want people to go back to their old life, to a bad environment. You want them into a fresh environment where they’re supported and continue to be supported because it’s proven that two to three years of long-term support really changes someone’s life,” said Steve.
How to Reach Out
Steve said the first step is calling their office by following prompts on the Adult & Teen Challenge website.
“Once you call our office, you’ll get given an assessment time to come and speak. It’s only a couple of pages long,” said Steve.
He detailed that it gives them a rundown of their circumstances and what needs change. From that point they go through a police clearance, cell link form, doctor’s medical form and mental health report.
Board and Lodge
The students pay board and lodge out of their Centrelink payments, which is based on eligibility.
“Then we have a process where they self-fund. And a good 75% of our funding comes from donors, whether it’s business, individuals, mums and dads, churches … awhole range of people.”
Steve concluded by asking for prayer over their students, staff and donors. There are also many ways to volunteer and help support Adult and Teen Challenge WA to continue their great work.
Check out the full interview below.