Family Involvement
Reconnect Weekends
Reconnect Weekends do exactly what the name implies. They help our students re-connect with their families. Any family who has ever had a troubled child with issues such as anger and oppositional behavior, drug abuse, running away, or delinquency knows how much those behaviors hurt everyone. There is a lot of healing that has to take place. At the Reconnect Weekends, families learn again to communicate, laugh, cry, and work together as a family.
The weekends usually start with special sessions for the parents. New ideas and techniques for dealing with a troubled child are presented to parents who are anxious to help their child succeed when he finally returns home from Teen Challenge. Parents also take time to review their child’s progress with the student’s adviser and also with the classroom teachers. Goals and objectives are laid out and discussed for the coming months.
Later, the students join their parents for the evening meal. Then everyone attends a chapel service together. Award presentations are often made at this first family chapel, and many of our students choose to be water baptized during this time when their parents can be present. The chapels are powerful events where families have the opportunity to worship and pray together.
The next day the families are divided into groups that rotate activities. Group sessions are provided to the families as well as challenging games and activities designed to help families to communicate better and work more cooperatively with each other. Free time and fun are also a part of the Reconnect Weekends. The weekend usually ends with another family chapel. We allow plenty of time for God to do his transforming work in families. Reconnect Weekends are scheduled every two months throughout the year.
These Reconnect Weekends take place once each quarter. After the retreat is finished, the students return home with their families for a home visit.
Home Visits and Weekend Passes
Home visits are scheduled at the end of each quarter and after each of our Reconnect Weekends. Students on phase 3 and higher have the opportunity for weekend passes in addition to the regularly scheduled home visits. The weekend passes are scheduled in the middle of each quarter.
