State funding for Minnesota Teen Challenge questioned
Friday, January 08, 2010 at 2:52 pm
- 21 Comments
Minnesota Teen Challenge describes itself as a “para-church” ministry that completes the “spiritual restoration” of Minnesotans dealing with drug addiction, yet over the last seven years it’s received more than $10 million in government funds — and twice the Minnesota Legislature has singled the program out for a raise.
The arrangement raises questions about the constitutional separation of church and state, and some experts say the state has overstepped its bounds in contracting with Teen Challenge.
In 2001, the Minnesota Legislature approved a funding increase of 46 percent for Teen Challenge and authorized another in 2005, capping payments at $700 per unit. Experts say those funding increases create the impression that the state favors the treatment center which is closely affiliated with the Assemblies of God, a pentecostal Christian denomination.
“To me, I think, that the legislature is setting special rates for a pervasively sectarian organization is enough to make that funding unconstitutional,” said Alex Luchenitser of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. “You have clear favoritism and endorsement of a religious program.”
Religious character “inseparable” from treatment
Beyond perceptions of legislative favoritism is the question of how the state got involved with a religious ministry in the first place. The answer goes back a decade and involved two years of legal wrangling between Hennepin County and Teen Challenge.
In early 2000, Teen Challenge, Hennepin County and the Department of Human Services began a discussion about contracting with Teen Challenge to provide chemical dependency treatment services to county clients.
According to some 1,300 pages of documents obtained by the Minnesota Independent, that arrangement hit a few snags along the way as Hennepin County looked for a way to contract with a pervasively Christian program.
“I will tell you that Teen Challenge has been consulting with us for the past couple years and that there seems to be no way for them to separate the treatment from the Christian orientation and beliefs,” Peg Murphy, former program manager of Hennepin County’s Chemical Health Division, wrote in a letter to the Hennepin County Attorney’s office. “Because Hennepin County’s standard contract language precludes funding for ‘religious training or services,’ we do not intend to negotiate a contract with Teen Challenge in the absence of authorization from your office.”
She urged the county attorney to offer an opinion before county officials could negotiate a contract.
In early 2000, Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar approved the arrangement, presumably under the doctrine of “beneficiary choice,” giving Teen Challenge the go-ahead to submit an application.
The county rejected requests by the Minnesota Independent to obtain a copy of that opinion, citing the documents as “privileged.”
Klobuchar would go on to help secure a federal earmark for the program as U.S. Senator in 2008 along with former Rep. Jim Ramstad. And the organization has secured the support of a number of other elected officials. First Lady Mary Pawlenty was a past member of the board of directors, and Gov. Pawlenty has donated a large sum of campaign funds ($85,892) to the program. Rep. Michele Bachmann donated $9,200 in campaign funds related to the Tom Petters Ponzi scheme scandal, but Teen Challenge later returned the “tainted” funds.
“Beneficiary choice” means a client has a choice between a secular and a religious treatment program, and the client can pay money given by the government to the treatment of their choosing. In other states, the system works with vouchers, which Minnesota doesn’t use. Instead Teen Challenge gets paid a flat rate multiplied by the number of clients in its care who receive state assistance. It’s that rate that the Minnesota legislature voted to increase in 2001 and 2005.
Luchenitser said that the “beneficiary choice” arrangement that Hennepin County set up with Teen Challenge may be legally problematic.
“What’s clear is that this funding has to be completely under the control of the individual,” he said. If the money is not part of a voucher system, he added, then there isn’t a true choice of program, only “approved” programs that the county contracts with, such as Teen Challenge.
And the state sets the rate of reimbursement, not the client, which creates a constitutional problem when the Legislature decides to give a religious program “a raise,” he said.
“Government should not influence how much money goes to a specific provider,” especially when its a religious provider, Luchenitser said. “It puts the force of government authority behind it,” which he characterizes as an endorsement of religion.
While the County Attorney’s office gave the program the green light, problems continued to plague the fledgling arrangement because of MNTC’s religious nature. The county’s contracting department raised a red flag in 2001 about the evangelical treatment center’s hiring practices: Teen Challenge said it would only hire Christians who adhered to a statement of faith and a code of ethics.
“Minnesota Teen Challenge is a residential Christian discipleship program dealing with adolescents and adults with life-controlling issues, and is a para-church ministry operating under the authority of the Assemblies of God denomination,” the group’s statement of faith begins (PDF). “Our purpose is to train individuals (students) in our program to be disciples of Jesus Christ.”
That statement also states that “whether a person is preparing a meal, writing a computer program, or generating a financial statement” for the organization, that person must “be an effective witness for Christ.”
It requires all employees to pray for the program and may be called upon “to minister to program students” with their testimony.
In MNTC’s code of conduct, all employees are required to attend church and to pray. They are prohibited from viewing pornography or being in a romantic relationship with someone of the same sex.
Hennepin County took issue with those employment practices and rejected Teen Challenge’s application because it violated the county’s ban on religious discrimination. The county said that MNTC could resubmit the application with a new affirmative action plan.
Finally a compromise was reached: Teen Challenge limited the practice to executive, leadership, pastoral, and counselor positions.
Teen Challenge’s chemical dependency program manager Cecilia Winsor explained the news in an email to the county’s senior planning analyst, Michael Miller.
“There are certain ‘ministry’ positions which will have religious requirements to them, and those positions will only be filled by people who can perform the job,” she wrote (PDF). “A Muslim would not be considered for a Pastoral Counselor position, but would be considered to work in our Accounting [Department], for example.”
According to state records (PDF), Teen Challenge requires 21 of its 40 employees to be Christians.
Some of those job descriptions highlight the close connections to Pentecostalism. The executive director’s position description says that the director must be “approved by the Assemblies of God and endorsed by the National Division of Home Missions.”
The National Division is now called Assemblies of God U.S. Missions, and its mission is “to equip, empower and encourage the Assemblies of God to evangelize America.”
Teen Challenge International, Inc., of which Minnesota Teen Challenge reports to monthly, is one of the six ministries that make up the Missions.
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Comment posted January 8, 2010 @ 7:44 pm
Teen Challenge should be ordered to give back the funding. Gov. Pawlenty do your job.
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Comment posted January 9, 2010 @ 5:14 pm
Are they being paid public money to help teens recover from chemical dependency? If that’s the deal, where are the data about how well their program works, relative to other treatment options?
And whether a prisoner or a pauper on public support, if there is a coercive element to forcing teens into the progam using state power, everything else aside, it is unconstitutional, and should not stand
Comment posted January 9, 2010 @ 7:50 pm
Although I now live in Mo. I used to live in Mn. Do NOT give Teen Challenge any taxpayers money.
I called them to get help. I told them on the phone the my son was a drug addict and had anger management issues. I was told TC was the place for him. I had spent a whole day calling treament centers and no one but TC had a bed available.
After giving them a non-refundable cashier’s check for $760.00 He was admitted. It wasn’t until after he was admitted that I found out they have no drug program per se. While talking to my son on the phone he said it was all church and he felt like it was a ‘cult’.
Upon entry they take the residents to a dr. for a physical. It was then that we learned my son has hepitits C. Within one week he was kicked out of there program; put on a greyhound bus without even contacting us to let us know what was happening or where and when to pick him up.
I have a blog up on my myspace account that you should go read. http://www.myspace.com/bipsey
Comment posted January 10, 2010 @ 2:35 pm
You are absolutely correct about TC’s agenda! I speak from personal experience. TC crosses the boundaries of separation of church and state, and should not receive funding from the state or federal government. They do discriminate against other religions. My child was not allowed to use his Catholic Bible while in their program.
Comment posted January 10, 2010 @ 10:14 pm
Its high time a complete investigation was done of this program. They are well known for inflating their success stories. Having worked in the field for 23 years, I can only recall one person who actually completed their program.
Comment posted January 11, 2010 @ 10:29 am
My grandson was in their program. He had DWI problems. The idea of Teen Challenge was to send him to Bible Study half of the day memorizing. Then he would go back to his room and study some more. He became so indoctrinated into their way of thinking that we were beginning to think the place was a cult of some kind. They were suppose to be helping him to get his high school diploma which they never did. We had him go into the program because we thought this would be better then sitting in the workhouse for a year’s time learning nothing. Finally, when his time was up to leave there, they told him he needed more time there. He said this was just a way for them to get more government tax money as many people had left after being disillusioned by what Teen challenge promised and what they never did. Sunday was spent going to their church whether he wanted to or not. Finally, he packed his clothes and walked out after serving his time there. He hasn’t had a drink in 3 years and has a very good job which he did on his own with no help from Teen Challenge. I feel that this organization should not be given state or federal monies if their main purpose is to teach bible study classes most of the day and require church attendance on Sunday at the choice of Teen Challenge.
Comment posted January 11, 2010 @ 12:58 pm
It looks like the author put some time into research. Since I am a bang for the buck citizen… let’s hear the success rate of this program. I’ve known people over the years who have volunteered there and is sure seemed like they had far more success stories, and therefore a better outome percentage than the abysmally low success rates of ballyhooed programs like Hazeldon for example. (Look for all treatment programs under Obamacare to wither and die a slow death as measured successfull outcomes will be a stron component of dollars given for treatment.) Every 12 step program has a higher power component. I suppose one could call their pet ferret a higher power, but I suspect most people in recovery are turning to GOD. Teen challenge does wonderful things for these kids. Imagine the empowerment of regaining control of your life while still in your teens instead of your 40′s or 50′s in some prison recovery program.
Comment posted January 11, 2010 @ 1:49 pm
“Our purpose is to train individuals (students) in our program to be disciples of Jesus Christ.”
How can an organization with this purpose statement not be endorsing an establishment of religion? By funding this organization, the government is furthering this endorsement and is working in direct opposition to The Constitution.
Comment posted January 11, 2010 @ 2:42 pm
Teen challenge demonstrates what is commonplace in this state and throughout the country. Government is in collusion with religion to establish a christocentric, patriarchal, homo/transphobic, government. This is not limited to teen challenge but also occurs with the salvation army and nearly every church in the state that has any sort of “charitable” program. These programs should only receive state and federal funds if they are secular. Evidently and disappointingly is that even so called progressives are involved in this effort to force christianity on those who need services because of poverty and disability. This is a flagrant violation of the separation of church and state. Religious organizations should be free to provide services paid for by their membership as long as they do not violate discrimination laws that should be applied to them the same way as they are applied to anyone else.
Comment posted February 24, 2010 @ 11:58 pm
As educated individuals with a relatively equal interest in seeing both appropriate fiscal responsibility balanced with the assurance that our next generation is not being left victim to the horrors of addiction, it remains imperative that we evaluate both sides of the issue. The reality is that despite this organizations religious affiliations, it provides a substantial number of addicts long term freedom from their dependency issues. In fact, an independent Wilder study evaluated outcome measures of this organization in 2009 and found their success rate to rank among the highest in the chemical dependency field (Over 70% as opposed to the average government success rate of 12-15%). In addition, they provide FREE admission to all adults who are unable to afford treatment-as one would imagine, the majority of the cliental cannot afford the exorbitant rates charged by other well known secular MN treatment programs (exp, Hazeldon). One must also consider the cost of the alternative to treatment: recurrent DWI’s; theft, incarceration, re-entry; drug trafficking and at its worst-promotion of these behaviors to the next generation. The reality is that despite America’s generalized hostilities to any form of religious idealism-at the end of the day, we as a community will be flipping the bill for something-effective drug rehab with Christian ideals, or meth-lab clean-ups and striped t-shirts. America’s leaders appear to have recognized this crucial dilemma, and have acted in what they, and many Minnesotans, consider to be in the best interest of our community. After analyzing many commentaries on this issue, I have found a rather disappointing appropriation of guarded and clearly un-educated opinions on this issue. I would encourage individuals truly interested in this topic to read Mr. Scherber’s rebuttal to a similar commentary made 2 years ago at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rich-scherber/setting-the-record-straig_b_151091.html
Comment posted April 15, 2010 @ 2:52 pm
I am a former graduate of T.C. They are a fraud. We went to churches every Sunday to sing. Required. People bleed out there heart in telling there stories. If you see the living conditions of the Buildings it is horrible. Mice running around in the kitchen and dinning room. The building code is so outdated. We had to do work study where we did mantiance and building additions and fixing. The eletric is way out of code. Have people use power tools. I cannot believe the incorrect ways things were built. IE Fire stops, Using green treated wood for inside as window framing exposed inside the room as the plaster was chiped away. The use of windows that are sliders and put in as double hung. We got blaimed because the window was not working because it was put in as a double hung but a window that was a slidder. Work study went from 12:15 pm to 4:30 pm M.T TH FR. Everything we ever got was donated. The food we got was terrible. Toast and 1 bowl of cerial every morning 7 days a week. one cup of milk or juice m – Sunday. Everything was out of can. Fruits and veg. Much of what we got from package was already past the experation date. We would have to Sing at Christmas celebrations we would get there 4 hrs early reherse have a bag lunch 1 sandwich, apple, bag of chips (expired) and expired box fruit drink expired ganola bar. We all would be crammed into a room 2 3 hours waiting for the performance. Some Sundays we would travel 2 3 hrs to Churchs to sing. 15 of us packed in a van. Nothing to bring to eat or drink. 2 3 hrs there and 2 3 hrs back. We were treated like cattle. Talked down to. The brother of the founder of T.C. came and told us we are like the Lepers of Christ’s day. Everything we did was controled. I have been out now for 7 months. The biggest struggle for me was trying to apply what I learned at T.C. to what the real world is. This has created more anxiety then I have ever expected. T.C. could treat the individual with more dignaty and respect. You walk in and see T.C. from the waiting room it looks wonderful but you walk beyond the Chapel to our living area. Well you can call it a White Washed Tomb. T.C. lets you see what you want them to see, but reality is reality once you get passed the other doors.
In the Ministry School. They charge the same to GRH. The also tell the students to surrender the $100 they get a month for personal items such as soap, shampoo razor exc. Meds. underwear clothes. T.C. says that the $100 is the coast of tuision for the school. Students are having to get soap and exc from other students parents and exc.
All this money T.C. gets and what you get as a client does not match up.
Comment posted April 25, 2010 @ 8:54 pm
This Place is an absolute joke taking taxpayer money to feed a bunch of career criminals religious, crap if it was for teens only i could see it making a difference but they repeatedly admit people over the age of 30. These are career criminals that are looking for an easier sentence than jail.
Comment posted May 12, 2010 @ 10:53 am
Teen Challenge is NOT a joke . . . for some maybe, but overall, NOT. I am very offended by the comments by A.L. regarding repeatedly admitting people over the age of 30 and implying that they are all career criminals looking for an easier sentence than jail. Once again, there are probably a few like that. I for one am over 50 and am so thankful Teen Challenge isn’t just for teens or criminals. I lost everything basically because of cancer when I lost my job because of missing work when I was sick. Yes, I made the wrong choice to turn to alcohol, but praise God I’ve got my life back and alot of it is due to Teen Challenge. There were days I wanted to leave, but it wasn’t the program that made me feel that, it was dealing with all of the other people. But I am proud to say I stayed, I graduated and now I so enjoy going back to alumni events (NEVER thought I’d do that and enjoy it). It’s like an energy boost for me and I know the students who are still there are really encouraged by my coming back. I have already been asked to be a mentor someday when I can (after I have been a graduate for a year) and I probably will do that. I got my life back and I want others to be able to do the same.
Comment posted June 2, 2010 @ 10:50 am
I am a WMTC graduate western michigan teen challenge, I also worked on staff at Lansing Teen Challenge and I have personally seen hundreds of men and woman complete this program and are still clean and sober many years later. The government did a study of all TCs and discovered that 96 percent of all graduates recovered completely while the percentage of all secular programs was less than 2 percent and even with those programs (a.a n.a) without a personal relationship with God those people fail. I applaude the MN government for reconizing the great work that TC does for people, I have watched them stuggle for years for funding, when good money was paid to other programs that do not work, when TCs works but so many people are ignorant of what they do. They are not a cult, just a program that believes in people, believes in deliverance from drugs and alcohol and believes that God is still the only way to truly be free. Please continue to support this program the only one that can really change a persons life forever….it changed mine….Thank God….
Comment posted November 22, 2010 @ 3:44 pm
I was a drug addict for eight years. I was born and raised around addiction. By the time I was 21 I had been convicted of ten felonies including burglaries, assault with a deadly weapon, and vehicular homicide.
My lawyer argued that I never had a chance in life, and the judge gave me the option of going to Teen Challenge instead of prison. March will be six years since I graduated.
I have held the same job (my first) since. I had to make up some high school classes, so it has taken me five years to complete my bachelors, but I will be graduating with honors from Hamline University in May. My GPA is over 3.9. I am currently in England for a semester studying Sociology. Needless to say, I have never relapsed. Neither do I smoke, swear, or drink. And yes, I am active in my church (gasp). From reading this article and comments, it seems some of you would prefer me to be back on the street, strung out on meth.
After graduation, I will be attending grad school for sociology. I plan to specialize in addiction. I am interested in the recent research which arises from a postmodernist philosophy about identity construction through symbolic interaction, mostly because that was my experience.
Teen Challenge provided a framework in which I was able to construct an identity in which I was not an addict. Although some of you consider faith in God to be a detriment, it was indispensable to my own recovery. It provided hope and meaning, two things that I never had. Whether or not there is a God, a belief in God saved my life.
I understand that many of you are so intolerant of other world views that you are incapable of accepting a philosophy that is contrary to your own, regardless of whether or not it is doing good in the world. I feel sorry for you.
But I am thankful for Teen Challenge and the work that is being done there. Many of the people I graduated with have also gone on to live good lives, be good parents, and enjoy the simple things in life apart from the chaos that is addiction.
I encourage you to google my name. Stories have been written about me and are available online. Also, listen to the stories of others who have gone through the program and continued on successfully. Don’t simply look for stories and viewpoints that confirm your beliefs, such as the one above. I don’t know their situation, so cannot comment on why they came away with such a negative opinion. But to look only at a liberal newspaper for information is to demonstrate your own close-mindedness.
I understand that a Christian program is not for everyone. But it saved my life. If such radical separation of church and state was implemented seven years ago, I would still be addicted to drugs, in prison, or dead.
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