South Bay Teen Challenge

At Southbay Teen Challenge, our mission is to provide successful recovery for men, women, teens, children, and families with destructive, abusive, and addictive lifestyles through mentoring, education, training, and spiritual direction.

In San Jose, Southbay Teen Challenge operates the Alum Rock Women & Children's Center. While Teen Challenge and similar organizations are helping thousands of women, there are only 8 other centers in the nation equipped to provide recovery and transitional housing for both a mother and her children. The Asbury Family Center, also in San Jose, is the only center in the United States that allows the entire family unit to receive the help that they need without separating the children from their parents. Our purpose is clear:

We are in the business of transforming lives and we’re dedicated to enhancing the lives of the families and women with children who come to us. Those who do come to us are either addicted to drugs, alcohol, or have some other life-controlling problem. 

Each student in the program receives residential care, education, vocational training, and has the opportunity to work on character development to become productive, responsible parents and citizens in the community. All of the families and women with children who are seeking help from our organization come to us with little or no available funds. Our Teen Challenge centers provide these services to families and women with children in order to rehabilitate the family as a whole and make them viable contributors to society. 

Our curriculum guides students through basic life, work & social skills and is designed to transform hearts and lives from the inside out. The Teen Challenge curriculum is one of several reasons why we have been so successful. Our curriculum includes group studies for new students and the courses consist of subjects that will improve their way of life, teach them how to live life free from drugs and alcohol, and become better parents to their children. 

GED Program - Teen Challenge provides for those who have not completed their high school education. Each year, 8-10% of our Teen Challenge graduates complete their GED education through our program. 

Employment Preparation Program - Topics covered in this class are: Resume Writing, Interview Tips and Techniques, Goals & Action Plans, Job Search Skills, Professional Communications, and Problem Solving to name a few. The goal of the class is to prepare each student to be able to answer: What style resume should I use? How should I answer that question if a potential employer asks it? What should I do to prepare for an interview?

Thrift Store - The Teen Challenge Thrift Store, located in the San Jose area, is a great place for students to gain practical employment skills by assisting the store manager with merchandise sorting, pricing, cleaning, and retail counter sales. Those who complete the program will use these skills to become better parents and some will be able to use these skills to gain employment and provide for their children and family.