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NDTC GRADUATE SURVEY RESULTS

October 2009

A graduate follow-up survey was conducted to obtain feedback for the purpose of learning about students’ experiences with the program, how their lives have progressed since graduating, and to obtain ideas to improve the program. 

Questions were presented to graduates regarding their employment, continuing education, housing/living arrangements, personal relationships, use or nonuse of substances, legal issues, faith-based activities and the overall impact the program has made on their lives.

The following results reflect the responses from 61 of NDTC’s 92 graduates.

EMPLOYMENT/EDUCATION

• 55 out of 61 graduates interviewed reported they are maintaining stable employment and are working either full-time or part-time with 6 graduates reporting that they are between jobs or attending college as a full-time student.
• 100% of the 61 interviewed graduates said their job situation is BETTER than when they entered Teen Challenge.
• 9 graduates reported they continue to elevate their education through vocational school or college with 3 of them enrolling in a Christian Bible College.

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS

• 36 of the 61 graduates interviewed reported that they maintain their own home or apartment.  The remaining 25 students indicated they are either living with relatives, friends or in a dormitory.  None of the 61 graduates reported ever being homeless since leaving the Teen Challenge program.
• Feedback indicates that the majority of graduates interviewed have moved, on average, 1 to 3 times during the twelve-month period following their graduation from Teen Challenge. 

RELATIONSHIPS

• The majority of graduates interviewed reported that their relationships between family and friends have improved since first entering Teen Challenge.

RELAPSE & SUBSTANCE USE

• 43 of the 61 graduates interviewed reported no relapses of alcohol or drug abuse, which equates to 70% of graduates maintaining total sobriety.
• 16 of the 61 students contacted indicated using only alcohol, while 2 others reported drug and alcohol use.  Of the 18 students reporting substance relapse, 6 students related continued alcohol use in the form of social drinking.
• 1 of the 61 graduates interviewed reported the entry into an inpatient secular substance abuse program after graduating Teen Challenge.
• When asked about what substance was the biggest problem for Graduate prior to entering Teen Challenge responses were as follows:
  • Alcohol was number one amongst 26 graduates.
  • 18 graduates reported Methamphetamine as their biggest problem
  • 5 graduates indicated Marijuana was their main problem.
  • And 12 graduates interviewed reported it was a combination of alcohol and drugs combined.

LEGAL ISSUES

• 2 out of the 61 graduates contacted reported that they had been incarcerated since graduating Teen Challenge (1 for DUI and 1 for Detox).
• Note:  9 out of the total 92 graduates are known to have returned to jail or prison, which equates to 10% of all graduates.

PROGRAM IMPACT

• 100% of the 61 graduates interviewed reported that it was Mostly True or Completely True Teen Challenge:
  • Taught them how to have a chemical-free lifestyle.
  • How to positively handle life situations.
  • Helped improve their work habits.
  • Showed them how to have healthy supportive relationships.
  • Their circumstances today would be a lot worse if they hadn’t gone through the Teen Challenge program.
  • The spiritual part of Teen Challenge made a difference in their lives.