Rehab center seeks Amberwood space

“The evasiveness of the answers to many of my questions by Teen Challenge was most disconcerting”

San Antonio based Teen Challenge of Texas, which owns the old Amberwood Care Center on 601 South Ohio Drive, will be opening a center to treat adults with all types of addictions. via Plano Star Courier

[Sharon Quintal]

Just what Celina needs is more low lifes that don't contribute to the well being of the city. None of these people will be productive or pay taxes. Somehow this will become the burden of the overtaxed homeowners. Celina is stupidly greedy and needs to have more people put a stop to their pie in the sky attitude.

[Meeney]

That wasn't nice.

[larry]

It is a sad situation when people like yourself with a elitest attitude lives in our community. You might consider moving to a gated community somewhere in perfectville maybe you can find all your perfect people to live with.

[Sharon Quintal]

Just for Larry's information...I live in a elitest community with gates. I have worked my entire life the right to oppose a rehab facility that my TAX dollars will have to support. I pay over $20,000 each year to property and school taxes and can't even get Celina to put a missing street sign. I need to be able to see what I spend that amount of money for. In real life I better have something really special to show for that kind of money like a nice horse or a new diamond ring.

[sickofyourichfol ks]

wow a horse or a diamond ring. Those are really things that you can't live without. maybe if you didn't have a million dolalr house you wouldn't have 20.000 in taxes. Your greed got you where you are now live with it.

[Not rich folks]

Hmm, I'm not to happy about this rehab going in either. I live a mile maybe a mile and a half from this building.

Let's face it. These are not productive people. These are not people that I want walking the streets that my child walks.

This rehab is approx. a mile from an elementary school. Lets all face reality! ALOT of people who are addicted to drugs are also criminals. This building is not going to be a club med. These people are not going to be alcoholic house wives. This is a state funded facility that is going to be taking people who are avoiding prison time by choosing rehab. Which means they have already committed a crime and are not really wanting to be rehabbed, they just want it more than they want to go to prison.

And I'm expected to say YAHOO bring in the addicts and lets rehab them. Screw that. Lets bring them to your city a mile from your house and see how you like it. It's easy to sit 20 or 25 miles away and make judgement. Just remember. This is our community and we have to live here.

[Dixie in Garland]

Some addicts, yes have committed crimes....but the commission of crimes is brought on by the addiction. Addictions are quite powerful. But there are productive people under the addiction. This facility will be rehabilitating these productive people under the addictions. Maybe you should try volunteering and meeting some of the addicts. Listen to their testimonies. Listen to how they got there and where they once were. They are people just like me and you, not animals like you obviously think.

[Not rich folks]

Umm, no they are not people like me. I do not have a terrible addiction to an illegal substance. I have never commited a crime to support an addiction. They may have been like me at one time in thier lives, but not any more. This addiction will be a life long fight for them. I know that they are people and I wish them the best. I wish there was something I could do for them, but there is not. Yet, I do not feel even a tiny bit guilty for not wanting them here. I want my child to be safe with out being a prisoner in our home or under constant supervision. I will not be volunteering and I do not want to hear there stories. How depressing is that? I think that is something better left to the professionals. I do volunteer with my daughter at our local nursing home and find it very gratifying.

[Dixie in Garland]

Holier than thou are you? Well, be careful....addictions are like the wind...they attack when least expected. Please shelter that child of yours and wait to see how she handles real life. You are more dangerous and toxic to her than the addicts down the road....you will see.

[sickofyourichfol ks]

umm I do live less than a mile from this facility if you must know. Everybody deserves a chance to get thier shit straight again. I went to school and played ball in Celina, and I still live here. Yes a rehab facility might not be what your hoping for but it will still be better than the empty building that took the place of the horrible "retirement" home that was there. Would you rather we just throw them all in already overpopulated prisons and forget about them. How do you know who these people are? How do you know that some of these people aren't good people. Should I even bring up casting stones? I'm sure you've lived a perfect life and have never done any wrong at all.

[Dad5]

Wow, This much over a rehab facility that will prob. last less that 5 years and does have a good success rate, Well I also guess some of the statements also need to be looked at closer as well cause walking the streets and as a choce not to go to jail that is not the case for it all guess what they arent allowed to walk the streets and its a judge that sends them not themselves

[Not ONe to Judge]

I think the rehab is a great idea, there are so many people in these surrounding small towns that need the help ans support of this rehab. with or without the rehab your going to have criminals walking the streets.

[Ugh]

Dad5 wrote:

Wow, This much over a rehab facility that will prob. last less that 5 years and does have a good success rate, Well I also guess some of the statements also need to be looked at closer as well cause walking the streets and as a choce not to go to jail that is not the case for it all guess what they arent allowed to walk the streets and its a judge that sends them not themselves

"eye roll" So we are supposed to feel better because a judge sent them? Hmm, not doing it for me. So they have still commited some kind of crime, and is this a prison or a rehab? Are they in lock down? Lord that is worse if you ask me!

[Heres the facts]

I would like to set the story straight on the Teen Challenge center going in to the old Celina nursing home. This is from their website: "We know that to be successful an addict needs to move from a self-centered paradigm to a Christ-centered paradigm." If you would like to know who I am and how I am qualified to answer for the Teen Challenge ministry (especially in Texas). I am a graduate from the Houston women's center. Please know first that I can see your point of view and that change, especially those that may seem like a possible threat, are never easy.
Here are some facts that may help set your mind at ease:
TC has recently opened a men's center in another city, therefore they have decided that the Celina center will be all women (with the exception of the Director and possibly a maintenance man...that is how it was at my center)
Also as far as "state funded," that is CRAZY! I wish they were! But Teen Challenge is a non-profit, 501c3. I think the state would want to fund a TC but they want to take the Bible out as curriculum and that is all the Teen Challenge center is! So rest easy, none of your tax's will be going to TC! We raise ALL our own funds!
All students are screened before entering TC and only approx. 20% are court ordered.(Which in this case is different than a "normal" court order b/c the family and the appointed need to both ask specifically for TC. A judge will not just order anyone there. "Walking on the street"...we never had time to walk down the street. Our schedules are strict from 5:30 until 9:30 at lights out and some will be off campus with a staff member working or fundraising. You won't see people outside smoking or lounging for any extended periods of time. We were under strict supervision.
Teen Challenge is a blessing to all the communities they are in. These people, like me, are getting a new start.
People only stay at TC if they are serious about changing their lives. It is very Hard! It is almost like bootcamp. Only those who truly want to change stay and those who want to leave are promptly taken to the bus station or other form of transportation.
This is not your average "rehab," Teen Challenge helped me develope a personal relationship with Jesus, and that is why I am still active in a church and sober three years later! I don't expect you to change your mind right away about TC and you may never, but I want you to know that it will be important for these women to have people that support them. You and your daughter would be blessed to invest some time in the ladies at TC. All our visitors meant the world to us. I still wear a necklace to this day from a little old lady who would come over once a week just to love on us! WOW! She inspired me!