More on Turnabout Program
We've been hearing a lot lately about troubled teenagers and bewildered parents.
When a child's behavior is out of control, with drugs, sex, crime and other problems, there are few places for a parent to turn.
But one local treatment program is quietly compiling some remarkable success stories.
They've discovered that while it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a family to save one -- and accomplish a "Turnabout for Teens."
"I'n not even sure I would have a sone if it weren't for this program. I think it saved his life," says Delene Riggins.
For years, Matt Cleverly did drugs, drank alcohol and generally rebelled against everything his mom said and did.
"I like her a lot," Matt says. "I love her. I didn't think I did before, but I think it was just masked by drugs and things like that."
The mask came off at Turnabout - a unique program here in Utah that doesn't advertise or tout its success.
Like many other programs for rebellious kids, it's prescription is "tough love."
Kids who enter the program have run out of options.
They begin at ground zero, losing all their privileges:
The use of a car, money, even a pillow on which to rest their heads at night.
As the kids progress through the levels of the programs they can earn back those privileges,
wearing makeup, eating sweets, and even the opportunity to sleep in their own parents' house.
That's the tough part of the Turnabout program. The "love" part comes from the belief that to really change a troubled teenager's behavior, you need to begin at the root of the problem-- at the teen's home.
Lee Caldwell, Turnabout Executive Director says, "It takes the whole family working together to really make this happen. And if they aren't a part of the treatment, that is, if the family is not part of the treatment, then your chances of successful treatment are pretty small."
Parents are required to attend weekly classes and counseling with their kids.
Delene Riggins explains, "Part of the program is to learn how to be a parent, get some parenting skills and to learn some of the things that you did wrong, because your child didn't get here all by himself."
And kids don't change their lives all by themselves.
Parents do more than stand by and offer support.
At least one week every month, parents are required to take up to four kids - not their own - home for the night.
They strip out one room of their homes to house the kids -
with an alarm on the door
and mats and
blankets on the floor.
Moms and Dads need to learn new parenting skills, and they basically practice on the other kids.
Lee Caldwell says, "But more important than that, they have a tie-in with the program. They start to have a feel for what it really takes to change their home and have a healthy and happy home."
Another Turnabout parent, Jen McGinty tells us, "You realize how important your job as a parent is, and how important it is to be consistent and aware of their needs."
Meagan McGinty, who participated in the program, says, "I tried to tell myself that I hated them, but that was just to make them mad. Now, now I see them as my best friends."
It's a hard lesson for both to learn.
Delene Riggins says, "I've had to take a good look at myself and see some of the errors that maybe I have in thinking of parenting, and it's helped me to become a better parent. Stronger in myself, more confidence in myself."
"Things are looking so good," says Matt Cleverly. "I have a lot of appropriate friends that don't go out there and use, or steal stuff. It's fun to just play sports or go skateboarding or something."
Matt is headed to the Salt Lake Community College next year with scholarships he earned at Turnabout.
Friday, we'll show you even more from another unique part of the program - the use of horses as a therapy tool.
