This is a  staff list for Teen Challenge of Louisiana  (Locations: Shreveport, Dodson, Ruston, Winnfield, Lake Charles, Lafayette, & New Orleans)  

(we are working to acquire the complete records for ALL years)

 

We advise current and/or former staff to report any abuses you may have witnessed while working at Teen Challenge.  For information on your rights and how to take action, visit www.heal-online.org/blowthewhistle.htm.  If you were fired or forced to resign because you opposed any illegal and/or unethical practices at Teen Challenge, you have the right to take action. 

 

If you were harmed (family or survivor) by Teen Challenge, please contact [email protected] if you remember the long-term employees and from which years.  This will help!   Also, if you recognize any of these staff as having worked at another program, please send in any information about their past or present employment at other facilities and/or cults.

 

Please don’t place your loved one in Teen Challenge and rescue them if they are there now. 

 

Name

Unit/Position

 Additional Information
Dyke Verkerk Executive Director Teen Challenge Home for Girls--Name Change--Grace Christian Home & Academy for Girls--Shreveport--Started at the "Academy" in 2006.  Is associated with Teen Challenge and the Assemblies of God racket.  This program is closed.
Joe & Doilene Akins Founders Originally Founded Teen Challenge of Northern Louisiana in 1983.  Then changed over to the program for girls in 1991.  Joe Akins is dead.  Doilene Akins is also reportedly deceased.
NO OTHER NAMES NO OTHER TITLES There is no further information regarding the Shreveport location at this time.*
Mark D. Barrentine Director Teen Challenge of Acadiana--Lafayette--The only thing we can find suggests that it is another name for Evangeline Christian Home for Girls or Evangel House.   
NO OTHER NAMES NO OTHER TITLES There is no further information regarding the Shreveport location at this time.*
Greg (no last name) Director Teen Challenge--New Orleans 
Gail (no last name) Operations Manager
There is no further information regarding the New Orleans location at this time.*
Gary (no last name) Director Mt. Grace Training Center for Men--Dodson, LA
Sandy (no last name) Bookkeeper  
Matt (no last name) Work Supervisor  
Erik (no last name) Dean  
Thomas (no last name) Intake Coordinator  
Justin (no last name) Fundraising  
Huey (no last name) Director Ruston Teen Challenge--Ruston, LA
Nathan (no last name) Dean  
NO NAMES NO TITLES Mt. Grace Women's Center--Winnfield, LA--There is no information available on staff at this location.*
NO NAMES NO TITLES Mary's Song Women's Induction Center--New Orleans, LA--There is no information available on staff at this location.*
NO NAMES NO TITLES Lake Charles Teen Challenge--Lake Charles, LA--There is no information available on staff at this location.*
   

Louisiana Residential Centers--All of these Teen Challenge programs are related:

New Orleans Teen Challenge

Ruston Teen Challenge--Ruston, LA

Mt. Grace Training Center for Men--Dodson, LA

Mt. Grace Women's Center--Winnfield, LA

Mary's Song Women's Induction Center--New Orleans, LA

Lake Charles Teen Challenge--Lake Charles, LA
Teen Challenge Information--See www.heal-online.org/StraightandTeenChallenge.htm
HEAL Review-- Teen Challenge Ranch in Morrow, AR Contract & Enrollment Materials  HEAL is in the process of reviewing the available enrollment materials for the above program(s).  In the meantime, we invite you to read the review of the Teen Challenge Ranch of Morrow, AR contract linked in this segment as the contracts are likely very similar and the program ought to be avoided.

 *Teen Challenge, like many other programs in this industry, keeps a "tight lid" on any specific information regarding their staff, qualifications, and practices.  Please contact us with the names of any staff of which you have firsthand knowledge or experience.  Thank you for your help.

 

 Last Updated: April 22nd, 2011

 

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