Teen Challenge Sexual Assault Claims: Legal Options for Survivors and Families

Teen Challenge Sexual Assault Lawyers

If you or your child experienced sexual abuse, molestation, or inappropriate touching at a Teen Challenge residential program, you are not alone, and you have legal rights.

At Flanagan & Bodenheimer, we are currently representing multiple families who alleged that their children were sexually assaulted at Teen Challenge facilities in Florida. These heartbreaking allegations share a common thread: trusted adults who used their position within a faith-based recovery program to manipulate, exploit, and harm vulnerable teens under the guise of spiritual guidance and discipline.

Call us anytime at (305) 638-4143 or complete our online form for a free consultation. 

What Is Teen Challenge?

Teen Challenge, now known in many areas as Adult & Teen Challenge, operates faith-based residential programs and boarding schools for youth and adults across the United States. Their website emphasizes long-term healing through Christian discipleship, structure, and a community of support.

While many families turn to these programs for help with behavioral issues or substance abuse, serious abuse allegations have emerged froml Teen Challenge locations, particularly in programs serving adolescents. These programs are often isolated, tightly controlled, and shielded from public oversight, creating conditions where abuse can go unnoticed or unreported for extended periods.

Through our firm’s ongoing investigations into Teen Challenge facilities in Florida and elsewhere, we have uncovered reports of:

• Inappropriate sexual touching and molestation by staff or older residents
• Sexual grooming masked as “mentorship,” often escalating under the pretense of spiritual closeness
• Private one-on-one meetings without oversight, often behind closed doors or in remote areas of the facility
• Lack of comprehensive background checks or failure to act on previous misconduct by staff members
• Use of intimidation tactics like shaving the heads of children upon admission into the program, which may be traumatic and set the tone that the children have no rights and no recourse against Teen Challenge

Can Teen Challenge Be Held Legally Responsible?

Yes. Religious and faith-based programs like Teen Challenge are not exempt from the law. While they may operate as nonprofits and claim spiritual missions, they are still legally responsible for providing a safe environment, especially when caring for minors. 

Florida law imposes a duty of care on all residential programs and boarding schools that serve children. When that duty is breached, through negligence, misconduct, or failure to act, the organization can be held civilly liable.

This includes failures such as:

• Inadequate staff screening or training
  
• Negligent supervision of minors and staff
  
• Ignoring red flags or previous complaints
  
• Delaying or failing to report known or suspected abuse to law enforcement, which is mandatory under Florida law

Leading the Fight for Teen Challenge Abuse Survivors

Our legal team at Flanagan & Bodenheimer Injury & Wrongful Death Law Firm is currently representing children alleging sexual abuse and/or inappropriate touching at Teen Challenge facilities in Florida. These cases have drawn public attention due to the seriousness of the allegations and the vulnerability of the minors involved.

Our attorney, Zachary D. Bodenheimer, was recently featured on the news for his work advocating on behalf of survivors in one of these cases. His appearance highlighted the disturbing patterns uncovered in our investigation and the urgent need for accountability within Teen Challenge and similar organizations. Our firm is proud to stand at the forefront of this important fight—because survivors deserve to be heard, believed, and supported.

What Type of Compensation is Available For Victims of Sexual Abuse?

While no amount of money can undo the trauma of sexual abuse, a civil lawsuit can provide resources for recovery and a sense of justice. Survivors and their families may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical and psychological treatment (past and future)
  
• Pain and suffering
  
• Emotional distress and trauma
  
• Loss of educational opportunities
  
• Costs of transferring to a new school or therapeutic program
  
• Punitive damages in some cases involving gross negligence or willful misconduct

How Civil Lawsuits Can Create Change

Bringing a lawsuit against an institution like Teen Challenge is not only a way to seek justice and compensation. It’s also a way to shine a light on systemic failures, ensure accountability, and help protect others from future harm.

Civil litigation can lead to:

• Changes in leadership and oversight
  
• Public awareness and independent investigations
  
• Improved background checks and supervision protocols
  
• The closure of unsafe facilities or program restructuring
  
• Greater transparency from religious and nonprofit institutions
  

At Flanagan & Bodenheimer, we believe that no institution is too big or too protected to be held accountable, especially when it comes to the safety of children. Whether the abuse happened recently or years ago, we’re committed to helping survivors take back their power and demand institutional responsibility.

What to Do If You Suspect or Know That Abuse Occurred

Whether you are a parent or a survivor, the first step is to understand that this was not your fault. Abuse thrives in silence, and it is not your responsibility to have known what was happening or how to prevent it. What matters now is what you do next.

If you or your child experienced abuse at Teen Challenge:

• Contact an attorney immediately to preserve your claims
• Preserve any evidence, including written records, medical evaluations, or correspondence with staff
• Write down what you remember, including dates, names, and specific incidents
• Reach out to a trusted attorney experienced in handling sexual abuse claims against institutions
• Do not speak with the program or its attorneys directly, especially if they reach out to offer a settlement or discourage you from pursuing legal action

At Flanagan & Bodenheimer, we handle every case with sensitivity, confidentiality, and compassion. We are here to listen, to believe you, and to help you seek justice, whether the abuse happened recently or years ago.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sue Teen Challenge for sexual abuse that happened to my child?

Yes. If your child was sexually abused, molested, or inappropriately touched at a Teen Challenge facility, you may have grounds to file a civil lawsuit against the organization for negligence and failure to protect your child.

Is Teen Challenge protected from lawsuits because it’s a religious nonprofit?

No. Religious or nonprofit status does not exempt an organization from civil liability when abuse or negligence occurs. All institutions that care for minors are legally required to ensure a safe environment.

Do I need a police report to file a civil lawsuit?

No. A police report is not required to file a civil claim, although it can help strengthen your case. Civil lawsuits can be filed independently of criminal charges.

Is there a deadline for taking legal action?

While some cases involving minors have no time limit, others have strict deadlines depending on the survivor’s age, when the abuse was discovered, and whether government entities are involved. Contacting an attorney as soon as possible is critical.

How much does it cost to hire your law firm for a case like this?

We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing up front. We only get paid if we win compensation for you through a settlement or court award.

Contact Us for a Free Confidential Consultation

If you or your child has experienced sexual abuse, molestation, or inappropriate contact at a Teen Challenge facility or any other residential program, we encourage you to reach out. You do not need to navigate this alone.

At Flanagan & Bodenheimer Injury & Wrongful Death Law Firm, we offer free, completely confidential consultations to help you understand your rights and legal options. There is no pressure to take immediate action, we’re here to listen, support, and guide you at your own pace.

Call us anytime at (305) 638-4143 or complete our online form for a free consultation.