Sale for the Right Reason

When I got home, people all around me said I had changed

Before I went to Salem my life was a mess. I stole from my family and was a disrespectful person. I was not a Christian at the time and hid a lot of things inside my heart and from my family. I always caused trouble at school and never paid much attention to my education. Almost everybody either thought I was weird or hated me. My life was a total mess.

Then on January 7, 2005, my Dad and my youth pastor brought me to Salem Ranch. At first I didn't want to go, but I finally went. During my stay I learned lots of things like respect, social skills, and family issues. It seems like every problem I had at home was fixed, but it wasn't very easy. I got mad at the other boys and staff, but there was always somebody to talk to. One time when I was really mad Steve said, "David, it's just another hole in the road. Your car hasn't crashed yet." I always remember that.

When I got home people all around me said I had changed. Salem changed my life forever. Without Salem I would not be where I am today. I have more friends from the church, and everybody knows me as a better person. I think that while you are there you grow to like the Ranch so much that when a boy is ready to leave he doesn't really want to.

The teaching at Salem helped me understand Jesus, and when I came home I became a Christian.

Dave

Salem Got Our Son Back on Track

Our son was an honor roll student, was obedient, kind and a caring person up until 2nd semester of his high school freshman year. He was someone who would actually pick up that piece of paper left on the floor, someone who had no problem meeting his 80-year-old grandfather at the movies and someone who would be glad to help a family friend and babysit her Down’s syndrome child. No one had better manner’s than he did. During those years he was motivated, funny and liked to be involved, especially in martial arts and baseball.

Just like you read, all of a sudden he quit martial arts and wasn’t as interested in baseball, although he kept playing; however it was a fight to get him to practice. All of a sudden his friends stopped calling, his grades dropped and his behavior was unlike we had seen from him before. He found a new crowd to hang out with. Mostly kids a year older. They were people that we heard were not good influences, but we had no proof.

He started being truant at school. The officer wasn’t much help. She actually made us feel like it was our fault. She told us one of us should quit our job and stay home with him. However, she didn’t have a solution as to how we should “physically” get him to school. By his second year, he had to go to summer school. By this third year, he was not going to graduate high school on time, if at all.

Over those years, his behavior became increasingly disrespectful, disobedient, angry and violent. The words, “I hate you” still ring in my head. He damaged our home with holes that were punched in walls and doors. Rules were not followed at school or at home. Even requests to come home for dinner or be home by curfew were not honored.

We found out he was smoking cigarettes and pot. During the weekend of father’s day, he ran away from home. We called the police and for four days we looked for him. When he was finally found, the police and the crisis center were called and he was hospitalized for a week. Things improved slightly, but he was still angry and smoking. He went to school but didn’t do any homework. The high school counselors and teachers worked with us the best they could. They even wrote up an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) so he could have easier classes. He still wouldn’t do the work.

He was put in a day program and things improved a little more for a little while. However, his violent behavior did not go away, even when police were called. I thought that would be the hardest thing I’d have to do is call the police on my child but it wasn’t. The hardest thing was having someone come and take him away to Salem. It was also the best thing. When your son decides to go down a path of self destruction, it is a time to make a decision. The life-saving decision was Salem. We looked on-line to find places that could help us with our troubled son. Most of them were out west and very short term. We were looking for something long term and we knew it was important to have family therapy as well.

As God would have it, we found Salem-4-Youth. As soon as I talked to them, I knew our son would be in good hands. When describing to them what was happening, nothing surprised them and he assured me it wasn’t anything Salem hadn’t handled before. Every time I called, no matter who I talked to, I was given the time I needed and was treated with respect. We cannot say enough about the Salem-4-Youth program. It is a well-rounded behavior and education program that teaches Christian values through the use of the bible and it ties everyday life into bible passages. This program gave our son something we apparently could not give him and gave him a foundation to rely on in difficult times.

Our son loves animals and the horse therapy program brought him back to his heart. Family therapy is a big part of their wellness process. After all, it is not just a son’s problem. Salem communication is as much as you want it to be. They have your son’s whole being in their heart. The time they put in and the dedication they have is unbelievable. Their discipline process was clear and our son knew exactly what was expected of him. It was the solid structure that he needed. Their process teaches respect of oneself, others and authority, patience and leadership. It teaches that privileges are earned and can be taken away and that consequences (good and bad) happen when you make choices. A person is solely responsible for the choices they make.

You think that the first six weeks of not seeing your son is going to kill you. But, this is the time Salem starts to “remold” your child and a time you can relieve your family of all the stress. We were secure in our decision because we were confident Salem was behind us 100%. You know you did the right thing when you find out your son told his friends, “If my parents wouldn’t have sent me there, I’d be dead.”

If it wasn’t for Salem, our son would not understand God the way he does now, would not respect himself or others, would not be graduating high school, would not be the leader he has become, would not have found his renewed love of sports and would not have the goals he has right now, to work, go to college and make right choices. Salem got him “back on track.” He has apologized for everything he did and we hear “I love you” every day now.

The Niezgoda's