Troubled Teens Resources

Teens at risk seem to respond powerfully once they are given an opportunity to realize the importance of life. Sounds cliche perhaps, but, there is powerful motivation to be had when confronted with the prospect of death. All of a sudden everything a troubled teen thought was unfair or unbearable is put back into proper perspective.

A locally developed program about to go national puts troubled teenagers face to face with their own morality by having them care for those who have no future left at all.

“The unique program pairs some of the city’s most troubled teens with seriously ill children at University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics with the idea that each group will benefit from the other’s situation.

Police choose youthful offenders for the Guardian Angel Project and match them with adult mentors from the community. Every week for about eight weeks the teens and adults work together to clean and glaze statuettes of a guardian angel watching over a child. The glazed figurines are then kiln-fired and carefully packed for transport to the hospital.

Mentors and youths ride together in a bus to the hospital in Iowa City where they personally deliver their angels to children with cancer, heart problems and other life-threatening diseases.

The Guardian Angel Project is dedicated to Eric Shonhoff, 8, of East Dubuque, who did not survive his illness. He was among the first children to be given an angel and died soon after he was given the figurine. The impact of the gift was so great that Shonhoff asked to be buried with his guardian angel so he could give it to God.”

(Source)

It is strongly held as true that if you love life, you take care of life. Teen age drug abuse stems, in part, from hopelessness and a sense that life isn’t worth living. When these teenagers see how desperately some fight to hold on to life, it causes them to realize how foolish it is for them to be so careless with their own lives.