About

History

Our Story

Teen Challenge’s Springboard Home for Girls is a 3-6 month residential shelter for girls ages 12-17 and is licensed through the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Springboard’s doors opened in October of 1976 as a non-profit, temporary shelter care home, after Rev. Snow Peabody, the Executive State Director for Teen Challenge AZ, saw a need to reach out and help teens in crisis. Since that time, thousands of young ladies have gone through Springboard Home.

Teen Challenge began in 1958 when Rev. David Wilkerson, author of “The Cross and the Switchblade”, went to New York to reach teenage gang members with God’s love. There in the heart of the big city slums, Teen Challenge was born. Now there are over 1,000 Teen Challenge centers in 90 countries, helping not only teens, but also adults with life-controlling problems, mainly in the area of drug and alcohol use. Presently, in the State of Arizona, there are three adult men’s facilities, one women’s center with children and one center for adolescent girls, Springboard.

At Springboard, we aim to intentionally create an environment of love, grace, compassion, kindness, and peace. Our focus every day is on the lasting transformation of hearts, attitudes, thoughts, habits, and character. During our students’ 3-6 month stay, our goal is to see our students equipped for their maximum potential in their individual cultures at home and in the world.

Our Mission

We exist to help young ladies become mentally stable, emotionally balanced, socially adjusted, physically well, and spiritually alive!

About Us

Meet the Team

Rev. Georgia Morrison

Director

Georgia is a pastor credentialed with the Assemblies of God and has received her masters in Community Development. She has had over 15 years of experience working with kids and teenagers and has served as center director since 2018.

Bre Mishler

Intake Coordinator/Bookkeeper

Bre has degrees in Family Studies & Human Development as well as Religious Studies from the University of Arizona. She has over 18 years of experience working with children in foster care and other at-risk youth. She has been with Springboard since 2018.

Alicia Suarez

Biblical Counselor

Alicia has worked in a variety of youth programs ranging from camps, homeless shelters, and residential treatment centers for almost 15 years. She currently serves as one of our Biblical Counselors and oversees different aspects of the Springboard program.

Shelly Chase

Biblical Counselor

Shelly has raised five teens in a blended family and helped them navigate through family crises and their personal traumas. She serves as one of our Biblical Counselors and God is using her experience to help other families experience hope, healing, and restoration through Jesus.

Patti Conner

Public Relations

Patti has served as PR coordinator at Springboard since 2018. She has extensive experience in the food and event industry, as well as directing pregnancy centers. She is responsible for raising finances and awareness for Springboard.

Jazmin DesJardins

Curriculum Coordinator

Jazmin has worked with kids in both a school and ministry environment for around 4 years. She has a heart to see the next generation raised up in Christ and see the truth set them free. Jaz serves as the curriculum coordinator, as well as a houseparent at Springboard.

Ginger Lubbers

House Manager

Ginger worked for almost 30 years in residential treatment for troubled youth in Wyoming, serving as the director of that facility for 15 of those years. She tried to retire from working with troubled youth, but God wouldn’t let her and brought her to Springboard 3 years ago where she currently serves as our House Manager.

Elizabeth O’konya

Houseparents

Elizabeth just celebrated her 15 years working at Springboard as a houseparent. She works during the night shift with our students and works as a special needs teacher in an elementary school during the day. Liz loves to have fun with our students and use her life experience to help teach them.

Katrina Wisz

Houseparents

Katrina can relate to the girls on a personal level as her story was very similar to most of the girls we minister to. She has experienced healing in her own life and is passionate about helping the girls know their true identity in Christ. Katrina’s mission is to use her past as an encouragement for their future. Katrina has been a houseparent with us for over a year now.

Madelynn Moran

Boutique Manager

Maddy became our boutique manager in 2021. She has several years in customer service and retail, as well as working summer camps with youth, making her an excellent fit for Springboard’s Blessingdales Boutique.

Margaret Lonkert

Houseparents

Margaret is a mother of two grown daughters and a grandmother to three teenage granddaughters. With the help of the Holy Spirit, her goal as a part-time houseparent is to be loving, nurturing, and compassionate towards the girls to make a positive difference in their lives.

Tove Benavidez

Development Assistant

Tove has worked with kids and teens for 11 years serving in the local church. She completed three years of a ministry internship and graduated with her Associates Degree in Ministerial Leadership from Southeastern University. She assists in both social media and donor development. Her heart is to see young women experience healing and wholeness through the power of Jesus.

Samantha Kelly

Houseparents

Pursuing a degree in Ministry and Leadership, Samantha has worked in social service, community outreach, and several youth ministry positions and is eager to help others both practically and spiritually. She desires to serve God with her gifts, education, and time by sharing the life-giving truth about Jesus whenever possible. She makes time for others to share their heartaches, hopes, and future goals while allowing the Holy Spirit to guide her steps with love and empathy.

Volunteers

Ladies Guild

We have a Ladies’ Guild at Springboard Home that consists of a group of volunteers who help us plan and host events and work at Springboard. They bring dinner and hang out with our students at least once a month and many volunteer to do crafts, PE, or game nights with them.

Becky Jones

Guild President

Becky began to volunteer at Springboard about 4 years ago and is now currently leading our Ladies’ Guild. She hosts the guild meetings once a month and recruits new members. She loves on our students by cooking them meals and connecting with them. She also helps by serving at our front desk.