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. Candace Mayer

Director

Candace is a pastor credentialed with the Assemblies of God and is a Licensed Social Worker (LMSW). She has experience working with individuals in various aspects of mental health for the last eight years. She is a mother to three teenagers.

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.

Paulina Huerta

Biblical Counselor

Paulina has been working in children’s ministry for 9 years and has been a worship leader at her church for the past 3 years. As she went on a journey of her own healing process, she also developed a passion for helping others find healing. She has been a leader of her women’s community for 2 years and has graduated from the Biblical Counseling program at The Answer. She came on the Springboard Team in April of 2023.

Patti Conner

Intake Coordinator/Center Supervisor

Patti has served as PR coordinator at Springboard since 2018 and recently switched over to her new position. She has extensive experience in the food and event industry, as well as directing pregnancy centers. She has been a part of children’s and teen ministries for over 20 years and has been serving as a Youth Leader at her current church for over 8 years now. She has a special place in her heart for young people because of her own experiences. She is responsible for raising finances and awareness for Springboard.

Julie Coons

Houseparent

Julie retired from Corporate Business after 45+ years to be more available to serve God. She joined Springboard in early 2023 as an overnight house parent. In Jesus, Julie has experienced emotional and physical healing with God’s ever-present unconditional love and amazing faithfulness. Julie wholeheartedly supports Springboard’s mission and is blessed to be part of the team to help the girls experience emotional, social, and physical healing at a young age so they can live their God-given destinies and purposes.

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.

Katrina Wisz

Curriculum Coordinator/Teacher

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.

Debi Treichel

Boutique Manager

Debi is originally from Northern Ohio, however, all three of her beautiful daughters were born in Johnson City, Tennessee. While she was living there she also received her Bachelors in Business Management. She has been in Tucson for 25 years and is now a self-proclaimed “Desert Rat”.

She has had a consistent love for three things throughout her 60 years on earth, God, family, and fashion. She has run her own online boutique for over five years! She has a strong love for youth, especially girls, and helped run a church youth group for several years at a previous church.

She can’t wait to see what God has in “store” (ha-ha) for Blessingdale’s Boutique and the Springboard House in the coming years but whatever it is, bring it on!

Margaret Lonkert

Houseparent

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.

Carla Ash

Houseparent

After Carla retired in April of 2023 she didn’t know what God had planned for her. When Springboard came to her church to speak about the program she talked with them and thought “I will volunteer and see how it goes.” She volunteered for about two months and loved seeing the girls change. Soon she was hired and working with us! Carla worked with adolescents at her church for ten years, teaching them stories and the history of the Bible. As well as raising two children and three grandchildren. Before coming to work at Springboard, she was a dental lab tech for two years. She works very well with all ages!

Tove Benavidez

Public Relations

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 social media and donor development. She is also ahead of all Springboard events. Her heart is to see young women experience healing and wholeness through the power of Jesus.

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.

Our Story

Our Mission

Meet the Team

Rev. Candace Mayer

Alicia Suarez

Paulina Huerta

Patti Conner

Julie Coons

Ginger Lubbers

Katrina Wisz

Debi Treichel

Margaret Lonkert

Carla Ash

Tove Benavidez

Ladies Guild

Becky Jones

Springboard Weekly Wisdom

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