New Life Children's Center 650 Scarbourough, Canyon Lake, TX 78133

"I came here back in 2011. wasn’t sure if I would liked it but I gave them a chance and I loved it. chick time, bible study and definitely the barn was the best! Ricky the longhorn was like my bff lol I’m wondering if he’s still there today in 2023?.. I talk about this place all the time and of course my Ricky. thank you new life for everything you have done for me. (OLSEN COTTAGE!!!) lol"

"I was here back in 2001 at 13yrs old. I met a lot of people there, mainly from CPS. I was in the juvenile system. I was placed here for 8 months. I learned how to make pies. The staff there really cared about us & yes some would get restraint but only when acting bad to calm down. 99 percent of the staff really cared about helping us. We all played in the gym, outside, and it was more like going out camping in cabins. It was a great rehabilitation place and it thought me a lot of things. If I could work there, I would."

"First off the people stating that this place and its staff were horrible, obviously were part of the groups of girls whom did everything they were told not to. The staff would restrain us but only when we tried hurting ourselves, others, or the staff. They had strict rules because a lot of the children brought in were from dysfunctional settings and some were ever repeat juvenile offenders who were granted a second chance rather than left to the justice system. I spent 3 and a half years here from age 15 to almost 18. They offer programs like P.A.L.S to ensure the girls who wish to thrive after the program can make a life for themselves. I could go on and on but what I wanted to point out is that this place is what we girls made it. They gave us what we gave them, if we were full of attitude they were also, if we respected them and the rules we got that and more cause they had a color system that gave rewards for being on blue for a full week. Compliance did not go unnoticed, and defiance was treated with special attention meaning isolation room, grounding (room arrest), etc. Not ever did the staff physically disrespect us or do anything evil, there were girls there who were very strong and ill mannered so what would you do if you were being fought by a defiant self righteous teen who refuses to follow anyone's rules? I learned so much from the staff and programs here, way more than I'd ever got being abused and neglected in life before this place found me. Thank you all so much for caring for me when I didn't know or understand the meaning of true compassion and respect."

"New LIfe does amazing works with the tools given. There is currently a crisis in the number of foster children in the state of Texas. The young ladies at New Life are the youth in the foster system that cannot be in a foster home safely. It is definitely not rainbows and unicorns. Staff have days where they question why they work here. Nobody works here for the money. There are reviews here from youth who had a horrible experience, however, to be clear, New Life is a treatment center, not a daycare, not a summer camp, and not even a foster home. I've been blessed to witness first hand the small miracles that happen everyday there that do not make it into a Google review. There are always going to be defeats in anything worthwhile, but the amount of successes after being open for 30 years cannot be overlooked!"

"I was a resident at New Life in the early 90's from age to 10 to age 12. I have mostly great memories of Canyon Lake. The staff were so caring of us. Especially of the most troubled girls. At my young age I was pretty mature and therefore was held to a higher standard. It felt good to know that I was trusted and relied on to help support and guide the new residents. One thing I've learned about myself and other children I grew up with in the system is most of us thrive in structured environments, which is also why alot of us go into the military."