Teen Factor is a Christian outreach ministry incorporated as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation in the State of Maryland. We are committed to:
- Rebuilding the lives of troubled teens in our community by providing the finest training, treatment, and care available within a Christian framework.
- Building supportive family environments so that teens can be reunited with their families in health and wholeness.
We are not under the auspices of any denomination or organization.
How Teen Factor began.
More than a decade ago, God placed an idea in the hearts of Teen Factor's founders: work with teens who are struggling with issues of life that they cannot resolve on their own. Reach these young people before their behavioral, emotional, legal, drug, or other problems become severe.
Since that time, Bill and Linda Wheelhouse have helped scores of teens and their families in crisis prevention and special education programs, and through youth ministry at Church of the Redeemer in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Over the years, they became acutely aware of the limited resources available to at-risk teens and their families in our community. And they resolved to do something about it.
Teen Factor was established in July 2004 with the express purpose of serving teens and families by providing life-transforming residential care.
More about our founders/officers.
William J. (Bill) Wheelhouse, Executive Director
As executive director, Bill is administering the 2005 Capital Campaign and will manage the day-to-day operations of the Teen Factor campus.
His background is in banking, where he has worked in customer service, operations, management, and loan documentation. Currently he is a settlement agent for Household Title, LLC.
Bill brings to Teen Factor the desire to serve Jesus Christ by showing others the care and mercy that he himself was shown. His own teen and young adult years were marked by pain and loneliness—the death of his mother; the remarriage and subsequent divorce of his father; drug use that began as experimentation and became increasingly serious. Throughout this time, no one reached out until several Christian men took an interest in him and provided guidance in family and personal matters.
He was led to Christ at the age of 26. Shortly after, he began teaching Sunday School, and he has been involved in family ministry work ever since.
Linda Wheelhouse, President
Linda has worked with teens for many years. She is currently a special education teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools at the Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents (RICA). Previously, she taught at the Ridge School, which is part of Potomac Ridge Treatment Center for teens experiencing emotional traumas.
Along with a Masters Degree from Hood College in Special Education, she also has more than 12 years of experience in volunteer youth ministry, including more than 2 years working with a youth recovery program.
About the organization.
Teen Factor operates under the guidance of its board of directors:
Marsha Andre, Director
Licensed Therapist in private practice
Nushi Carrera, Director
President of Broadband Communications
Judy Dale, Director
Brent Dickey, Director
Sr. Organization Development Consultant for Fannie Mae
Diana Gary, Director
CPA, Esquire, Solo Practitioner in probate and estate planning.
Bridget Voritskul
Administrative Officer at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease NIH, DHHS
Linda Wheelhouse
Director/President
Teacher for Montgomery County School System
Bill Wheelhouse
Executive Director
