Third Way Ctr

Pros

• The staff are caring and genuinely care about the kids.
• Third Way helps a lot of kids reach the goals they want or need to achieve.
• The staff push residents to be their best and work through their challenges.
• Third Way Lincoln's staff and therapists are helpful, understanding, and caring, and they keep residents accountable.
• The program helps residents graduate high school, learn life skills, get jobs, and live independently.
• Former residents credit Third Way with a big, lasting positive impact and credit the staff with setting them up for success.

Cons

• The place is described as horrible, with residents forced to do things.
• The facility is accused of starving kids and withholding insulin from diabetic residents.
• Staff are accused of lying to residents and stealing from clients, including a phone and money.
• Residents reportedly must surrender all passwords and have their phone usage restricted for a minimum of four weeks.
• The institution is described as abusive and lacking independence, with staff terrorizing children using their trauma.
• A reviewer called it one of the most abusive facilities they've ever encountered.
• Many reviews claim the facility should be shut down and sued for neglect and harassment.

Review

The collection of reviews presents a complex, roller-coaster portrait of Third Way, with many voices describing a program that can feel life-changing and supportive on one hand, and harsh, even condemnable on the other. Across the threads, the common thread is that the place is hard and demanding, but for some families and youths it has offered genuine care, structure, and a path toward healthier futures. Several reviewers emphasize that the staff are among the most caring people they've encountered, and they point to moments when a therapist's compassion made a lasting impression - like the moment a therapist wished a child "continued best" and even cried as they left the building. Those elements of vulnerability and warmth anchor a number of positive testimonies about the program's impact.

Many reviews focus on the positive, practical outcomes that families observed. One reviewer shares a story of transformation that seems almost routine in these accounts: a young person not only completes high school but also learns practical life skills, secures a job, and moves into their own apartment. The same reviewer notes that the staff held the individual accountable in meaningful ways, helping them build a foundation for independence while maintaining support for the journey ahead. Across similar narratives, the program is credited with pushing kids to be their best, offering accountability, and providing a framework in which they could work through personal challenges. The sentiment is that, when participants are motivated to engage with the process, Third Way can steer them toward the next steps they need - graduating high school, gaining employment, and learning real-world skills such as writing a resume and budgeting - elements that several reviews highlight as key outcomes.

The personnel component emerges as a central feature in the overall evaluation. Reviewers consistently mention specific staff members - Alyssa, Courtney, Chris, Maggie, Heather, Jack, Emily, Karen, and others - portraying them as caring professionals who blend warmth with firmness. The recurring line is that the staff "care about the kids," and the care is often described as both personal and professional. Some reviewers underscore the dual nature of the staff: they can be tough at times, but that toughness is framed as a necessary part of helping youths grow stronger and more capable. In short, the staff's willingness to hold youths accountable, even when it's difficult, is celebrated as a critical driver of success for those who embrace the process.

Yet the same set of reviews does not shy away from the darker side of the program, offering a stark contrast to the more hopeful tales. A number of comments surfacing under the umbrella of "I wouldn't recommend this place" cast Third Way in a harsh light, especially when focused on Lincoln. These accounts describe a climate of control and coercion - claims that residents are stripped of autonomy, have their phones restricted, and must surrender passwords, sometimes taking months to regain any semblance of personal freedom. One reviewer uses blunt language to describe Lincoln as an independent-living facility that functions more like an adult halfway house, with heavy-handed oversight that stifles independence rather than fostering it. The tone here is accusatory: power is exercised in ways that feel punitive, and the sense of personal agency is undermined rather than supported.

Even more explosive are the allegations of abuse in some of the reviews. A handful of commenters describe experiences that go beyond policy disagreements and into accusations of harm: starvation, withholding insulin from diabetic residents, lying to gain compliance, and theft from clients. One reviewer catalogs behaviors and outcomes that would be considered severe violations if true, including the theft of a phone and money and a general pattern of mistreatment described as abusive. A specific name appears repeatedly in this vein - Kim Renner - framing a direct critique of leadership and oversight. Taken together, these claims paint a portrait of a facility where the line between discipline and abuse was crossed for some individuals, provoking strong condemnation and calls for accountability or shutdown.

Against these harsh criticisms, some reviewers still insist that Third Way has the potential to be deeply restorative, even if the path there is fraught with difficulty. One perspective emphasizes the idea that the program demands a willingness to change; commitment from the youth is a prerequisite for the positive outcomes others report. In these voices, the program's challenges - its rules, its demanding structure, the occasional strictness - are justified as mechanisms to push youths beyond their comfort zones and toward better futures. Other reviewers reveal their personal gratitude: a relative who watched a nephew graduate high school, maintain sobriety, land a job, and live independently attributes much of that success to the program's accountability and life-skills coaching. Even when the experience is harsh, there are those who acknowledge that the hard work can pay dividends, leaving a lasting imprint that endures years after leaving the program.

Taken together, the reviews sketch a multifaceted institution that can feel almost contradictory to outsiders: an environment where warmth and genuine care live side by side with stringent rules and, in some cases, severe accusations. For families and youths who connect with the staff and embrace the program's demands, Third Way Lincoln can represent a turning point - a place where accountability, skill-building, and supportive guidance converge to propel someone into a more stable, self-sufficient life. For others, especially those who encounter restrictive policies or troubling experiences, the same system can feel oppressive and unsafe, with claims of neglect or abuse casting a long shadow over the institution's overarching mission.

Ultimately, the shared takeaway across these varied narratives is that Third Way is not a uniform experience. It can be a source of profound support, practical growth, and hopeful futures for some, while for others it can feel punitive, controlling, and even harmful. The recurring message to prospective families seems to be: be prepared for a challenging journey, listen to your instincts about how your child is faring, and weigh the program's accountability and life-skills focus against the very real concerns raised by some residents and former residents. The voices converge on one point: Third Way is a place of high stakes and high potential, where care and consequence collide in a way that can reshape lives - sometimes for the better, sometimes prompting necessary scrutiny and reform.

This part of Denver, Colorado is a vibrant and diverse neighborhood with a variety of amenities and services within close proximity. There are several dining options nearby, including popular chains like Domino's Pizza as well as local favorites such as Vesper Lounge and Charlie's Denver. Places of worship like St John's Cathedral are easily accessible, providing opportunities for spiritual fulfillment. The area also boasts easy access to healthcare facilities such as the Webb Center for Primary Care and National Jewish Health, ensuring quality medical care for residents. Additionally, numerous parks like Cheesman Park and City Park offer green spaces for leisurely strolls and recreational activities. With cafes, theaters, pharmacies, and transportation options like the RTD Rail station nearby, this part of Denver provides a convenient and lively environment for seniors looking to enjoy their retirement years in a bustling urban setting.

Restaurants

• Domino's Pizza (0.2 miles)
• Vesper Lounge (0.5 miles)
• X Bar (0.6 miles)
• Charlie's Denver (0.7 miles)
• Don's Club Tavern (0.7 miles)
• Stout Street Social (0.8 miles)
• Tarantula Billiards (0.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• St John's Cathedral (0.5 miles)

Theaters

• Regal UA Denver Pavilions 4DX & RPX (0.6 miles)
• Amc 9+Co 1 (2.6 miles)
• Alamo Drafthouse Denver (3 miles)

Hospitals

• Webb Center for Primary Care (0.6 miles)
• National Jewish Health (2.4 miles)
• Cherry Creek Eye Center (3.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• The Lodge Cannabis (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)

Parks

• Benedict Fountain Park (0.9 miles)
• Cheesman Park (1 miles)
• Confluence Park (1.8 miles)
• City Park (1.8 miles)
• Washington Park (2.4 miles)
• Bonnie Brae Ellipse Park (2.9 miles)
• Overland Pond Park (3.1 miles)

Physicians

• Children's Medical Center (1 miles)
• Denver Health: Gipson Eastside Family Health Center (1.6 miles)
• Highlands Integrative Pediatrics (2.2 miles)
• Center For Hearing, Speech, & Language (2.6 miles)
• Rose Medical Center Medical Libr (2.8 miles)
• Orthopedic Associates (2.9 miles)
• Cherry Creek Pediatrics (3.9 miles)

Cafes

• Crema Coffee House (1.8 miles)
• Aviano Coffee (2 miles)
• Starbucks (2 miles)
• Improper City (2.2 miles)
• Huckleberry Roasters (3 miles)
• Stella's Coffee House (3.1 miles)
• Starbucks (3.2 miles)

Transportation

• RTD Rail - 38th & Blake Station (2.6 miles)