in answer to the question about someone voluntarily signing in or committing to a program after age 18....
i turned 18 while i was at Hephzibah House. i told them i wanted to leave, but i was ignored and not permitted to go. i had no access to a telephone, and any incoming/outgoing letters were all read. there was at least one other girl there who was also 18. i know i was not there voluntarily...but (and now to actually answer the question)....Hephz. House is FULL of staff who are former students of the program. There is one girl who went on to marry ron williams (director) son. others are just on staff, and after they have been out of the program, they have had younger sisters who came into it. even after i wanted to leave at 18, i just quit fighting. i was what they called a "model student"...i just bided my time. but i left the second my 18 months was up. they wanted me to stay on and go to a good christian college (of their approval) and then help out at the home. fat chance!