GETTING THEIR YOUNG LIVES BACK TROUBLED TEENS TAKE VIDA TREATMENT.

Byline: CAROL ROCK Staff Writer

VALENCIA -- Megan Holland was living the perfect life in Valencia. With two loving parents and a kid sister, she was the least likely to be picked out of a lineup.

That was, until she ran a stolen car up a curb.

``I tried to lie to my parents about it, but it didn't work,'' the 14-year old said. ``My dad came and picked me up from school. They told me the neighbors had a camera and that I was in big trouble. I had a choice: to go to Juvenile Hall or try VIDA.''

VIDA -- Vital Intervention Directional Alternatives -- is a rigorous bootcamp-style program run by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies for teens between the ages of 13 and 17. Financed by a grant from the city of Santa Clarita, the local program is coordinated by Deputy Tim Ferrone.

``My innocent little girl turned into a teen thug,'' said Holland's father, Loren, who moved the family to the Santa Clarita Valley because of the high quality schools.

``She was the least likely candidate to get into trouble,'' said her mother, Lisa. ``My family was floored when they heard what she did. They kept asking `Megan who?'

``She was hesitant (about VIDA) at first and started hanging out with a 17-year-old girl who turned out to be a wolf in sheep's clothing,'' Loren said. ``She said Megan should come over so they could practice VIDA things, and they ended up sneaking out of the house.''

``I left with her and a 22-year-old in the middle of the night to get drunk,'' Megan said. ``I didn't care. I thought `Screw VIDA -- I'm gonna do my own thing,' but then I realized that I was hurting everyone around me.''

Her father blamed himself.

``The things she did made me sick to my stomach,'' he said. ``You feel like you failed as a parent. I couldn't bear to look at her.''

The program requires attendance at three weekly classes, including Saturday sessions that involve physical training run by military drill instructors, along with guest speakers and community service projects.

``When I got there, I hated everyone,'' Megan said. ``I didn't want to see Ferrone or any of the cops. The physical training part sucked; I couldn't do the exercises.''

Despite the program's intensity, Megan was caught with Coricidin Triple D in her possession and was expelled from school.

``Deputy Ferrone had lots of talks with me,'' she recalled. ``Everyone in the program tried really hard, and I just wouldn't listen. I finally realized people really cared for me and gave in because I wanted to get better.''

After high school graduation, the young woman hopes to attend Pepperdine University and study either counseling or law. Right now, she's working on mending fences with her younger sister, who's dealing with the fallout of Megan's mistakes.

``I hurt her pretty bad,'' she said. ``I'm really sorry.''

Lisa Holland says the key to VIDA's success is parental involvement.

``You can't just turn your kids over to the sheriffs and expect them to do it all,'' she said. ``You absolutely have to be involved.''

``You learn right away that you aren't the only ones with a child who seemed like they were the best in the world,'' Holland said. ``They have the same problems, the same questions you have. As parents, we have to network.''

VIDA participants are kids who can be saved with some extra discipline, she said.

``The program gives them a chance to say, `Hey, I can turn my life around.' It's good for parents, too. If you feel your child is in need, do it and do it now. If you really want your child to get back on the right road, don't wait.''

Rachel Lombardo's parents put her in the program when she was 15 because of self-esteem issues.

``I did some bad stuff on the Internet and was into cutting (self-injury),'' she said. ``There were times I wanted to quit. I was sent to the psychiatric ward overnight because of my cutting. One of the counselors asked who wanted to get help right now and I said I did. That was my turning point.''

Lombardo, now 20, has since earned a degree in design from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. She also teaches art classes to VIDA students, helping them express themselves with drawing, color and design.

A new 12-week session of VIDA will begin Oct. 7. Preregistration for the program is required and will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at 21445 Centre Pointe Parkway, Canyon Country. For information on the program, call Ferrone at [phone].

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

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(color) Like her father, Loren, Megan Holland, 14, of Valencia has nothing but praise for the sheriff's VIDA program, designed as a diversion for at-risk youth. Megan recently graduated from the program after stealing cars, using drugs and being thrown out of Rio Norte Junior High.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer