Out of more than 1,000 entries, Tulsa’s Women in Recovery program wins a national award for treatment innovation.
WIR is offered through Family & Children’s Services and works with women facing prison for addiction and trauma-related crimes. The program has been honored with the Excellence in Treatment Innovation award from the National Council for Behavioral Health. WIR Director Mimi Tarrasch said over the last three years, their recidivism rate has dropped to under 3 percent.
"Addiction is a lifetime disease and a family disease, and to be able to put support services in place for the lifetime of our graduates and participants, I think, is what's created a healthy stabilizer," Tarrasch said.
For comparison, the state department of corrections' recidivism rate is more than 13 percent.
Tarrasch said keeping women out of prison and with their children helps break the cycle of incarceration.
"It gives us great pride that we are a multigenerational program that is also providing services to the children and grandchildren, as well as support services for caregivers," Tarrasch said.
WIR estimates it’s impacted the lives of more than 900 children since 2009.
Tarrasch said the award validates their efforts, which began in 2009.
"Six and a half years later, we are thrilled with the outcomes. We are so happy with the opportunity and the new trajectory that many women, as well as their children, have now had as a result," Tarrasch said.
Participants go through a 14 to 18 month program. They get help for everything from substance abuse and mental health to employment training and family therapy.
