ReMerge provides services which will reduce or permanently remove the barriers preventing women from leading healthy and productive lives. ReMerge offers a variety of services including basic needs provision including housing, transportation, medical and behavioral health care, domestic violence intervention and counseling, education training and job placement, parenting and family services, legal services, lifeskills and more.

Past abuse and trauma, violence, unhealthy relationships, unhealthy support systems, guilt and shame associated with stigma, and poverty are examples of factors that play a role in the lives of women who become involved in the criminal justice system. The ReMerge program components are designed to address all of these issues to improve the chances of long term recovery and success. 

ReMerge's collaboration with community partners and our focus on mental health and substance abuse treatment are our core strengths. ReMerge’s integrative array of evidence based clinical models-approaches to prevention and treatment are based in theory and have undergone scientific evaluation - to address trauma, mental health, and substance abuse issues, thus equipping them to meet the diverse needs of the ReMerge participants. Community partners provide additional services such as budgeting, health and wellness, and parenting. ReMerge and community partners work collaboratively to provide participants with the knowledge and skill sets necessary for safe, healthy and happy family environments for their children.  

The twelve to twenty-four month program is challenging and offers life changing opportunities for the women and their children. Participants are on site daily, placed in sober living housing, and monitored by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.  The program provides every opportunity for the women to change the trajectory of their future for themselves and their children.

Among other programming, ReMerge offers two evidence-based programs aiming to strengthen the bond between mothers and their children. We know that families who are touched by addiction are at a higher risk for domestic violence, child abuse, or neglect. Our programming works with every member of the family, from ages 3 through adult, to strengthen recovery from alcohol and/or other drugs, break the cycle of addiction, and increase successful family reunification. By providing direct services for children and families, as well as coordinating services from other community partners, our program is able to provide a more structured  and coordinated approach to the much needed focus area of family bonding.

ReMerge families participate in Celebrating Families, an evidence-based 16 week curriculum supported by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, which addresses the needs of children and parents in families that have been affected by substance abuse. Celebrating Families works simultaneously with both the adults and children in the family to strengthen recovery, improve family re-unification and increase healthy living skills for all family members.

Celebrating Families has been shown to increase children’s well-being and functioning; increase their knowledge of chemical dependency and decrease future potential risk for their own use of alcohol and drugs; increase positive parent/child interactions; and, promote the importance of family meals. Each session begins with a family meal, promoting the importance of families eating together. Research shows children who have frequent family dinners are less likely to smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal and prescription drugs.

ReMerge also offers the Ruby Payne Bridges Out of Poverty training and philosophy for staff and participants. The curriculum is an evidence based program, educating participants in ways to break the cycle of generational poverty. “Getting Ahead in a Just-Getting-By-World” helps participants make the paradigm shift from poverty to middle class. Getting Ahead focuses on financial planning and its implications for poverty, guiding participants through an assessment of their own resources and how to build those resources as part of their move to self-sufficiency.

Getting Ahead courses are not restricted to ReMerge participants only. This 20 week course is available to any qualifying person. Free childcare and meals are provided, as well as a $25 gift card for each week of participation. To learn more about Getting Ahead and to find out if you qualify, please contact Blanca Richard at (405)208-7212 or BRichard@ReMergeOK.org