Women In Recovery Graduation

Graduation

This past Thursday evening I had the privilege of watching the Women in Recovery (WIR) graduation event. This was very special because of it was the 10th anniversary of the WIR program, and we had three (3) of the graduates as clients. (25% of the graduating class) It is a wonderful thing to see how far these courageous women have come, and what an inspiration they are to the next group coming through the program.

Women In Recovery

Women in Recovery (WIR) is an intensive outpatient alternative for eligible women facing long prison sentences for non-violent drug-related offenses. Operated in partnership with the George Kaiser Family Foundation, WIR works closely with the criminal justice system and various community partners to ensure program participants receive supervision, substance abuse and mental health treatment, education, workforce readiness training and family reunification services.

Hard Work

The women that go through this program have to be committed to doing the work necessary to battle their demons. The demons of their addiction, the demons of their past, and the demons of a still uncertain and challenging future. The program provides them with the opportunity to gain skills to stay sober, and cope with the challenges life, but in the end it is their commitment to being a better version of themselves that will make them successful for the rest of their lives.

Proud of our Contribution

We at Boeheim Freeman Law are proud to have helped so many women get into this great program, and stay in the program. It isn’t always easy. Sometimes it takes a great deal of persuasion to get the right parties to agree to give this individual a chance and sometimes a second chance. Too often the DA’s office objected to their entry and demanded prison time for these women who clearly had addiction issues. We overcame those objections and with the hard work and commitment of our clients, the DA’s office was proven wrong. In the past few graduating classes we have had women the DA’s office fought hard to send to prison. One in particular, completed the program sanction free, which is nearly impossible to do. Her hug and whispered “thank you” reminds us how important it is to continue to fight for both women and men who suffer from addiction and mental health issues, so they have an opportunity to get help and not just have their liberty taken.

Valuable Part of Society

Congratulations to the current graduating class and to all of the past graduates who work every day to be the best version of themselves. You should be very proud of yourselves!

Author: Brian J. Boeheim

Boeheim Freeman Law - 918-884-7791