Oklahoma has the highest incarceration rate for women in the United States. In response, Women in Recovery, funded by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and operated by Family and Children’s Services, was developed in 2009 as a diversion program for women with substance use issues facing significant prison sentences. The program includes more than a year of gender-specific, trauma-informed mental health and substance use disorder treatment and comprehensive employment and family reunification services. Some of the innovative features of the program include:

• Incorporation of several evidence-based treatment practices into their services, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Motivational Interviewing, Behavior Modification, and Strengths-Based Case Management Interventions (SBCMI)
• Use of digital technology apps to create proactive engagement and facilitate positive social networks
• This "Pay for Success" program gets reimbursed by the state based on outcomes
• There is an emphasis on trauma-informed care and recovering from trauma
• Services are comprehensive, including family services, vocational training, and employment assistance services

Women in Recovery is cost-effective, improves public safety, and aims to break the intergenerational cycle of incarceration. The program is currently undergoing a clinical trial and is part of a research project. It is a "Pay for Success" program, driving government resources toward more effective programs. More details on the program can be found in this fact sheet and in the news article here and a recorded interview here. 

This program is highlighted in report that describes successful models that facilitate employment for people in recovery.