Exodus House Tulsa & Parsonage House
Receive State Certification
PRESS RELEASE, RELEASE DATE: 30 September 20
TULSA – Exodus House Tulsa and Parsonage House also in Tulsa, faith-based re-entry living homes for individuals being released from incarceration, received certification this week from Mike Maddox, Director of Oklahoma Alliance for Recovery Residences (OKARR). That’s according to Estelle Turbyfill, site manager for both Exodus House Tulsa and Parsonage House.
As an affiliate of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences, OKARR certification symbolizes the commitment for developing and maintaining a national standard for all levels of recovery housing.
“Praise God,” were the first words out of Turbyfill’s mouth when receiving notification after the recent in-depth survey.
“The certification is based on a safe and healthy residential environment using the social model principals,” stated Turbyfill. “It promotes healthy living skills, values, connections with self and others in a community.”
“We’ve been working hard to make sure we are compliant with all the checklists for the survey,” she continued.
OKARR was established to provide a way for those coming into a recovery home, and for referring agencies, to be assured that certified homes are operated with integrity, upheld the resident’s rights, provide a safe and healthy environment, facilitate active recovery and community engagement, model prosocial behaviors, give residents a sense of belonging and tools to be good neighbors.
“This certification enhances our referrals from the Department of Corrections, community agencies, mental health, and treatment facilities,” continued Turbyfill.
Estelle Turbeyfill, Site Manager at Exodus House Tulsa and Parsonage House in Tulsa, shares the new Recovery Residence Certifications from Oklahoma Alliance for Recovery Residences (OKARR).
Exodus House Tulsa and Parsonage House are outreach programs of Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministries (CJAMM), a 501(c)3 located in Tulsa. CJAMM also operates Exodus House Oklahoma City; and has programs at Penn Avenue Redemption Church, OKC; St. Luke’s Redemption Mission, Tulsa; and Aldersgate Redemption Mission in Lawton.
“With Oklahoma being one of the highest incarceration states in the world, it is important for us to have programs that help individuals have healthy, safe, and supportive places for transition back into society” said Keith Dobbs, Executive Director for CJAMM.
“This certification means a great deal to us as we are being recognized for the team efforts of our staff, volunteers, sponsors, and community friends. CJAMM’s programs have an impressively low recidivism rate. This certification just keeps us focused on the many ways we are touching lives every single day,” he concluded.