6 minute read
Worrel's Haven Provides Sober Living Home for Women
from Shawnee Outlook
by David Dinsmore
Advertisement
Rachael Cole did not want to establish a sober living home for women in Shawnee just because she knew people who could benefit from it.
She learned the impact such a place can have on someone’s life as they recover from addiction firsthand.
Cole struggled with addiction for 12 years, and when she was confronting it through sobriety programs, she became good friends with another woman on the same path.
The two eventually moved into a sober living home together while steering their lives back on track. Cole experienced the benefit of having that refuge.
“Not everyone has a safe place to go,” Cole said. “Their family is not always a place where they can go to live a clean life. I think it's important to try to provide them with a place that they can go live at and feel safe.”
The importance of this stability became even more concrete four years ago when Cole – who has continued putting in the work to remain sober – learned that her friend with whom she resided in the sober living home died of an overdose after a relapse.
Cole’s experience eventually led her to want to provide the kind of help she received to give women in this community navigating a path to lasting sobriety. She knows it couldn’t solve all problems, but it could give these women one more tool with which to rebuild their life.
In June 2019, Cole opened a sober living home in Shawnee called Worrel’s Haven, nam
ing it for the friend she lost.
“Our mission is to try to combine a structured living environment combined with the resources from the community in hopes of showing people how to build a life centered around sobriety,” Cole said.
The first hurdle was finding a location capable of housing the tenants Cole was seeking and a landlord who would share her vision.
“I honestly kinda got lucky finding someone who was willing to do this with their home in town,” Cole said. “That's not always easy you know.”
Once she lined up the location and a few residents, Cole began working through the process of obtaining status as a recognized nonprofit while trying to ensure the rent and bills were met depending on the number of tenants they
Photos submitted
“Our mission is to try to combine a structured living environment combined with the resources from the community in hopes of showing people how to build a life centered around sobriety." — Rachel Cole, Founder Worrel's Haven
had who could contribute. Last month, Worrel’s Haven achieved its nonprofit status, and Cole said it might not have happened without support from individuals and organizations like Gateway to Prevention and Recovery rallying to help keep the home operating while solidifying its foundations.
“That’s been an awesome help to have people backing us in that way while we get established,” Cole said. “In my heart, I knew that there was a need for it. There's a need for it everywhere.”
Worrel’s Haven has the ability to house six women, and Cole said the biggest factor is the desire to start a new life away from addiction. Following the application process, there is not a time limit on how long the residents can live there, but they do have to get a sponsor and try to line up a job within the first two weeks of moving into the house. They also need to join a formal group with meetings at least five times per week in the beginning. Residents will also meet with their sponsor weekly. All of these factors tie into the strategy of forming habits and routines that revolve around sobriety.
Cole also encourages those living at Worrel’s Haven to get involved with community activities and with formal programs like those offered by Gateway to help build connections with others who want to help them find ways to live soberly. Worrel’s Haven accepts applications by referral from formal programs or anyone interested in residing in a sober living home for women. For more information, contact Cole at (405) 592-9472.
Cole and those involved with Worrel’s Haven try to meet regularly with the residents to discuss and set short and long term personal goals.
“Meeting new people is a big thing (for those trying to recover from addiction),” Cole said. “Leaving your old life behind and starting over ... it's often the hardest thing, especially if they're from here and they're born and raised here. Just getting those people starts them in a positive direction in showing them that there are people pushing for them.”
One resident who has lived at Worrel’s Haven since October said she came from an “unstable, unsafe and stressful environment.” Even though she knew her living situation was working against her, she was not sure what her options were until she heard about the sober living home Cole established. Since moving there, she said it has had a positive impact on her journey to sober living.
“I enjoy the accountability, structured living and affordability,” Lil N. said. “Being a resident has been both a learning and positive growth experience for my personal recovery.”
There are guidelines for residents like curfews and random testing, but Cole knows how accountability not only to those operating the house but also to those fellow residents can go a long way to helping someone with her recovery. A sober living home might not solve all their problems – and ultimately it is up to each woman to put in the work to build a life around sobriety – but having a place in which to start on that path surrounded by people committed to helping them find the right resources to succeed can help the residents focus on their goals and reach them.
Worrel’s Haven accepts applications by referral from formal programs or anyone interested in residing in a sober living home for women. For more information, contact Cole at (405) 592- 9472.
Classen Family Medicine 432 N. Broadway Ave. Shawnee, OK 405.395.4441 www.ClassenMedicalComplex.com
HOURS: Mon-Thur 8am-5pm
Jeanie K. Johnson Simpson, PA-C
PA Simpson received her Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Biology and Chemistry. She received her Masters of Medicine from the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Physician Assistant program in 2005. PA Simpson resides in Shawnee with her husband, Chris and two daughters, Gracyn and Evy.
PA Simpson has been practicing Family Medicine for over 14 years. She moved her practice to Shawnee in February of 2018 from Seminole. She treats all aspects of family medicine and especially enjoys pediatrics, diabetes and dermatology.
For the past several years, PA Simpson has also been performing cosmetic procedures such as Botox and Juvederm injections as well as laser therapy, through her own company Lily Kate Aesthetics, LLC.
We express our gratitude for our dedicated team of healthcare providers for continuing to work and see patients during these difficult times.
We commend our teams willingness to keep seeing patients as their need arises and that we are able to provide both Home Health care and Hospice throughout the COVID crisis.
Enriching the lives of our patients and their families every day.
Heartland Home Health Care
• Accredited by Accreditation Commission for Health Care • All RN On Call Staff
• Home Care Elite 2004 - 2016
• Best of Shawnee Award 2016, 2017 and 2019
Phone 405-214-6441 Heartland Hospice Services
• SHP Best Hospice Caregiver Satisfaction Superior Performer Award 2016, 2017 and 2018 • All RN On Call Staff • Volunteer Program Supports Families and Veterans • Bereavement Programs open to the public year round
