In Oklahoma City, ReMerge has carved out a different kind of courtroom story, one where graduation from a diversion program can mean a mother walks away without the felonies that first brought her before a judge. Led by Erin Engelke, the nonprofit keeps justice-involved mothers with their children while moving them through months-long, trauma-informed phases of care and connecting them with legal and social supports that organizers say are meant to break incarceration cycles, as reported by ReMerge.
The organization’s own tally lists 231 graduates, 572 children impacted and roughly $56 million in state savings, figures posted by ReMerge. According to the group, the focus is on long-term recovery and family reunification rather than short stays in jail.
ReMerge began as a coordinated community response to Oklahoma’s high rate of female incarceration and has expanded through a mix of philanthropic and government partnerships. The Inasmuch Foundation has been a major funder of ReMerge’s capital efforts and services, according to Inasmuch Foundation.
What the program does
The program moves mothers through a phased diversion model that blends trauma-informed therapy, addiction treatment, parenting education, housing assistance and workforce training. Coverage by the Journal Record describes ReMerge as a wraparound program aimed at restoring mothers to their families and communities.
Support after graduation
Support does not end when a participant finishes the core phases. Graduates receive continuing help at a new Graduate Center and through ongoing services that are intended to prevent relapse and housing instability…