Statements

Mission

Women of Worth is a Christ-centered transitional home that provides healing through day-to-day structure and support for women in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction re-entering society from incarceration settings.

Background

Women of Worth Transition House Inc. (aka WOW) was originally founded by Patsy Meadows and Marlyn Pemberton, a mother daughter team of ordained ministers. They opened the WOW Home in the spring of 20 04 in Springfield Tennessee and nurtured it until November 2006, when Jeaneice Shearon, an employee of the Davidson County Sheriff's Office assumed responsibility of the home and moved it to Nashville, Tennessee where job training, employment, volunteers, healthcare and other resources were more readily available. The home is located in a quiet, safe, residential neighborhood of Donelson within walking distance of employment opportunities, medical care, churches, grocery stores and pharmacy, the bus line, and so much more. WOW was started to help women with addictions and life problems learn a better way of life. In April 2020, amidst the COVID pandemic, Jeaneice made the decision to retire and asked Kristy Pomeroy to assume leadership of the non-profit and continue to lead the ministry whose goals and the need to serve were still the same as they were in 2004. God's hand has been on this ministry since its inception!
In June 2020, WOW became an approved transitional housing provider for the Tennessee Department of Corrections, providing housing and recovery support services primarily for women re-entering society from any jail or prison in the state of Tennessee as part of their release plan.
WOW opened a second home in September 2022 and a third home in April 2023 increasing capacity to serve up to 16 women at one time.

Impact

Our outcomes for the 2022-2023 were
● 63 women have been served since April 2020.
● 22 women have completed the 6-month program (35%).
● 17 of these women are now living independently in permanent housing (77%).
● 16 former clients/"grads" are still actively involved and in monthly communication with staff (72%).
● Only 3 of the graduates have returned to incarceration (14%.) Tennessee's recidivism rate is 47%.
● 100% of our clients are employed 30+ hours per week, gaining employment within 14 days of intake.

Our goals for the 2023-2024 year are:
• Serve 24 women coming out of incarceration.
• 24 women will become employed at least 30+ hours a week.(100%)
• 16 women will complete the 6 months program, successfully graduating from WOW. (66%)
• 4 women will complete the 1-year program, successfully graduating from WOW. (17%)
• 20 women will gain independent, permanent housing. (83%).
• 20 women will maintain sobriety and pass drug testing. (83%)
• The recidivism rate for past graduates will stay under 15%.

Needs

Our primary need is general operating support. Unrestricted funds will allow us to offer supportive services as well as meet the basic human needs of our clients re-entering society with only the clothes on their back. We believe that this population needs and deserves qualified, experienced staff to provide care 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and 365 days per year. After financial support, we desire to connect with people to share the stories of these "women of worth." We send a monthly e-newsletter in addition to updates on our Facebook page (wowrecoveryhome) and our Instagram account (wowrecoveryhome.) We also welcome opportunities for donors to become active volunteers with the clients through Bible Study, being a Prayer Partner, providing weekly meals, transporting residents to appointments and much more. We look for opportunities to speak to corporations, church or community groups to share the story of WOW and the successes as well as the struggles which our clients face. With the addition of the second home since September of 2021, the need for additional staffing has increased as our capacity to serve increased. We are committed to providing services with licensed, professional staff as well as providing house monitors with lived experience.

CEO Statement

My name is Kristy Pomeroy. I am a Licensed Bachelor Social Worker and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor. It is an honor to serve as Executive Director for Women of Worth Transition House Inc. Early in my career a man named Carl Carlson (Men of Valor founder) was my boss and he planted a seed in me that individuals coming out of incarceration are a worthy group of men (and women) in need of forgiveness, grace, encouragement, support and a whole lot of love. Although the seed was planted, my career took me on a different path for 15 years serving teens, victims and offenders of domestic violence in the legal system. Eventually my career led me to working with women coming out of prison in need of recovery support services.
In April 2020, I was contacted about assuming the role of Executive Director for WOW. Initially I was overwhelmed with this idea as I was already in a demanding full-time position in the addiction treatment world. Due to my faith in God and my desire to serve this population, I took the leap to assume this leadership role. I have been mentored and trained by some of the best women in this field for over 25 years and I felt this was a calling and an opportunity I could not pass up. Making this change to lead WOW amidst a global pandemic was scary but I have learned so much. I still enjoy the day-to-day direct contact and involvement with the women we serve, while also learning to be the advocate and leader our agency needs to grow and thrive. I believe if we help just one woman to remain clean and sober, to get on her feet financially with a stable job/income, to become part of the recovery community, to grow her support system and to know she has value and worth it will be a success...but it would also be great if it is more than one. I am incredibly excited to see where God takes us in the future and how many lives we can positively impact.

Board Chair Statement

The Women of Worth Recovery Home is built upon a foundation of hope and healing for each resident. Through the daily structure and support provided in the home, our residents are able to experience the hope of their futures and envision their lives differently. As they navigate their time at the WOW house, residents are able to heal from their pasts through relationships with our staff, other residents, and Christ. Relationships are a strong part of WOW's success for our residents. Through these relationships, our residents are able to identify and build upon their own individual strengths while learning the value of a community at the same time. WOW consists of a small staff team and limited resources; however, WOW has continued to grow and improve at each step. The team has done an excellent job of cultivating the above-mentioned relationships, which creates compelling stories and creative fundraising opportunities. WOW empowers women to realize their potential, which enables each resident to continue to grow into the person God created her to be.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Mental Health & Crisis Intervention  - Addictive Disorders NEC
Secondary Category:	Human Services  - Half-Way House (Short-Term Residential Care)
Tertiary Category:	-

Areas Served

We accept applications from women in all county jails as well as prisons in Tennessee. Our services are only offered in Middle Tennessee / Davidson County.

TN - Davidson