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Sister Circle describes day treatment, housing and reentry supports for women
Summary
Tracy Watson Akbar told the board Sister Circle has provided day treatment, case management and housing referrals to more than 1,200 women over 10 years and operates in-person and Zoom programs plus transitional-housing referrals and a Welcome Home partnership with the San Francisco Realtors Foundation.
Tracy Watson Akbar, founding director of Sister Circle Women's Support Network, told the Sheriff's Department Oversight Board on Sept. 5 that the San Francisco–based nonprofit provides day treatment, case management and transitional-housing support for women facing addiction, domestic violence and related barriers. "We've served over 1,200 women in the past 10 years," Watson Akbar said.
Sister Circle operates a day-treatment program, Monday through Thursday, and maintains case managers, volunteer staff and an outreach presence inside local jails. Watson Akbar said the program includes on-site urine-analysis testing, parenting classes with a child zone for participants' young children, and connections to transitional housing and detox providers. "We also have access to transitional housing, and when women move from transitional housing into permanent homes, we go through the Welcome Home project with SF Realtors," she said.
Sandra Sims, a case manager who identified herself as a former client, described group and life-skills classes the organization offers and said Sister Circle facilitates exit plans and referrals to treatment and mental-health services. "We offer life skills, anger management, relapse prevention ... we have a clothing closet ... and we go into the jailhouse on Fridays where we bring the message of hope to the women inside," Sims said. Sims also noted she has been in recovery 13 years and credited the program with part of her progress.
Volunteer staff member Melanie Muasau‑Absher described Sister Circle’s Zoom groups for women who cannot attend in person. "We have a Zoom platform on Tuesdays at 1 and Thursdays at 3 ... even if they just come in to do active listening, it is amazing," she said. Muasau‑Absher said she has 6½ years in recovery and that Sister Circle helped her connect with civic engagement opportunities in the city.
Board members praised the program and said they would pass contact information to local shelters, probation and child-welfare staff. Watson Akbar left business cards and materials for the board and asked the board to invite Sister Circle back for further discussion of partnership opportunities.
