H.O.W Foundation

H.O.W. Foundation, which stands for Honest, Open, Willing, is a long-term residential recovery program that helps men who are struggling to get by after attempting to quit drugs and alcohol. They are located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and have provided treatment for over four decades.

Their program is built around the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. I think it’s a pretty solid recovery model that has been shown to help plenty of people in need. They offer peer mentorship and a deeply structured living environment to keep you on the right track as you recover.

Core Values and Approach

As their name suggests, this Foundation believes that successful recovery requires honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness. Those are their core values, and they are embedded in their day-to-day operations at the program. They are very community-based and peer-led instead of being extremely clinical or medical. I like that this is offered at no cost to the clients, so your financial background does not matter here. You can still get treated regardless.

What to Expect During Your Stay

The average program duration is a minimum of six months, but you're allowed to stay longer based on your needs if that's something you're interested in. All the residents here live on-site and are required to remain sober and be involved in this supportive and tightly structured environment.

Something I found interesting was that each staff member in the program is a graduate of the same program, so they know exactly what you've been through and can help you accordingly. This creates a really powerful mentorship structure because you'll be guided by people who understand the challenges of early recovery firsthand. You'll be required to participate in physically demanding labor as part of the recovery process. They serve about 280 men total.