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History of SARA-IRP &
IV-CHARIS
SARA-IRP began in 1987 by Pastor Michael Harris,
Sr., as a Biblically based substance abuse support
group, primarily operating on Thursday and Friday
evenings. At the time, the majority of the participants
were members of Pastor Harris’ congregation or
their families. However, soon the groups began
to include persons from other churches, NA, AA
and walk-ins from the surrounding neighborhoods.
It was during this period that the program attained
a 501(c) 3 non-profit status and subsequently
expanded the services into outpatient substance
counseling, domestic violence prevention, anger
management, etc. The major focus at this time
was to attain a building in order to establish
residential treatment services—initially for men;
later for women and their children.
In 1996, SARA-IRP acquired a building at 821
Bank Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. Outpatient services
were expanded to 3-4 times per week, an adolescent
substance abuse program and a support group for
children of addicts began operating. In February
1998, the program opened for adult male residential
treatment. Also, during that year, SARA-IRP was
the recipient of state and local grant money to
renovate the Bank Street facility. Consequently,
in October 1998, the residential treatment component
of the program was suspended until the completion
of the renovation in early 2001. The outpatient
services were ongoing at another site during the
renovation period. The male residential program
is now re-opened with plans to expand the capacity
from 6 to 10 beds. SARA-IRP also anticipates the
opening of residential treatment facilities for
women and their children of and HIV infected clients.
In fact, IV-CHARIS (Compassionate
Hearts Assisting, Rebuilding, Instructing and
Serving), (a faith-based agency providing HIV/STD
education, testing and counseling; in addition
to abstinence education) was originally established
by God through Pastor Harris’ wife, Mamie E. Harris,
as an entity of SARA-IRP. IV-CHARIS
is now a separate program, certified by the Ohio
Department of Health and highly regarded on a
local, state and national level for its dispensation
of quality, state-of-the-art HIV/STD and abstinence
services. However, both agencies continue to operate
closely in order to offer SARA-IRP clients an
additional and more comprehensive treatment option.
In June 2002, the Ohio Alcohol and Drug Addition
Services Board certified SARA-IRP. This certification
applies to the agency’s residential and outpatient
services.
In April 2004, the visionary and Executive Director
of SARA-IRP, Pastor Michael Harris, Sr., was called
home to be with the Lord. However, the visions,
goals and purpose of the ministry continues through
the efforts of his compassionate and highly capable
widow, Mrs. Mamie E. Harris, who is the current
executive director of the agency, SARA-IRP staff
members and hundreds of persons affected by Pastor
Harris and this ministry.
The SARA-IRP House
(November 2006)
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