Sojourner House Executive to Retire June 30
Sojourner House and Sojourner House MOMS Executive Director Norma Raiff, Ph.D., L.S.W., will retire in June, after 15 years of leadership.

Under the leadership of Dr. Raiff, Sojourner House, a residential rehabilitation center that runs a nondenominational, faith-based six month program for addicted women and their families, was named one of Allegheny County’s 25 “most innovative” nonprofits in 2004.

During her tenure, Dr. Raiff recognized the need for safe, affordable housing for recovering women and their children. Her persistence in filling this gap resulted in the creation of Sojourner House MOMS, which provides permanent supported housing to mentally ill/substance abusing (MISA) homeless women who are heads of families. The program is funded by a unique combination of federal, state, county and foundation funding including: HUD, Housing Authority City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County Office of Behavioral Health, Penn Homes and Federal Home Loan Bank and major foundations. In October 2006, Citizens Bank selected Sojourner House MOMS as its Champion in Action.

“Through Dr. Raiff’s leadership and clinical expertise, women leaving Sojourner House residential treatment facility possess a stronger self-image and healthier parenting skills that, when combined together, position them to move forward with their lives without drugs or alcohol,” said board president Joanne LaRose. “The overarching outcome is that the children of these women will not continue the intergenerational cycle of addiction. In turn, communities are safer and healthier places.”

She precepted social work students who as they enter the workplace come to it with a more compassionate understanding of addiction and the many small steps that need taken when moving forward to recovery.

Dr. Raiff has an extensive background in human services administration, applied services administration, applied research and academic teaching. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Sociology and her masters degree from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. She is past president of the Pennsylvania Society and of the Mental Health Association of Allegheny County. Her publications include Advanced Case Management and state and federal case management curricula for children with serious emotional disorders and adults with chronic mental illness. A highly experienced trainer, Raiff has been a consultant to numerous human service programs around issues of service delivery, outcomes research, advanced practices, and staff and board development.

Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Sojourner House's provides faith-based residential treatment and other services to addicted women and their children to break the intergenerational cycle. A nondenominational faith-based agency, Sojourner House partners with other agencies and community groups to enhance community involvement and program quality.