Family and Fatherhood Program

1. Family and Fatherhood Program McNeil Island Corrections Center “Keeping Communities Safe” Presenters: Rick Jordan, MICC Representative Sylvia Peterson, Community Representative and Family Advocate

2. 70% offenders grew up without a father 5 times more likely to live in poverty 71% of high school drop outs Experience behavioral or emotional problems 10 times more likely to become juvenile offenders Research on Children Without Involved Fathers

3. Research on Children with Involved Fathers • Sons learn male responsibility and achievement • Daughters learn to trust men • Twice as likely to enter college • Twice as likely to obtain steady employment • 75% less likely to have a teen birth • 80% less likely to spendtime in prison

4. Challenges to overcome • Teaching offenders how to be involved parents while keeping the institution safe • Determining offender eligibility for safety of children • Changing prison culture • No funding • No additional staffing

5. We Took Action We created a team to… • Brainstorm • Survey and assess family needs • Identify root causes Family Advocates City Representatives Literacy MICC & Community Advisory Council Community & Citizen Leaders Youth & Child-based Groups Faith-based Groups Child Support School Representatives

6. Cause and Effect Diagram POLICY & PROCEDURES PLANT/EQUIPMENT Policies limit child/family involvement Phone Charges expensive Visiting Room not visitor friendly No advocacy for fathers Limited visiting hours Case plans do not include family activities Limited space for activities Limited involvement in children’s lives Limited parenting skills No involvement in children’s education Separated from children Staff Attitude Child’s guardian doesn’t want child to have contact with father Difficult access to island for visiting No emphasis on paying child support Single Parents No positive role models Prison culture does not support children PEOPLE ENVIRONMENT

7. The Team Took Action • The Team Developed the Family and Fatherhood program • In order to “Break the cycle” of present and future incarcerations

8. Components of the Family & Fatherhood Program • Offender Accountability • Family Focused Skill Development • Child and Family Focused Activities • Family Support • Advocacy • Partnerships

9. Offender Accountability • Incarcerated fathers need to be personally and financially responsible for their children • Offender case management plans address family & fatherhood issues • Offender infraction history is reviewed prior to participation in program

10. Child & Family Focused Activities Long Distance Dads Father’s and Children’s Day Partnership forChild Support Strollers for Visitors Family Dynamics Read to Me Daddy Women’s Seminar Books on the Boat Father/Child Gift Exchange Parent/Teacher Conferences

11. Public Benefit - “Breaking the Cycle” Program Results Reduce Future Incarceration Costs • Average annual incarceration cost per offender $24,685 • 302 children are affected by involved fathers. • This means 80% or 241 would be less likely to experience incarceration • Which means an average annual future prison cost avoidance $5.9 million Internal Process Learning & Growth 76% reduction of Serious Infractions of program participants. Family Friendly Activities became part of the Agency’s Strategic Plan

12. Transitioning Families