TRUE COURSE FOR INCARCERATED PARENTS AND THEIR MINOR CHILDREN

TRUE COURSE was named after the maritime term for a vessel’s first charted course before weather and other factors push it off course. Launched five years ago to support at-risk youth before they get “off-course”,  TRUE COURSE uses the outdoors as a vehicle for change by boosting life skills and fostering self-confidence. The Bristol County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) proposes to expand and enhance the existing TRUE COURSE Program to support incarcerated parents in Bristol County correctional facilities who may have deviated “off-course” and their minor children, who are at a greater risk of deviating from their “true course” towards a healthy and productive future. 

TRUE COURSE will provide parenting education and support during incarceration, foster positive family engagement between the incarcerated parent(s) and their child(ren), and prepare the parent(s) for reentry into the community and in many cases their child(ren)’s daily life. The enhanced TRUE COURSE program will provide support to the child(ren) by tailoring experiential learning programming and case management services to reduce the risk factors that could lead to antisocial behaviors and future involvement in the criminal justice system. On a parallel course, the program will help parents’ reintegration into society by addressing common issues they face (such as antisocial attitudes, poor problem-solving skills, and weak decision-making skills) through improved cognitive thinking skills.