Power to Change

The FY 2016 Second Chance Act Strengthening Relationships Between Young Fathers, Young Mothers, and Their Children provides funding to support the successful transition of young fathers and mothers as they return to their families and communities from detention, out-of-home placement, or incarceration. This program funds coordinated and comprehensive strategies that incorporate (1) mentoring and transitional reentry services proven to reduce recidivism, (2) effective parenting skills development and parent/child relationship engagement for young fathers or mothers, and (3) private and community service partnerships that promote public safety and support added positive outcomes for young parents and their children.

The CHRIS Kids program will serve 100 young mothers returning to the Atlanta, Georgia, area. This project is designed to help nonviolent offenders who are young mothers reclaim their place in the community, stabilize their lives, re-connect with their children, and achieve self-sufficiency. The goals and objectives of the program include unlocking human potential by providing the best individualized wraparound reentry services possible to young mothers returning home from incarceration to improve daily functioning and quality of life. This will be done by building on the family’s strengths and goals to improve behaviors at school, work, in the community, and toward others; strengthen family systems and relationships; establish positive moods and emotions; eliminate substance abuse; and improve thinking/communications so that every parent can remain in the home with their children and avoid future out-of-home placements. CA/NCF