Strengthening Relationships Program

The 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 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.

P.A.R.E.N.T.S., Inc. will actively support the successful transition of young mothers from detention or incarceration by improving outcomes using evidence-based practices and tools to reduce recidivism and support responsible parenting. Intensive wraparound services will begin while mothers are incarcerated, with an intake that includes evidence-based assessments such as the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory and the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth. After assessment, mothers will be provided with 16 weekly parenting education and life skills courses, which will fully incorporate experiential learning methods to allow mothers to practice new skills in a variety of ways. After release, mothers will immediately begin working with an assigned P.A.R.E.N.T.S., Inc. outreach counselor. The mother and outreach counselor will meet on a weekly basis for the first 6 months, tapering off to biweekly and then monthly sessions in the last 6 months of services. Other services to which a mother may be referred include housing programs and employment programs, social services, additional parenting education, and referrals to programs that promote healing and family engagement. CA/NCF