Family Support and Preservation
NH Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Initiative
Overview
The NH Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Initiative is a family strengthening and support project for male inmates and their families. Child and Family Services has teamed up with the New Hampshire Department of Correction to develop this program. As part of the national Responsible Fatherhood initiative, this initiative is in place to ensure positive futures for the children and families of inmates and to reduce recidivism.
Areas served: NH State Prison for Men (Concord, NH) and Lakes Region
Facility: (Laconia, NH)
Population served: Incarcerated fathers housed at the NH State Prison for Men and the Lakes Region Facility
Call: (603) 528-9266
Our Goal
The principal objective of the NH Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Initiative is to provide a continuum of services that enhance inmates’ participation in their families’ lives as responsible partners and parents, both during incarceration and after release, thereby promoting increased family stability.
Services provided
Components to this project include the following:
- A marriage enhancement program, also called PREP (Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program), which will consist of a series of classes held on-site and at CFS offices located throughout the state. Proven effective through 25 years of research, the PREP approach will serve to help couples communicate effectively, earn to work as a team to solve problems and to preserve and enhance commitment and friendship.
- A parenting program, comprised of Long Distance Dads and Family Connections modules, which works to strengthen fatherhood during incarceration and prepare inmates for fatherhood upon release. This component serves to help fathers define positive family values and, develop realistic strategies for fulfilling their responsibilities as fathers, and to develop a viable family-integration plan.
- A family re-entry program, intended to ensure inmates’ successful reintegration into family life and the community after release.
Resources/Links
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services-Promoting Responsible Fatherhood http://fatherhood.hhs.gov/
National Fatherhood Initiative - https://www.fatherhood.org/
