FCSO unveils ‘InsideOut Dad’ program to help Inmates become better fathers

Palm Coast Observer
News

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one in three children live without their biological father in the home. Consequently, there is a “father factor” in many societal issues facing America today, including right here in Flagler County.

Sheriff Rick Staly and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office are ready to tackle this “father factor” in Flagler County head-on using National Fatherhood Initiative's InsideOut Dad program.

This 12-week program is facilitated by trained volunteers and teaches incarcerated fathers the parenting skills they need — and that some dads have never received.

Research shows when a child grows up in a home absent a father, he or she is:

More likely to go to prison because one in five prison inmates also had a father in prison
More likely to commit a crime
More likely to abuse drugs and alcohol
Two times more likely to drop out of high school
Four times more likely to live in poverty.

Core sessions of the program tackle subjects matter like:

Self-awareness
Dealing with family history
Child development
How to discipline
Handling and showing emotions
Handling and improving relationships with their child’s mother
Fathering from inside jail
How to budget and how to provide for their children.

“This is just one of the ways we are trying to prevent crime and reduce repeat offenders in Flagler County and to break the generational cycle that often occurs,” Staly said. “We recognize the opportunity that we have to provide programs that will impact inmates in a positive manner even while they are in the ‘Green Roof Inn.' It’s my goal to always return our inmates back into our community more stable and more prepared to make good choices so they can become productive members in our community and for their children. We also really appreciate our community volunteers that are making this inmate program possible without cost to the taxpayers.”

The InsideOut Dad program is offered in addition to the S.T.R.I.D.E. (Skills, Transitional Support, Respect, Integrity, Direction and Employment) program that was launched in 2017 by Staly and Inmate Programs Director Quintieri.

There are currently fourteen inmates enrolled in the first InsideOut Dad course, and graduation is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 28. Thereafter, the course will start again providing continuous opportunities for inmates to enroll in the program.

InsideOut Dad is the nation's only evidence-based fatherhood program designed specifically for incarcerated fathers. InsideOut Dad seeks to reduce recidivism by connecting fathers to their families, giving them a greater incentive to stay out of prison.

The curriculum has been used in over 400 facilities nationwide, and is having an impact on returns to prison. For more information, visit: https://www.fatherhood.org/.