Through a partnership between the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Family & Children’s Services (FCS), the Parenting in Jail program in Washington County has helped 96 percent of its graduates have an increased level of contact with their children. For over eight years, FCS has provided the Parenting in Jail program in Tulsa County. Thanks to a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) contract awarded by Oklahoma Human Services, the program has expanded to six additional counties. The program began in Washington County in August of last year.
The program features the Parenting Inside Out ® (PIO) curriculum designed to deliver evidence-based parent management skills to individuals involved in the criminal legal system. The curriculum provides a non-traditional approach to parent education due to the devastating impact of parent-child separation. The curriculum is delivered over a six-week period to both males and females. There have been four graduations to date, and the fifth cohort is currently underway.
Since Washington County’s implementation began, 60 participants and their families have been impacted. In addition to classes, the FCS team facilitates weekly supervised visits between participants and their children, where they can read, play, hug, and visit with each other. To date, 40 children, from infants to teenagers, have taken part in visits to see their loved ones. Caregivers receive gas cards to reduce transportation barriers, resources about how to talk to children about a loved one’s incarceration, and information on basic needs assistance and community services. A newly established partnership with Arizona State University (ASU) also provides the opportunity for Washington County caregivers to share their expertise and feedback on a curriculum tailored specifically for caregivers of children with incarcerated parents.
“We are thrilled to be in partnership with ASU to help elevate the voices of local caregivers,” said Lucie Doll, Parenting in Jail Program Director. “Through this project, we hope to help fill a major gap by assisting in the creation of the first evidence-based curriculum for this community.”
