Tully House and Delaney Hall, two residential reentry centers in Newark, New Jersey run by GEO Reentry Services, recently hosted socially distanced celebrations to recognize graduates of InsideOut Dad, a nationally recognized program that focuses on incarcerated fathers.
InsideOut Dad is a six-week, evidence-based program that originated with the National Fatherhood Initiative and consists of 12 sessions that teach men how to become better partners and more involved fathers.
Each participant receives a workbook and meets with program facilitators to share stories about their childhood, upbringing, experience of masculinity and struggles with fatherhood. Participants learn different parenting and communication styles to use with their partner/the mother of the child and their children.
Attendees at the graduation at Tully House watched as 12 program graduates received their certificates of completion, and some got the chance to speak about their experiences at the program.
“I’m very proud of all the residents, and I’m ecstatic to be a facilitator of the InsideOut Dad group,” said Family Services Coordinator Jean Simon, who coordinates the program at Tully House. “I was able to see their growth in just six weeks, so I know the program is effective.”
In his speech, Frank Gonzalez, National Manager of Family Services at GEO Reentry, reminded graduates to continue using the important relational tools they learned through the program.
“Despite the struggles of a pandemic, a statewide lockdown, no visitation and social distancing inside and outside our facilities, the Family Services staff still found ways to deliver parenting classes,” Gonzalez said. “Their efforts and initiative demonstrate the resilience we would like to model for our residents. You couldn’t ask for better role models for our residents as they continue their fatherhood journey.”
At Delaney Hall, Family Services staff and residents celebrated two graduates of the InsideOut Dad program, which is facilitated by Family Services Coordinator Linda Woodards-French.
“Participating in the InsideOut Dad group taught me how to better communicate with my children,” said one of the residents. “It will help me reach a better connection with them, and I’m grateful for that.”
Before the ceremony was over, Woodards-French recognized Case Manager Mary Graham for her continued commitment to the center. Delaney Hall Unit Manager Luyona Hawkins, Teacher Monique Baldwin, Program Counselors Dale Mealing and Shante McLoyd, and Alumni Coordinator Arthur Townes also attended the event, which concluded with a lunch for graduates and staff.
“We’re very pleased to provide this evidence-based, nationally recognized program to our residents,” said Kristin SanFilippo, Assistant Facility Director of Programs for Delaney Hall. “Family Services staff have experienced success with InsideOut Dad as we see fathers improve their parenting skills and address the experience of incarceration and its impact on the family.”
In addition to parenting classes, Tully House and Delaney Hall both offer various other services as part of their residential reentry programs, including substance abuse counseling, case management, individual and group counseling, job-readiness training, educational training and anger management classes, as well as referrals to community resources and partnerships.