Dad''s At Demilly (DAD)

The Second Chance Act (Pub. L. 110-199) provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of parents who are incarcerated as well as their families. Research has shown that children may benefit from maintaining healthy relationships with their incarcerated parents. Section 113 of the Second Chance Act authorizes grants to states, units of local government, and Indian tribes to improve the provision of substance abuse treatment within prison and jails and after reentry for inmates who have minor children and also includes outreach to families and provision of treatment and other services to children and other family members of participant inmates. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) will fund eligible applicants to plan, implement, or expand such treatment programs.

The Family-Based Prisoner Substance Abuse Treatment Program enhances the capability of states and tribes to provide substance abuse treatment for incarcerated parents; prepares offenders for their reintegration into the communities from which they came by incorporating reentry planning activities into treatment programs; and assists offenders and their communities through the reentry process through the delivery of community-based treatment and other broad-based aftercare services. Projects will provide prison-based substance abuse treatment and parenting programs for incarcerated parents of minor children, as well as treatment and other services to the participating offenders' minor children and family members. Programming must be targeted to inmates with minor children and include services for these inmates, their minor children, and other family members. By law, no less that 5 percent of the funds available for the Family-Based Substance Abuse Treatment Program will be used for grants to Indian Tribes.

The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) will implement in-prison family-based treatment at the Demilly Correctional Institution in Polk County, Florida. Post release services will be implemented in Pinellas County, Florida. The program, Dads at Demilly, adds comprehensive family services to Demilly's intensive outpatient treatment in prison program, preparing inmates for successful reintegration through the provision of sustained aftercare, case planning and case management in the community after release with effective monitoring and coordination with FDC staff continuing at least 6 months post release. Project goals include: (1) Increasing public safety and reduce recidivism by providing family-based substance abuse treatment to improve relationships and functionality among male offenders, their minor children and family members; and (2) providing successful family-centered treatment and reentry planning during incarceration, post release and 6 months post release. Program activities include: standardized screening and assessment, individualized treatment planning, evidence based substance abuse and parenting programs, family therapy, reentry planning, case management; and linkage to comprehensive reentry support services. Partner agencies Unlimited Path and Operation PAR will provide substance abuse and family centered treatment services to facilitate successful transition from incarceration to community based substance abuse treatment and related reentry services.

CA/NCF