AHP assisted in the successful delivery of the 2023 COSSAP National Forum session: Father's Day Out: A Novel Intervention to Support Incarcerated Fathers with SUD and Their Minor Children.
Presenter:
Angela Hawken, PhD, Professor, New York University, New York, New York
Tina Mitchell, President/Executive Director, CrossBRIDGE, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee
Shreeti Bickett, Director of Programs, Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, Nashville, Tennessee
This session described the Davidson County, Tennessee, Sheriff’s Office’s (DCSO) successful implementation of an innovative program supported by the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP). The DCSO has improved screening for substance use disorder (SUD) and provides better treatment and supportive services through peer mentorship, transitional housing post-release, and strengthening family connections for incarcerated fathers. To counter the negative impact of parental incarceration and the intergenerational cycle of SUD and incarceration, the DCSO created the Father’s Day Out (FDO) program. Eligible fathers with histories of SUD and eligible-aged children can participate in this unique program that provides a safe and child-friendly environment for face-to-face weekly meetings in the community. FDO is a first-of-its-kind program, modeled after a similar program for mothers. FDO is a collaboration among the DCSO, three community-based partners (CrossBRIDGE, Free Hearts, and The Family Center), and a research partner (New York University). The safety and emotional needs of the children and their fathers are central to the program design. The fathers and the DCSO staff members are dressed in civilian clothing and any restraints are removed prior to the children arriving, encouraging a more family-friendly visit. During their time together, the fathers and their children share a meal and participate in evidence-based activities delivered by community partners. The program includes debriefing sessions with counselors after visits. In this presentation, the speakers discussed their experiences in establishing this multidisciplinary partnership that supports incarcerated fathers with SUD. They also described a manual standardizing the FDO program, templates for screening eligibility, operational and security guides, and the program curriculum.
Learning Objectives
1. Describe a child-friendly approach to help incarcerated fathers with SUD connect with their minor children.
2. Explain how a collaborative and multidisciplinary effort resulted in the development of Father’s Day Out for incarcerated fathers with SUD.
3. Provide resources on screening, safety, and programming related to Father’s Day Out.
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