In the past 3 years, the Bullitt County Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent has partnered with the Bullitt County Detention Center Substance Abuse program (SAP) to provide a 13 week “Nurturing Fathering” program to over 331 incarcerated male participants. Surveys of the men who participate in the program show that over 40 % of the men had absentee fathers or suffered from childhood trauma. During the classes they often discuss the negative impact their background has on their understanding of how to be a father. 

During the “Nurturing Fathers” program, participants were taught using lecture, journaling, play acting, skits, and music. A total of five classes have been offered with over 89 men completing the program.

Recently, the Director of SAP shared that the “Fathering” program is a common motivation for men to apply to be in the program. The Extension Agent has also experienced this strong motivation with the fervent inquiries for the graduation certificate and letter when a participant is close to graduating out of the SAP program  and going back into the general inmate population. For many the certificate and "Letter to the Judge" (based on the pre/post AAPI evaluation) provides evidence they are making efforts to understand fathering in hopes of gaining visitation or custody of their children. 

The Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory(AAPI Parenting Profile) was given as a pre- and post- test. The AAPI assesses the risk of child abuse risk for 5 constructs: Developmental Expectations, Empathy, Value of Corporal Punishment, Family Roles and Power-Independence. Results from individuals who completed both AAPI evaluations showed: 

90% of the participants made progress bylowering one or more of their risk scores for child abuse in the five categories.

37% lowered their risk with appropriate childdevelopment expectations

63% lowered their risk through a greaterlevel of empathy

53% lowered their risk by valuing alternativesto the use of Corporal Punishment

35 % lowered their risk by understandingappropriate Family Roles

34% lowered their risk by placing a high valueon children’s ability to problem solve, express themselves and make goodchoices.

On a more individual level, inmates share with the FCS agent their stories of the impact the program has on their relationships.  One inmate shared the huge personal impact that an assignment from the class had on the life of his 18 year old son.  He shared that the fractured relationship with his son has taken a turn for the best when he completed a class assignment and sent him a "praise" letter. His son is now talking to him and told him the letter meant the world to him.  It is the reason why he wants to re-establish a relationship with his dad. The son shared the letter with his grandmother (the mother of the inmate) and she is now seeking to repair a non-existent relationship with her son (the inmate). As a result of the class, another inmate shared, "I thought I knew pretty much everything, but I've learned that I was wrong.  I've learned many different ways to praise, discipline, and communicate with my children then the ways I already knew, or the way I was raised."