Talbot County’s Inspire Fatherhood (IF) Re-Entry Support Group attended a family outing to a Shorebirds game sponsored by the Talbot County Department of Social Services. The group, formed to provide fathers with support re-entering the community after prison, is an extension of the Talbot County Department of Corrections Inside Out Dad Program. The program was created after fathers leaving prison requested additional support in their journeys back to their families and the community. The Re-Entry Group of four Dads was formed in November of 2012 and has grown to seven Dads over the past 12 months. Eighty-five percent of these men are employed and actively involved with their children. Three of these men have returned to the household and are share parenting responsibilities. One of the members is attending Chesapeake College as a full-time student majoring in Human Services and is on track to graduate in 2014.
Membership in the Re-Entry Support Group requires that the dads participate in the Inside Out Dad Program while incarcerated, attend two consecutive meetings of the Support Group, remain drug and alcohol free, be employed or enrolled in school full time, have no subsequent criminal charges, and attempt to engage in the lives of their children. In addition to its regular meetings, the Support Group has held family-centered events. Each member of the group is recognized for significant Milestones, months celebrated since re-entry into the community. Awards were given during the Shorebirds outing to Vincent Bratcher for achieving 24 months and Jason Gilliece for achieving six months since re-entry into the community.
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