Reducing the Impact of Incarceration on Children and Families through Education and Coaching (Frederick County FY18 and beyond - Annual)

FY22

The program is a partnership with the Mental Health Association and Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership to expand services to children and parents impacted by incarceration.  The program aims to strengthen the bond between parents, children, caregivers, and the community through a variety of evidence supported activities.  These activities include Parenting From Afar (PFA) classes for incarcerated and/or recently incarcerated individuals receiving services at a residential treatment center (RTC), as well as workshops and one on one coaching for caregivers and parents after release.

FY21

This program is a partnership with Mental Health Association (MHA) and Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (COIPP) to expand services to children and parents impacted by incarceration. This program will provide parenting workshops to incarcerated parents and case management and supportive services to caregivers and formerly incarcerated individuals in the community.

The Frederick County Detention Center (FCDC) remained closed to visitors; as a result, COIPP was unable to facilitate “Parenting from Afar” classes to incarcerated parents at FCDC as in previous years. COIPP along with MHA developed a partnership with the Wells House organization and several of their programs that included Gale House. In the beginning of January 2021, COIPP partnered with Gale House to facilitate “Parenting from Afar” class/groups to formerly incarcerated participants. The partnership was successful and as a result, 23 formerly incarcerated individuals attended “Parenting from Afar,” classes during HY2.

FY20

This program is a partnership with Mental Health Association (MHA) and Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (COIPP) to expand services to children and parents impacted by incarceration. This program will provide parenting workshops to incarcerated parents and case management and supportive services to caregivers and formerly incarcerated individuals in the community.

FY19

This program is a partnership with Mental Health Association (MHA) and Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (COIPP) to expand services to children and parents impacted by incarceration. This program will provide parenting workshops to incarcerated parents and case management and supportive services to caregivers and formerly incarcerated individuals in the community.

FY22

Families impacted by incarceration in Frederick County. This includes caregivers of incarcerated individual's children, incarcerated individuals housed in the Frederick County Adult Detention Center (FCADC) and those previously released from incarceration residing at residential facilities and or in the community. Referrals are received from community service providers, self-referrals, the FCADC and targeted marketing though agencies serving children and families.

FY21

Families impacted by incarceration in Frederick County. This includes caregivers of incarcerated individual's children, incarcerated individuals housed in the Frederick County Adult Detention Center (FCADC) and those previously released from incarceration. Referrals are received from community service providers, self-referrals, the FCADC and targeted marketing though agencies serving children and families.

The target population for the “Parenting from Afar,” classes expanded for HY2, to include formerly incarcerated individuals residing at Gale House Treatment Center.  

FY20

Families impacted by incarceration in Frederick County. This includes caregivers of incarcerated individual's children, incarcerated individuals housed in the Frederick County Adult Detention Center (FCADC) and those previously released from incarceration. Referrals are received form community service providers, self-referrals, the FCADC and targeted marketing though agencies serving children and families.

FY19

Families impacted by incarceration.

FY22

Several performance measures for the Parenting from Afar (PFA) participants trended significantly upward. Two performance measures significantly trended downward compared to the same period last year. 

The factors that contributed to the upward trend include:

• Year-round collaboration with Wells House facilities compared to FY21 which was six months.
• Access to the men’s Residential Treatment Center (RTC) for FY22 and continued access to the women’s RTC.
• An increase in the number of groups that were facilitated which resulted in a higher number of participants and surveys completed.
• The program served 111 participants in PFA for FY22, exceeding their annual goal of 40 participants.

Factors that contributed to downward trends include:

• The percentage of PFA participants who achieved a 75% attendance rate trended downward because some participants joined the class after the initial start while others left the treatment center before the conclusion of the class cycle.
• The numbers for one performance measure had a significant downward trend because the target populations who responded to the survey question (# of children for whom there is reported an improved relationship between the child and incarcerated parent OR the child and formerly incarcerated parent/caregiver) changed for FY22. Last year this data was collected from two target groups “formerly incarcerated parent/caregiver attending (two) community groups and formerly incarcerated parent/caregiver  creating goal plans and receiving one on one coaching.” For FY22, the data was only collected from one target group “# of formerly incarcerated parent/caregiver creating goal plans and receiving one on one coaching” services for several months at a minimum.

FY21 

The target population of caregivers and formerly incarcerated parents creating goal plans and receiving one-on-one coaching services increased for FY21 compared to FY20. FIIP hired a new family coach who utilized her experience and knowledge of the community to increase outreach. Collaborations with other community partners also supported the upward trended for this target population by referring individuals for family coaching services. While some performance measures trended downward, there was an increase in the number of performance measures that trended in the right direction.

There was no data available during HY1, for one target population and one key performance measure in the "How Much" category. This missing data in the “How Much” category affected the data trends for six other performance measures in the “How Well” and “Is Anyone Better Off” categories.

FY20

COVID19 severely limited FIIP’s ability to meet the three target population goals. Some factors that contributed to the decrease in the numbers served compared to the same period last year include: staff turnover, which required re-hiring and training during both reporting periods and because of COVID the inability to enter the detention center to complete and start other Parenting from Afar classes, as well as the inability to meet with groups in the community.

FY19

• In the Parenting from Afar course, some participants are released at different intervals depending on their sentence. The survey is currently administered one time at the 6th session of the course, resulting in a lower proportion of responses based on whoever is in attendance at that class.
• For the caregiver response rates the survey is administered at about the 4th visit depending on the progress of the client. Surveys are given to the clients to be completed and filled out later. Not all clients follow through with returning the survey in person or via mail.

FY18

• There is difficulty in attaining full program completion with women at the detention center. In many cases, these women leave group before the 8th session to go on to a prison, move to work release, go home, or are placed in isolation, none of which we can have control over.
• It is also to be noted that instead of incarcerating those with substance use and addiction, there is a movement to move them to a rehabilitation center. The program served a total of 54 women this program year. 
• The coaching services within the program had a slower start. There was a great deal of marketing and outreach that needed to be done.
• Staff needed hiring (the parent coach(es)) prior to getting the program underway.  Initially the program hired two part-time coaches, one who resigned shortly thereafter. The new coach started in January, quickly adapted to the position and service began.
• Each facet of the program is trending in the right direction. 

FY22

The FIIP program by design, is a collaboration between two larger entities, the Mental Health Association (MHA) and the Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (COIPP). The program has relationships with many agencies committed to providing direct support of the program:

• Frederick County Public Schools, the Office of Public Defender and Maryland Courts, DSS, and the Child Advocacy Center are referral sources.
• Frederick County Workforce Services, Curious Iguana Book Store, Dancing Bear Toys and Games, Second Chance Garage, United Way of Frederick County, the Housing Authority of Frederick County, Family Partnership, Habitat for Humanity, and Legal Services of Frederick County Court are Community Resource Supports.
• The Orenda Center, YMCA-Head Start, and the Judy Center are Community Group Partners.
• COIPP, MHA, Gale House, Wells House, and the Frederick County Adult Detention Center are “Parenting from Afar” collaborators.

FY21

• Frederick County Public Schools, the Office of Public Defender and Maryland Courts, DSS are Referral Sources
• Workforce, Dancing Bear, Curious Iguana, Second Chance Garage are Community Resource Supports
• Healthy Families Frederick, The YMCA are Community Group Partners
• COIPP, MHA, Gale House, Wells House and the Frederick County Adult Detention Center are “Parenting from Afar” collaborators

FY20

This program, by design, is a collaboration between two larger entities, the Mental Health Association (MHA) and the Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (COIPP). The program has relationships with many agencies committed to providing direct support of the program:

• Frederick County Adult Detention Center (FCADC)
• Frederick County YMCA Head Start program
• Frederick County Department of Social Services
• Frederick County Child Advocacy Center
• National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated 
• Curious Iguana and Dancing Bear

The FIIP Community Advisory Board (CAB) is comprised of members of the community from:

Head Start, the Judy Center, Frederick County Workforce Services, the FCADC, Parole and Probation, Office of Children and Families, a client, MHA, and COIP. They have shown to be dedicated to the development and implementation of processes that will meet the challenges the program is facing due to the pandemic and other circumstances. The Advisory Board has met and continues to meet monthly rather than bimonthly. This is to continually tackle the issues FIIP struggles with in order to help reach their performance measures to ultimately better serve the Frederick Community. The FCADC Reentry Coordinator and FIIP’s Family Coach have begun a partnership that should increase the number of Family Coach referrals while simultaneously reducing the rate of recidivism.  Local agencies such as Head Start, Housing Authority and the Judy Center have agreed to partner with FIIP, so they can better meet their performance measurements during the pandemic. 

FY19

This program, by design, is a collaboration between two larger entities, the Mental Health Association (MHA) and the Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (COIPP). The program has relationships with many agencies committed to providing direct support of the program:

• Frederick County Adult Detention Center (FCADC)
• Frederick County YMCA Head Start program
• Frederick County Department of Social Services
• Frederick County Child Advocacy Center
• National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated.  
• Frederick County Child Advocacy Center
• Curious Iguana

The FCADC allows RIIEC access to the detention center to facilitate Parenting from Afar. The YMCA Head Start program provides space for the community based grief and loss course and also directly refers Head Start parents to the coaching program. The Frederick County Child Advocacy Center will continue to support MHA in exploring the implementation of trauma awareness in their program and provide guidance on dealing with children with significant loss. RIIEC participants also benefit from discounts and donations on books about coping with feelings, grief and loss and a variety of other issues from Curious Iguana, a local book store.

FY22

• Collaboration continued to be a key factor in the provision of services to the three target populations.
• The ongoing partnership with the Wells House organization and several of their programs has resulted in the provision of services to formerly incarcerated individuals, who also struggle with substance use issues.
• The strategies utilized to measure if family coaching participants are better off is by observing the reduction in the Family Advocacy and Support Tool (FAST) assessment scores, the number of action items completed for each participant, the number of goals completed, and the amount of community resources that the participant has been connected to from the time of intake to completion of the program.
• Family coaching participants are surveyed throughout the program for their feedback.
• Parenting From Afar and the community group participants also provide feedback in the form of a survey at the conclusion of the PFA classes and the community group sessions.

FY21

• Collaborations continued to be a key factor in the provision of services to the three target populations.
• A new partnership was developed with Wells House organization and serval of their programs. This collaboration resulted in the provision of services to formerly incarcerated individuals who also struggled with substance use issues.
• The ongoing partnership with community agencies including local businesses has been and continues to be essential in providing resources to families and children.

FY20

• Persistence in maintaining contact with the Detention Center staff and community partners
• Inviting a Detention Center staff member to be a part of the Community Advisory Board (CAB)
• Hosting daily story time on Facebook for children and families impacted by incarceration (https://www.facebook.com/ChildrenOfIncarceratedParentsPartnership/)
• The FIIP Community Advisory Board increased the frequency of their meetings to plan outreach and explore service delivery options, etc.
• The FIIP staff created and disseminated resources including 80 mini idea books for families. Bundle packaged resources and books were also mailed to families
• Curious Iguana and Dancing Bear collaborated with FIIP to assemble “Bundle Packs” consisting of books, games and resources.  These packs were mailed and delivered to approximately 80 caregivers and children during 4th quarter.

FY19

• The Families Impacted by Incarceration Program (FIIP) and Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (COIPP) program continued collaboration in FY19, with several community partners including Headstart and the Housing Authority/Lucas Village) by providing workshops on site for residents and consumers.
• There were also several outreach events to Parole and Probation, the States Attorney Office and the Police Activities League (PAL) Center. 
• COIPP the subcontractor for the FIIP program hired two male staff during the 3rd quarter of FY19. Said staff completed the Detention Center mandated training. Upon completion of the training, the new staff started a “Parenting from Afar” course for incarcerated men at the Detention Center.
• The Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership hosted many outreach events for families impacted by incarceration. The events included weekly “Coffee with COIPP,” and monthly activities for the children of incarcerated parents.

FY20

Standardize the documentation process and increase virtual intakes to the parent coaching population. Plan and implement virtual community groups. Planned utilization of the FIIP Facebook page to post mini video presentations on different topics. Increase the number of program participants by conducting outreach to:

• Detention Center officials
• Court Judges
• The Probation Office
• Community Partners

FY19

• In an attempt to get more surveys from the Parenting from Afar participants, the survey will be administered to individuals who may have missed the 6th course if they are still incarcerated.
• For the caregiver participants, the staff will attempt to get individuals to complete the survey in person.

FY18

• Program staff will build upon the current momentum and increase enrollment in each program segment.
• Staff will continue to use direct marketing to receive community referrals and work with parenting group participants to gain access to the caregivers for coaching.
• Coaching staff will be more present in the parenting groups. This will give participants an immediate known community based resource to connect with upon release.
• Finally, the program will incorporate data collection for the children to determine how the quality of their lives improves over the course of participation.

FY22

• Families Impacted by Incarceration Program (FIIP) and Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (COIPP) were able to facilitate more PFA classes and community groups this year at the YMCA-Head start program and at the Orenda Center.
• Parenting from Afar classes continue to flourish at the Wells House residential facilities which provided PFA classes to 111 participants for FY22.
• The program served 174 individuals which exceeded their annual goal of 100 individuals served among the three-target populations.
• The hiring of a Family Coach, Program Manager, and Director enhanced and formalized service strategies for participants in the implementation of the FAST assessment and goal plans. The FAST assessment screens for ACEs, trauma, and protective factors.
• The Family Coaching program was able to connect a newly single mother and her two young children to mental health resources, summer activities for the children, and education about the incarceration process.
• The Family Coaching program supported a father with young twins by connecting them to resources that included the “Empowering Fathers” classes at Family Partnership, childcare scholarships to get his children into day care, and taking a small vacation to learn to invest in self-care.

FY21

• FIIP and COIPP were able to form a partnership with Gail House Residential Treatment Center to facilitate Parenting from Afar (PFA) classes for participants who are released from the Frederick County Detention Center
• Parenting from Afar (PFA) classes resumed at a new location, Gale House during FY2.
• 23 formerly incarcerated parents attended PFA classes for HY2
• The hiring of a family coached increased the number of caregivers and formerly incarcerated parents served for FY21.

FY20

• The program and staff transitioned from delivering in person services to virtual services for two of the three target populations served.
• The “Parenting from Afar group that was held at the Detention Center served 66 of 72 participants and achieved 92% of their annual goal for this target population.
• The number of participants who rated the parenting classes as very good or “excellent” on a Leikert scale increased from last year.
• Despite the cancellation of the parenting from Afar classes two months into the 2^nd reporting period, 52% of the participants rated classes as “very good or “excellent” compared to FY19 full year data of 59% of participants who responded positively.
• The Families Impacted by Incarceration Program (FIIP) created and began the Community Advisory Board (CAB) during FY20, with input from Ann Adalist Estrin, Director of the National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated at Rutgers University–Camden, NJ.
• Ms. Adalist Estrin also met with the Community Advisory Board (CAB) at the October meeting to educate the board members about the unique trauma incarceration can cause in a child's life.

FY21 

During HY1, one key performance measure (# of unduplicated incarcerated parents at the Adult Detention Center receiving “Parenting from Afar” classes) in the How Well category affected the data trends for six other performance measures in the categories of “How Well” and Is Anyone Better Off?”

The “Parenting from Afar classes” that were facilitated at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center (FCADC) was cancelled by FCADC due to the COVID-19 social distancing mandates. As a result, no data was available for this target population for the first half of FY21. The performance measures that were affected are as follows:

How Much PMs

1. # of unduplicated incarcerated parents at the Adult Detention Center receiving Parenting from Afar classes

How Well PMs

2. # of (unduplicated) incarcerated parents rating the Parenting from Afar course as “very good” or “excellent” on a Leikert scale
3. % of (unduplicated) incarcerated parents rating the Parenting from Afar course as “very good” or “excellent” on a Leikert scale
4. # of incarcerated parents attending at least 75%  of the Parenting from Afar classes
5. % of incarcerated parents attending at least 75%  of the Parenting from Afar classes

Better Off PMs

6. # of incarcerated parents reporting increased  knowledge at the end of the Parenting from Afar course
7. % of incarcerated parents reporting increased  knowledge at the end of the Parenting from Afar course