| One Family |
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One Family is a new initiative established in September 2008 led by Community Works in collaboration with the San Francisco Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (SFCIPP) and the San Francisco Sheriff ’s Department. One Family is now able to off er parent/child contact visits to every eligible parent incarcerated in San Francisco’s County Jails. The primary goal of One Family is to provide meaningful, frequent, and consistent opportunities for children to remain connected to their parents during a stressful time. Subsequent goals of the program are to: identify the number of incarcerated parents impacted by the San Francisco Justice system; reduce the trauma to children associated with separation due to parental incarceration; address the structural and cultural barriers that limit family reintegration for incarcerated parents; and to connect with other community based organizations to provide the most comprehensive services for families both in-custody and in the community for parents, caregivers and children. In-jail services are implemented with consideration of balancing the needs of inmates and their families with the interests of facility security, staff and cost efficiencies. Ongoing evaluation of all services is integral to the initiative. The One Family Partnership is creating child friendly waiting rooms and family friendly visiting rooms to further ensure the best possible environment to the children and their families and to enable quality visiting time. Educational materials are provided to parents, children and caregivers to raise awareness of the program, the impact of incarceration on children, and provide needed information surrounding the visits. In conjunction with the contact visits, Community Works facilitates Parenting Inside Out, a certified, state of the art parent education program designed specifically for incarcerated men and women. The Parenting Inside Out curriculum is a 12-week course that meets two hours per week twice a week. The class topics include: creating a collaborative learning environment; effective listening, speaking, and problem solving skills; child-centered play; responsibilities of parent and child; effective directions and encouragement; rules, rewards and consequences; time out and privilege removal; and healthy adult relationships. The combination of creating quality visiting experiences and top-notch parent education classes throughout the jails, promotes family preservation, re-unification and successful reentry. In addition to Community Works, SFCIPP and SFSD, One Family also partners with San Francisco Human Services Agency, A Home Within, Friends Outside, Northern California Service League, San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, Five Keys Charter School and Bay Area volunteers. Major support for One Family is provided by Zellerbach Family Foundation, with additional funding from Sills Family Foundation and Annie E. Casey Foundation. Formed in 2000 under the auspices of the Zellerbach Family Foundation, SFCIPP works to improve the lives of children of incarcerated parents, and to increase awareness of these children, their needs and their strengths. For more information, please contact Kelli Finley, Community Works One Family Program Manager, at |
