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Children's Trust Fund and partners push fatherhood, parent education as part of reentry supports
Summary
Presenters from the Children’s Trust Fund and Family Guidance Center said fatherhood programs, parent education, and community‑based supports in 49 counties help returning parents secure employment, housing and family stability — factors tied to lower recidivism.
Representatives of the Children’s Trust Fund and Family Guidance Center described fatherhood programs and other family supports as central to successful reentry.
"There is a fatherhood absence crisis in America," Jori Jordan (fatherhood program manager) told the commission and cited program reach: services in 49 counties, 26 provider agencies and early year metrics showing 351 reentry individuals served and 5,529 referrals. Jordan said the program links participants to workforce readiness, adult education, parenting classes, peer mentoring and connection to community resources.
Jordan cited external research and program data to make the case that strengthening family relationships, offering supervised visitation and providing employment supports reduce risks associated with parental incarceration. Program participants who spoke to the commission gave personal testimony: Alonzo Anderson described working at UAB Medical Center after participating in training, and Lamar Ingram described certificates in entrepreneurship, parenting and anger management and said the supports helped him stay out of custody and rebuild family ties.
Speakers asked commissioners and corrections partners to notify fatherhood providers of returning individuals ahead of release so agencies can coordinate supervised exchanges, employment referrals and case management to improve chances of long‑term success.
