During these times they follow a curriculum and read a discussion guide designed by NFI for the program. All group leaders are incarcerated peers who have been trained to lead the discussions. This creates more trust among the guys who feel they can be more vulnerable with fellow inmates than with prison staff, says Turner. Men are required not only to do homework but also to read books on parenting. They start understanding how better to relate to their kids, and when they are transitioning out of prison Long Distance Dads starts preparing them for the challenges of being a dad in the real world.
Most participants report better relationships with their children.
Cards and letters start arriving, and many times dads see their kids for the first time in years. One inmate at Albion confessed that this program made him see for the first time the need to obey the law. My children need me to set an example, he said. We can t solve everyone s problem, says Turner. It is not a magic bullet, but it is a start.