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Families in Transition (FIT) is a program offered to inmates at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women (ICIW). ICIW is Iowa's only prison for women. FIT has been developed to address the relationships of incarcerated women. The program gives women the opportunity to address and discuss issues surrounding transitioning back into their communities following release from prison. The 10- week class is based on the needs of incarcerated women and focuses on rebuilding healthy family relationships and reunifying the women with their children.
The goals of the program are to strengthen healthy relationships between their children, families and support persons to decrease the relapse and recidivism rates. Research shows that an increasing number of women are returning to prison due to lack of support from their communities, friends and families. Through the class, the women have an opportunity to identify key support people to whom they can contact for support and guidance on the outside.
FIT teaches the women basic child development and parenting skills while incorporating the effects that incarceration has had on their children and families. As women advance through the program, they begin to understand and live their lives in relationship to others versus focusing on themselves as individuals. The class focuses on the family as a system working together and building upon each other to succeed in society. The idea of constant communication and contact is stressed and the women get a chance to keep in contact with family members through various forms of media.
FIT has implemented a Family Visit Day at the institution for women. The Family Visit Day expands the traditional visit in a correctional facility to a day filled with fun, food, games and conversation. This presentation will include findings from the pilot study.
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