Families In Crisis Inc

TO PROVIDE COUNSELING AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO OFFENDERS AND MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES.

COUNSELING SERVICES - WHEN A LOVED ONE IS INSIDE, LIFE STILL GOES ON OUTSIDE. FAMILIES IN CRISIS PROVIDES COUNSELING SERVICES TO FAMILIES AND THEIR LOVED ONES THAT ARE INCARCERATED. OFFENDERS WHO DO NOT HAVE POSITIVE FAMILY SUPPORT OFTEN RE-OFFEND AND TRAGICALLY STUDIES SHOW THAT THEIR CHILDREN ALSO HAVE DIFFICULTIES. THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COSTS ARE ENORMOUS TO THE FAMILY AND TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE COUNSELING PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE CRITICALLY NEEDED COUNSELING AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE ARREST AND INCARCERATION OF A LOVED ONE. SERVICES FOCUS ON HELPING FAMILIES TO BECOME EMPOWERED TO DEVELOP HEALTHY AND SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS. INDIVIDUAL FAMILY MEMBERS GAIN A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR ROLES IN THE FAMILY AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO EACH OTHER. THEY LEARN HOW TO MAINTAIN THEIR BOND DURING THE PERIOD OF INCARCERATION AND TO LIVE TOGETHER AS A FAMILY AFTERWARD.

PARENTING AND CHILDREN - RELATIONSHIP WITH FAMILY DON'T END WHEN PRISON BEGINS, BUT THEY DO BECOME HARDER. WHEN OFFENDERS GO TO PRISON, THEY OFTEN BECOME OPEN TO IMPROVING THEIR LIVES AND THAT OF THEIR FAMILIES - BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO.FAMILIES IN CRISIS TEACHES OFFENDERS HOW TO CONNECT WITH LOVED ONES IN A MEANINGFUL WAY AND TO PROVIDE THE SKILLS TO HELP THEM CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR. FIC OFFERS PARENTING ASSISTANCE AND CHILD-FOCUSED PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN OF PRISONERS.SINCE EVERY FAMILY IS DIFFERENT, THE PROGRAMS ARE A MENU DRIVEN SERVICE DESIGN, TO ENSURE THAT EACH FAMILIES SPECIAL NEEDS ARE ADDRESSED. TO OVERCOME A COMMON BARRIER TO SERVICE UTILIZATION, WORKERS MEET WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THEIR OWN HOMES OR COMMUNITIES.

VISITATION - CONNECTICUT PRISONS ARE LOCATED IN CLUSTERS IN THE CORNERS OF THE STATE (ENFIELD, NIANTIC AND CHESHIRE) WHILE FAMILIES OF PRISONERS AND WHERE PRISONERS RETURN TO ARE IN THE LARGEST CITIES (BRIDGEPORT, HARTFORD, NEW HAVEN, WATERBURY AND NEW LONDON). CONNECTICUT PRISONS ARE NOT REGULARLY SERVED BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND THE DISTANCE FOR SOME FAMILIES MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO VISIT AND MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR LOVED ONE.FIC PROVIDES FREE TRANSPORTATION FROM MAJOR CITIES IN CT TO THE VARIOUS PRISONS IN CT. TRANSPORTATION AND VISITATION PROGRAMS BRING PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN TOGETHER TO STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS AND PROVIDE A CHANCE TO PRACTICE THEIR NEW SKILLS.SINCE FAMILIES ARE THE FABRIC OF A SAFE COMMUNITY, AND POSITIVE FAMILY RELATIONS ARE AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR RELEASE SUCCESS, SERVICES THAT KEEP FAMILIES CONNECTED ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE FIGHT TO STOP THE CYCLE OF CRIME.