Skills For Dads

The Mission’s Skills for Dads parenting programme is delivered to prisoners at Otago Corrections Facility and Invercargill Prison. Skills for Dads promotes positive attitudes towards parenting, develops practical parenting skills for interacting with children (both from inside prison and once released), and works with participants to create positive parenting plans that overcome real-life challenges faced by fathers in prison.

Topics covered in the programme include:

• The role of a father
• Understanding your child’s developmental needs and interests
• Interacting with your child
• Parenting from inside prison
• Managing your child’s behaviour and stress
• Creating safe environments for your child
• Overcoming barriers and obstacles to effective parenting

Skills for Dads also provides participants with the opportunity to record a DVD message to their children, which is sent out at the completion of the programme. Mission staff also make contact with each participant after they have been released to ensure support services are available to help with any ongoing parenting or other challenges.

Outcomes for Participants:

• Improved attitudes towards parenting
• Increased confidence as fathers
• Improved communication skills with their children
• Practical parenting techniques and strategies for developing long-lasting, meaningful relationships with their children
• Strategies for overcoming common parenting challenges inside prison, and on release

Skills for Dads is funded by the Department of Corrections.