Except in cases that involved abuse, parents and/or children who have experienced forced separation from one another, including cases of parental alienation,

Except in cases that involved abuse, parents and/or children who have

experienced forced separation from

one another, including cases of parental alienation, are highly subject to post-

traumatic stress.

FATHER TIME: Improving the Quality of Father-Child Engagement During Incarceration

www.daddysrighthere.net

Sabir Alim, MHS

The quality of the parent-child

relationship is often compromised when a

parent feels left out because of their non-

residential parental status, but also in

situations where the parent feels

overwhelmed due to having to assume all

parental responsibilities.



Sabir Alim, MHS

In most cases, the role of the father in the

life of his child has been involuntarily

lowered to being nothing but a financial

provider, rather than an active caregiver,

by our family courts, social service

systems, and in many instances, the

mother of the child.



Sabir Alim, MHS

Heartfelt relationships are sustained and developed through an emotional

connectedness; made possible through the emotional stability and security of fair and equal

parenting time.



Sabir Alim, MHS



http://differentparentingstyles.wordpress.com


http://www.teendriversource.org


Potential causes of these differences include socio-economic status, religion, education, personality type, family size,

culture, parental history, and religion.



Sabir Alim, MHS

Having the father perform a self-evaluation to determine his

preferred style of parenting is a great place to begin. This also establishes etiology and a starting point for a

service plan, or dialogue.



Sabir Alim, MHS

Teach fathers to embrace their individualism; learning that their traits set them apart from anyone else. What

he brings into the family is what shapes and defines the family; making

it distinct from other families.



Sabir Alim, MHS

Observing father-child-mother interaction during visits, telephone

calls, and written correspondence will enable development of an effective

approach toward increasing the quantity, and improving the quality of

these relationships.



Sabir Alim, MHS

8-Relationship Improving Suggestions

In the institution, establish a library of varied aged books to be used during visits and/or phone calls. If the book

is purchased outside of the institution, a copy should be made for the father to have on hand during engagement.



Sabir Alim, MHS

Establish a child-friendly environment in the institution’s visiting area.



Sabir Alim, MHS

Encourage fathers to alternate phone calls between the mother/caregiver and the child, or commit the first ten

minutes of every call to speaking with the child.



Sabir Alim, MHS

For institutional staff, make fatherhood part of the discussion; ultimately part of the

service plan.



Sabir Alim, MHS

For family members, significant others, and friends, encourage the mother to abstain from lengthy conversations,

and those which deviate from improving the father-child

relationship.



Sabir Alim, MHS

Encourage fathers to immediately embrace the child before all other

visiting members. This embrace should also be a time when the father

verbalizes his affection for the child i.e., “I love you.”, “I missed you.” “I am

so glad you came to visit me.”



Sabir Alim, MHS

There should always be a task given at the end of each engagement (visit, call)

that will be followed-up on at the next engagement.



Sabir Alim, MHS

Always keep your word. Always be honest about the situation.



Sabir Alim, MHS

Documents

Except in cases that involved abuse, parents and/or children who have experienced forced separation from one another, including cases of parental alienation,