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 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. FATHER TIME: Improving the Quality of Father- Child Engagement During Incarceration 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. FATHER TIME: Improving the Quality of Father- Child Engagement During Incarceration 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. FATHER TIME: Improving the Quality of Father- Child Engagement During Incarceration Sabir Alim, MHS

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

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

Potential causes of these differences include socio-economic status, religion, education, personality type, family size, culture, parental history, and religion. FATHER TIME: Improving the Quality of Father- Child Engagement During Incarceration 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. FATHER TIME: Improving the Quality of Father- Child Engagement During Incarceration 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. FATHER TIME: Improving the Quality of Father- Child Engagement During Incarceration 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. FATHER TIME: Improving the Quality of Father- Child Engagement During Incarceration 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. FATHER TIME: Improving the Quality of Father- Child Engagement During Incarceration Sabir Alim, MHS

Establish a child-friendly environment in the institution’s visiting area. FATHER TIME: Improving the Quality of Father- Child Engagement During Incarceration 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. FATHER TIME: Improving the Quality of Father- Child Engagement During Incarceration Sabir Alim, MHS

For institutional staff, make fatherhood part of the discussion; ultimately part of the service plan. FATHER TIME: Improving the Quality of Father- Child Engagement During Incarceration 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. FATHER TIME: Improving the Quality of Father- Child Engagement During Incarceration 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.” FATHER TIME: Improving the Quality of Father- Child Engagement During Incarceration 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. FATHER TIME: Improving the Quality of Father- Child Engagement During Incarceration Sabir Alim, MHS

Always keep your word. Always be honest about the situation. FATHER TIME: Improving the Quality of Father- Child Engagement During Incarceration Sabir Alim, MHS