Florida Family Network - Tallahassee, FL

U.S. Departmment of Justice

FFN is proud of the collaboration, partnership, and the positive outcomes with the U.S. Bureau of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP), for it has been a partnership like no other. Under President Obama’s Administration, the leadership of U.S. Attorney Eric Holder and the guidance of Director Charles E. Samuels, Federal Bureau of Prisons, we have seen great strives of progress throughout the Bureau of Prisons. The opportunities found inside of FBOP for the inmates have focus on increasing education and vocational preparation for reintegration. In addition, they also provided services to assist inmates with medical and psychological concerns, and to improved physical fitness.

In addition, to our national partner agency, we are proud to work with our local and state-wide partners, some were formerly incarcerated, and others have provided support, knowledge, referrals, information, experience and relationships that increase opportunities for the population we all serve.

Parenting Services

The most important influence in a child’s life is the family environment and the bond established with the parents.

The fastest growing population in state and federal prisons is mothers who have children under age 18.

FFN has developed a curriculum that is not only effective in making a positive difference with mothers parenting from a distance; but, it also has encouraged better relationships, improved parenting styles, and made a positive impact on their children.

We provide:

The tools to enhance their parenting skills;
Opportunities to invest in her children by being the best mother she can be;
The tools for understanding the development of a child’s ages and stages, such as understanding the stages of development of a female.

"Another part of the parenting class that was very helpful was the self-image session. Because of the intense drug abuse and self-destructive behavior, I had a very negative self-image. I learned so many things about myself, and tools that I was able to apply as the years passed. The feedback from Ms. Finch and my classmates showed me things that I did not know about myself. In this session I learned to forgive myself for all I did prior to my incarceration." Damaris R. Diaz Read more...

Education & Vocational Training

From 2010-2013, FFN’s provided Vocational Training (VT)- Call Center techniques and Technology (Professional and Personal Development) classes. A certificate program designed specifically for this population to learn the basic fundamental skills, knowledge of the use of the tools to provide quality customer service across the wide spectrum of the variety of business’ disciplines. These basic tools were the foundation for all service related employment geared towards the women creating their own business. Crafted strategies and techniques were designed to strengthen the personal and professional self to deliver not only self-confidence and quality services, but to be successful in the workplace setting, to have the ability to effectively communicate and to effectively get along with management, staff and customers alike.

"I learned that everyone is unique in the way that they present themselves to the world. Having these skills make me seem more sympathetic to others disabilities and uniqueness. What I learned in Ms. Finch's class makes me a better teacher and a better communicator with the world." Ivey Van Voast

Programs

Between 1999-2013, FFN secured federal contracts with the U. S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Institutional (FCI) a minimum custody federal correctional facility in Tallahassee, Florida. FFN staff served 35,679 inmates, their children and families in the children’s visiting room. Research has shown that inmates who maintain family connections during their incarceration have a higher likelihood of successfully reentering the community and do not return to the system. This is certainly true for the population served at the FCI-Tallahassee.

"I remember coming to Ms. Finch and telling her that if the prison system would make what she had been teaching us a part of orientation and made it mandatory for every inmate to get this knowledge there would probably be lesser problems on the compound and maybe even fewer people coming back to prison."

Sherry Petitis Read more...