Reducing Recidivism and Increasing Relationship Skills through a Family Strengthening Model

Introduction. This session will highlight results from two community based family strengthening programs that were implemented with reentry husbands and with couples where one spouse was incarcerated. Each program was based on a culturally adapted version of the evidence-based model program, Creating Lasting Family Connections (CLFC). A core assumption of the CLFC model is that by increasing a sense of being connected to one’s self and others, one will be receptive to change behavior toward desirable behavioral outcomes through using didactic and interactive training methods.

CLFC Fatherhood: Family Reintegration Program. Two projects implemented between 2005 and 2011 included the culturally adapted CLFC Fatherhood: Family Reintegration Program which included an HIV/hepatitis preventive intervention component. The projects were implemented with 345 participants (249 in an intervention group and 96 in a comparison group) and 500 participants (387 in intervention condition and 113 in comparison condition) respectively. Both targeted services for individuals who had received substance abuse treatment while incarcerated. Both included four interactive CLFC program modules implemented within 20 sessions as well as comprehensive and culturally sensitive case management services. A quasi-experimental design was used to assess program effects.

CLFC Marriage Enhancement Program. The CLFC Marriage Enhancement Program was implemented with 250 married individuals who voluntarily participated in the initiative (intervention group) or one of the programs typically offered for those being released from prison (comparison group). Of the 250 individuals, 230 participated in the intervention condition and 20 participated in the comparison condition. A quasi-experimental design was used to assess program effects.

Results. CLFC Fatherhood: Family Reintegration Program. Results for the first project showed intervention effects on increasing HIV knowledge and spirituality and on reducing intentions to binge drink and on recidivism. Results for the second project showed intervention effects on nine separate relationship skills, as well as effects on recidivism. At follow-up the results showed that participants in the first project were 3.7 times more likely than comparison participants not to recidivate. For the second project, we found similar results (participants were 2.9 times more likely than comparison participants not to recidivate).

CLFC Marriage Enhancement Program. Results showed that married men exposed to the program had larger improvements in some relationship skills relative to a convenience sample of men not so exposed. Both husbands and wives exposed to the program exhibited similar and significant increases in relationship skills.

Discussion. These results suggest that the CLFC family strengthening program model, which was originally implemented as a substance abuse prevention intervention for youth and their families, can be effective with reentry populations including those who have been in treatment while incarcerated. This suggests that there can be an important intersection that includes coordination between substance abuse prevention and addiction treatment activities and approaches.