Corrections_Today_July_August_2019_Vol.84_No.4

n Fatherhood Program

Proven effectiveness An independent report by the Fatherhood Research & Practice Network showed that the TYRO Dads program proved to be effective in increasing parenting efficacy, perception of co-parenting relationships and parenting satisfaction for the fathers who completed the course. The study showed that the more sessions attended, the greater increase in positive outcome. TYRO Dads who complete the program in full have had a 19.6% recidivism rate after three years. Also, 97% of those who completed the course reported a strong commitment to fatherhood and 90% reported a strong feeling of hope for the future. Many families have been transformed by this program, and the results have gained state and national attention. The Ridge Project has received multiple awards, such as the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice Community Reentry Award, the Fatherhood Achievement Award from the Ohio Commission of Fatherhood, the White House Fatherhood Hero Award, commendation by the Ohio Sen- ate and House of Representatives and many more. Next steps After completing the TYRO Dads course, other courses are available to further help the participants improve their relationships with their spouses and prepare them for employment upon reentry. Family engagement activities are offered to families to further strengthen the bond between a TYRO and his family, and offers them a chance to employ the lessons learned from the TYRO Dads curriculum. Couples Communication is an eight- hour course taken by spouses that stresses the importance of communication in a healthy relationship. This com- munication course has two parts, and taking it helps participants learn conflict resolution, anger management and, most importantly, relationship stability. This course has proven to increase relationship stability, the ability for partners to work out problems constructively and self- esteem. Couples Communication has an overall positive impact on relations within a family, with 55% of TYRO Dads and 50% of Couples Communication participants reported on the improved quality of their relationship with their partner, according to a report by Baylor University. For individuals seeking practical communication skills for any interpersonal situation, the Ridge Project offers the Core Communication program. Core Communication

“Tyro is such a powerful name and it’s exhilarating to be part of something big. I’m proud to claim the warrior status. When we recite the declaration, I say it with pride. Being a TYRO is a lifestyle, not just a title to claim. You don’t get nominated to be a TYRO, you earn it, you live it. From that day forward, I looked for opportunities to prove myself a TYRO. I looked at my TYRO sisters differently. I placed them under my wing. I wasn’t for myself anymore, I was in it for all of us. I didn’t look at TYRO like, ‘What can you do for me?’ I looked at it like, ‘What can I do for TYRO? What can I do for my family? What can I do for society?’ My thinking was on a higher plane.” — Tomi Rolley, TYRO Dad

28 — July/August 2019 Corrections Today