Giving incarcerated fathers a chance at Belmont Correctional Institution

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Men incarcerated at the Belmont Correctional Institution are participating in a two-day conference aimed at helping them be better fathers now and when they leave prison. 

The second annual Fatherhood Conference, hosted by Passages Connecting Fathers & Families and the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, began Friday with several speakers on hand to talk to the dads and give them guidance. 

Workshop topics included children’s services, child support, healthy relationships, healthy masculinity and focusing on fatherhood. There was also a luncheon catered by Mehlman’s Cafeteria. Carlos Christian was the main speaker, who talked about the importance of fathers providing children a stable upbringing and giving them the tools to thrive and succeed in life.

Passages President and CEO Brian Moore said the conference is taking place all across Ohio.

“We bring facilitators from across the state of Ohio to teach fathers fatherhood, being a responsible father and even parenting from incarceration,” Moore said. “We’re empowering them with new skills so they can be better fathers. We want these individuals to return into the community with established relationships with their children.”

He noted about 125 fathers at the prison signed up to participate. On Saturday, a group of about 23 will get to participate in a picnic with their families and children.

“We want men to be inspired and excited about taking care of their children,” Moore said. “And be actively involved in taking care of their children. When, statistically, fathers are actively involved in the lives of their children, there are much better outcomes for our children. They are less likely to be involved in activities that are counterproductive and just engaging in really proactive things.”

While the fathers are incarcerated, they can still work on themselves, he noted.

“So, when they do return to our communities, they will be better off,” Moore said. “We want children to know that their fathers do care and they are accepting responsibility for the transgressions they’ve had and now they are prepared to come back to the community and be there for their kids.”

Moore said he founded the program eight years ago. Though it is not religiously based, Moore said he is a pastor.

“We tell dads the most important thing they will ever, ever do is be a dad,” he said. “It’s not about basketball. It’s not about football. It’s about being there for your kids.”

Moore, who lives in Cleveland, said he would like people to pray for the families of the incarcerated and the fathers as well.

“The entire family is incarcerated when their loved one is incarcerated,” he said. “And many of these individuals are going to be returning to our communities and the work they are doing now will make them better citizens when they return.”

BCI Warden Shelbie Smith said the prison tries to give the fathers different ways to communicate with their children, including phone calls and letter writing. 

“Just because you’re incarcerated, that doesn’t mean you’re not still a father,” she said. “Family is very important for them even while they are here and, even more important, as they are released.”

She noted during Saturday’s picnic the families will also be given information on how to support the fathers while they are incarcerated. 

“It’s important to be involved in your child’s life whether it be through the telephone, writing, coloring … it’s important for them and their rehabilitation,” Smith said.