Predictors of participation in a prison-based parenting program

Graduation date: 2015The focus of this study was threefold. This research examined the extent to which parenting alliance between incarcerated parents and the caregivers of their children, influences participation of inmate parents in parenting programs. This research explored the extent to which family contact influences participation of inmate parents in parenting programs. Lastly, this research evaluted the role of mental health on parenting class completion. Secondary data, in the form of a randomized sample of parent inmates in Oregon was analyzed.\ud Three sets of variables were analyzed. Characteristics such as number of contacts between parent and child, number of contacts between caregiver and parent, measures of relationship quality between parent and caregiver, and mental health variables were examined.\ud According to the findings, for fathers, as the number of contacts with their child’s caregiver increased, the predicted probability of completing the parenting program increased. For mothers, the predicted probability of completing the parenting program increased when the number of contacts with their child increased. The results underscore the importance of maintaining or perhaps expanding programs that facilitate strong family bonds. Academically, this study validates existing studies that point to the importance of familial contact for incarcerated family members