Family Befriending: Improving reintegration outcomes for individuals and mitigating impact of incarceration on families (PID146)

11am – 11.30am EDT, 5 September 2024 ‐ 30 mins

Workshop Session

Singapore Aftercare Association (SACA) and Singapore Prison Service (SPS) recognise the adverse impact of incarceration on inmates and their families. There is a need to support families and inmates in navigating the challenges brought about by incarceration, mitigate the negative impacts on families and consequently, reduce the risk of intergenerational offending. 
This presentation will showcase SACA’s Family Befriending (FB), a pilot initiative in collaboration with SPS, which aims to achieve the above-mentioned objectives. Trained volunteers are tapped on to provide regular befriending to inmates and their families during the in-care phase and for 3 months after inmates’ release. Apart from emotional support, befrienders serve as eyes on the ground to identify families’ needs and recommend relevant services or resources. Inmates and their families are also encouraged and brought together to express their thoughts and feelings about the incarceration and other immediate concerns during a Family Group Conference (FGC), where they jointly develop an action plan to make decisions about their future. The FGC is facilitated by SPS facilitators and conducted prior to the inmates’ release. 
Lastly, this presentation will discuss implementation challenges in running the FB pilot initiative, through the use of real life case studies and sharing of personal experiences by the parties involved in this process.