Archways Deputy CEO, Sean McDonnell (pictured), who developed the Reach Out programme in conjunction with Fusion CPL, was one of a number of speakers at the launch of the Reach Out Evaluation Report held in Buswells Hotel, Dublin on Tuesday 29th September.
However, the innovative family communications programme for prisoners faces closure due to lack of funding despite sustained demand for it from prisoners and Irish prisons.
Speaking at the launch, the Chairperson of the Reach Out Committee, Pat Montague, said that €120,000 in 2027 would secure its future for 2027.
Hugh Doogan, CEO at Archways; Sean McDonnell, Deputy CEO, Archways and Pat Montague, Chairperson of the Reach Out Committee at the launch of the Evaluation Report conducted by the University of Limerick and University College Cork
The Reach Out evaluation was conducted by researchers from the University of Limerick and University College Cork – led by Dr Daragh Bradshaw – and involved interviews with prisoners, family members – including children – and prison staff. Key findings from the evaluation include:
- Reach Out fills a significant gap in supports available to families affected by parental imprisonment.
- The 10-week programme’s distinctive combination of communication-focused learning, child development education, family engagement and independent mentoring support appears to be highly valued by participants, family members and prison staff.
- There is strong evidence of prisoner engagement, high completion rates and sustained demand – from prisoners and prions – for future programme delivery.
Dr Bradshaw said that these findings provide a strong rationale for continued investment in and carefully managed expansion of Reach Out across the Irish Prison Service.
To date 115 prisoners in Shelton Abbey, Dóchas, Mountjoy and the Progression Unit have taken part in the programme at a total cost of €168,000 – less than €1,500 per participant.
Reach Out was developed because parental imprisonment is a significant social issue with far-reaching consequences for the children of the prisoner, their families as well as wider society.
Incarceration ruptures everyday family life as parents are removed from their caregiving roles and opportunities for the routine interactions most of us take for granted – like chats and going shopping – are significantly reduced. This can have a profound impact on the children involved as it can create a distance between the incarcerated parent and the child and can impede the child’s development. The research shows that meaningful communication between imprisoned parents and their children can affect them and wider society too.
Continued engagement with their children can contribute to a sense of responsibility during imprisonment and contribute to more positive post-release outcomes including improved reintegration and lower rates of reoffending. In the context of Reach Out, the prison staff interviewed for the independent evaluation reported increased awareness of parenting issues amongst the prisoner participants and that this appears to support broader prison objectives around engagement, rehabilitation, family contact and reintegration.
Kathy Watts and Joanne Eady from Fusion CPL with Sen McDonnell from Archways at the Reach Out Evaluation Report launch
Archways staff at the Reach Out Evaluation Report launch
The launch of the report is covered here by The Irish Examiner