Incarcerated fathers who stay connected with their children are more likely to be successful upon release and their children benefit as well, but they face many challenges. When incarcerated dads are involved in the child welfare system, they can face additional complications staying connected. Join us to hear staff from the Department of Corrections, the Department of Children, Youth and Families and Weld discuss their programs, followed by a panel of justice-involved dads, including Eduardo Amaya, Joshua Johnson, James Sprayberry, Adrian Leos and Jose Gallegos. Together we will learn about the challenges of navigating the system and how these dads have successfully reunified with their children.
About Our Dads Panel:
Jose Gallegos
My Name is Jose Gallegos I'm 35 years old. I have six children - four daughters (17, 15, 12 & 6) and two sons (12 & 8). I spent 30 months in prison for Possession of Stolen Property and Violating a No Contact order. I had an ongoing case with DCYF and had all the odds stacked against me. I chose to participate in the Strength in Families program while inside. I worked the program and did everything I could to overcome these obstacles.
I was released during COVID and had to overcome the pandemic, DCYF, and a lot of other challenges. I am no longer monitored by DOC and I have been in the community for 4 years. I am a licensed Journeyman Electrician and hold an electrical license in 3 states. I have full custody of all six of my children. I am happily married and work full time. The SIF program was a life saver and it helped me develop the skills I needed to make the changes my family and I needed. I want to thank Missy and Coach for advocating for me and helping me see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am forever grateful for their hard work and support.
About Our Presenters:
Terren Beeman, MSW, LICSW, SUDP, Parent Navigator, Airway Heights Corrections Center, Washington State Department of Corrections
Since 2014, Terren has been working with families involved in the child welfare system with the Parents for Parents program as a Parent Ally. He has lived experience as an incarcerated individual and as a parent in the child welfare system. He has worked in the behavioral health field since 2017, helping individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. He has been with DOC since March 2023 as a Parent Navigator and is currently co-creating the Family Reunification program, working with DCYF-involved fathers incarcerated at Airway Heights Corrections Center in Spokane, Washington.
Jim Chambers, Recruitment and Retention Manager at Weld Seattle
"Our second prison is the one that we enter when we are released from incarceration."
Jim is a father who parented behind bars for 21 years and is now in the community, volunteering and supporting the success of fathers who are re-entering the community.