This is a Virtual Event
Description
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. We heard from 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, Adrian Leos and Jose Gallegos. Together we learned about the challenges of navigating the system and how these dads have successfully reunified with their children.
About Our Dads Panel:
Jose Gallegos, Dedicated Father
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.
Edgardo Mevina Amaya, Proud Father, Son and Brother
“The most important time is with family.”
Edgardo is a single father to a young daughter. Edgardo grew up struggling with substance use and being involved with gang activity that resulted in his incarceration. During his incarceration at Airway Heights Corrections Center, Edgardo completed the Thinking for a Change program, earned his high school diploma and participated in the Family Reunification Program to successfully navigate the child welfare system and comply with all DCYF court-ordered services and conditions to work toward reunifying with his daughter. Since completing his sentence in May 2024, Edgardo has taken every opportunity to successfully reenter the community and be an active parent in his daughter’s life. He is currently living in a clean and sober house near his mother and daughter. He is in full compliance with DOC and DCYF. He is enrolled in intensive outpatient treatment and parenting classes. He sees his daughter nearly every day and is working to obtain independent housing for him and his daughter.
Adrian Leos, Proud Father Growing Closer to His Daughter Every Day
“This past month has been a blessing. More and more my daughter surprises me with heartwarming comments and gestures.”
Adrian was recently incarcerated at Airway Heights Corrections Center, where he completed Parenting Inside Out and substance use treatment. Since returning to the community in October 2023, Adrian has successfully completed DOC’s Community Parenting Alternative program, outpatient substance use treatment and additional parenting classes. He is currently in full compliance with DCYF and DOC. His daughter is currently placed with him full time and his DCYF case is anticipated to be closed at his next court date due to their reunification.
Joshua Johnson, 38-year-old father of a beautiful daughter who will be two in December 
I have been incarcerated five times and have struggled with addiction the majority of my life. I was released April 25, 2024, and am currently living in a temporary shelter called The Community House on Broadway in Longview, Washington. I knew that this trip through prison was much different than all the other times from the very beginning. I knew that I needed the sit down to get away and reflect on what is truly important and all I could think about was my daughter and how I neglected the first year of her life due to the ugly disease of addiction. I was ashamed and full of guilt for the way I was not handling the DCYF case for my daughter. I knew after detox that I was on a mission to reunite my family and would stop at nothing less.
Since being released, I have obtained my privileges to drive as well as car insurance, completed mental health counseling and substance use disorder treatment and am currently participating in a parenting class called Dynamic Dads. Once the parenting class is completed, I will have satisfied all requirements for DCYF. I am doing weekly six-hour unsupervised visits and looking to move to trial to return home soon.
I am on the hunt for housing to try and get into something more permanent. However, this has always been a daunting task for me and has proven to be just as difficult this time as it has in the past. I work a lot which really takes up a ton of my time especially considering I have an hour and a half commute each way. I have been working with a company called Reliable Enterprises to help me navigate this process so hopefully things will be squared away soon.
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.
Link to YouTube Recording - Will post soon!