❓ Question regarding the provision of parenting programs in WA prisons, revealing details about providers, program reach, and evaluation processes. The answer highlights changes in service provision and data collection challenges during a transition period.
AnsweredQoN 2045Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I
refer to the provision of programs for prisoners, and I ask: (a) which
Western Australian prisons currently offer parenting programs to prisoners; and (b) for
each prison in (a), please advise: (i) the parenting program provider; (ii) the duration of the program; (iii) how
many prisoners can undertake the program at any one time; (iv) how
many prisoners completed the program in: (A) 2017; (B) 2018; (C) 2019 to date; (v) how
many prisoners are currently undertaking the program; (vi) whether
the program has been evaluated; and (vii) if yes to (vi): (A) who undertook the evaluation? (B) when
that evaluation occurred?
refer to the provision of programs for prisoners, and I ask: (a) which
Western Australian prisons currently offer parenting programs to prisoners; and (b) for
each prison in (a), please advise: (i) the parenting program provider; (ii) the duration of the program; (iii) how
many prisoners can undertake the program at any one time; (iv) how
many prisoners completed the program in: (A) 2017; (B) 2018; (C) 2019 to date; (v) how
many prisoners are currently undertaking the program; (vi) whether
the program has been evaluated; and (vii) if yes to (vi): (A) who undertook the evaluation? (B) when
that evaluation occurred?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 May 2019
Responded by
Minister for Environment representing the Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
9 days
(a) All Western Australian prisons, except Greenough Regional Prison and Roebourne Regional Prison, offer voluntary parenting programs to prisoners through non-government organisations (NGOs) under the Department of Justice’s (the Department’s) rehabilitation and reintegration service agreements.
(b) The Department undertook a tender process in 2017 for reintegration and rehabilitation services, including parenting and family support services. One of the aims of this process was to develop more integrated and targeted services across all service areas. The awarded contracts from this process commenced on 1 April 2018 with a number of previous service providers ceasing their services.
(i) The parenting program providers are listed below:
Region
Service Provider
Metropolitan Men
Reset Reintegration Services
Metropolitan Women
Reset Reintegration Services
Great Southern Region
Pivot Support Services
Kimberley Region
Centacare Kimberley Association
Goldfields-Esperance Region
Centrecare
South West Region
AccordWest
(ii) & (iii). Each service provider delivers a unique service model under the Parenting Advice and Family Support Services service agreements. Each provider undertakes a number of different programs that are responsive to the needs of the regional cohort. Services are voluntary on behalf of the prisoner, however is mandated for mothers with children residing with them in prison, and can commence at any time during a prisoner’s sentence. The duration varies between programs. Current group programs provided by the various providers include:
In addition, the same service providers also manage the Family Visitor Centre at the prisons within their regions, except Boronia Pre-Release Centre for Women, Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison, Karnet Prison Farm and West Kimberley Regional Prison. Through the visitor centres, the service providers support the families for positive visits with the prisoner and provide referrals to community services including financial assistance and counselling.
(iv). As outlined above, the parenting service providers and programs changed on 1 April 2018. The number of prisoners reported to have undertaken parenting programs is as below:
Year
Number of Prisoners
2017
456*
2018
212**
2019
N/A***
* Note: there were no parenting services delivered in regional areas prior to 1 April 2018.
** Due to the transition period between exiting service providers and incoming service providers, there was a reduction in programs available during this period.
*** No data has been collected for 2019 as service providers report on a six-monthly cycle.
(v). There are currently 96 prisoners engaged in a parenting program across all services.
(vi). The Department does not use a clinical evaluation process for reintegration services. These are monitored via operations and contract management.
(vii). Some programs as below have been adopted via the tendering process with stated evidence of prior evaluation:
Active Parenting Now is based on a book widely available in bookstores, currently in its 4 th edition.
(b) The Department undertook a tender process in 2017 for reintegration and rehabilitation services, including parenting and family support services. One of the aims of this process was to develop more integrated and targeted services across all service areas. The awarded contracts from this process commenced on 1 April 2018 with a number of previous service providers ceasing their services.
(i) The parenting program providers are listed below:
Region
Service Provider
Metropolitan Men
Reset Reintegration Services
Metropolitan Women
Reset Reintegration Services
Great Southern Region
Pivot Support Services
Kimberley Region
Centacare Kimberley Association
Goldfields-Esperance Region
Centrecare
South West Region
AccordWest
(ii) & (iii). Each service provider delivers a unique service model under the Parenting Advice and Family Support Services service agreements. Each provider undertakes a number of different programs that are responsive to the needs of the regional cohort. Services are voluntary on behalf of the prisoner, however is mandated for mothers with children residing with them in prison, and can commence at any time during a prisoner’s sentence. The duration varies between programs. Current group programs provided by the various providers include:
In addition, the same service providers also manage the Family Visitor Centre at the prisons within their regions, except Boronia Pre-Release Centre for Women, Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison, Karnet Prison Farm and West Kimberley Regional Prison. Through the visitor centres, the service providers support the families for positive visits with the prisoner and provide referrals to community services including financial assistance and counselling.
(iv). As outlined above, the parenting service providers and programs changed on 1 April 2018. The number of prisoners reported to have undertaken parenting programs is as below:
Year
Number of Prisoners
2017
456*
2018
212**
2019
N/A***
* Note: there were no parenting services delivered in regional areas prior to 1 April 2018.
** Due to the transition period between exiting service providers and incoming service providers, there was a reduction in programs available during this period.
*** No data has been collected for 2019 as service providers report on a six-monthly cycle.
(v). There are currently 96 prisoners engaged in a parenting program across all services.
(vi). The Department does not use a clinical evaluation process for reintegration services. These are monitored via operations and contract management.
(vii). Some programs as below have been adopted via the tendering process with stated evidence of prior evaluation:
Active Parenting Now is based on a book widely available in bookstores, currently in its 4 th edition.
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