--- title: [Free Resources] The Role of Mentoring in Reentry description: Learn about two free resources that will help you support fathers in re-entry beyond a fatherhood curriculum itself; one of the most important being mentoring. image: https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/Images/Blog/two-men-shaking-hands.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/free-resources-the-role-of-mentoring-in-reentry#main) - [![NFI mark](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI%20mark.svg)FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://www.fatherhood.org/) - [STORE.FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://store.fatherhood.org/) [![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=149&height=82&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=65&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=66&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=89&height=49&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ](https://www.fatherhood.org) - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Show submenu for Get Informed Get Informed - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - [Father Stats & Infographics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) - Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Find Your Stage of Father Inclusion](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-inclusion) - [How Father Friendly Is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Fatherhood Data & Statistics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - [How Father Friendly is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Other Free Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/nfi-free-resources) - [Talk With us to Get Started](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) National Fatherhood Initiative Blog / [Latest Articles](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood) [General Fatherhood Program Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/general-fatherhood-program-resources) # [Free Resources] The Role of Mentoring in Reentry 3 min read ![Christopher A. Brown](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/chris_circle_icon.png?width=100&height=100&name=chris_circle_icon.png) [** Christopher A. Brown ** ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/author/christopher-a-brown) Chris serves as the President of National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI), where he is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of NFI's strategic plan and business model, as well as its operations and fundraising efforts. ![two-men-shaking-hands.jpg](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Blog/two-men-shaking-hands.jpg?width=427&name=two-men-shaking-hands.jpg "two-men-shaking-hands.jpg") A fatherhood program should **never** stand alone. Think about that statement for a moment. What does it mean? It means you should implement a fatherhood program within a broader array of programs and services that meet fathers’ needs beyond their role as a dad and that, at the same time, help them fulfill that role. When we train facilitators on [National Fatherhood Initiative’s](https://www.fatherhood.org) (NFI) programs, we emphasize that best practice. Take the [InsideOut Dad®](https://store.fatherhood.org/insideout-dad-programs/) program, for example. As the PowerPoint® slide below from our training on this program for incarcerated fathers indicates, we encourage facilitators to integrate the program within a larger intervention of cognitive-behavioral programs and other complimentary components. ![IoD-slide.png](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Blog/IoD-slide.png?width=523&name=IoD-slide.png)That’s because helping inmates to become better dads is only one aspect of success in reentry. [![Successful_Reentry_3d_pdf_icon.png](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Blog/Successful_Reentry_3d_pdf_icon.png?width=287&name=Successful_Reentry_3d_pdf_icon.png)](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/Engaging_Fathers_Reentry_070816.pdf) Indeed, NFI produced a **free** [downloadable guide](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/Engaging_Fathers_Reentry_070816.pdf?t=1467990453429&__hssc=162717731.3.1502799612921&__hstc=162717731.3b60aeede179d719aa8801ae854d18d6.1393014295288.1502717131860.1502799612921.999&__hsfp=3547399909&hsCtaTracking=7e64ed6c-e2bd-4874-b78a-2c544775aaee%7C92767fd0-59b4-461c-9af7-fe06483b48b1) on eight other components programs for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated fathers must address titled [Engaging Fathers for Successful Reentry](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/Engaging_Fathers_Reentry_070816.pdf). One of these components is “Mentoring and Community Support.” Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated dads need to create positive connections to family, friends, and others in their community. Those connections create an environment of support that guards against recidivism. The experience of Taos Men (Taos, New Mexico) illustrates the power of mentoring in reentry: > The mission of Taos MEN (Men Engaged in Nonviolence, Inc.) is to inspire, train, and empower men and boys to lead lives of nonviolence. They have found that a key ingredient in working with dads in recovery is helping them practice fathering by getting involved as a mentor. Some of the best mentors are dads who have struggled or encountered roadblocks (legal or otherwise) in connecting with their children. Taos MEN encourages these dads to serve as mentors to dads with similar struggles. Acting as a mentor had the added benefit of helping these mentors continue to regain the confidence and relational skills they need to be there for their children. [![NRRC-ebook.png](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NRRC-ebook.png?width=234&name=NRRC-ebook.png)](https://csgjusticecenter.org/nrrc/publications/mentoring-as-a-component-of-reentry-practical-considerations-from-the-field/)The importance of mentoring in reentry is why I was so pleased to learn recently about a new **free** guide from the [National Reentry Resource Center](https://csgjusticecenter.org/nrrc/) (NRRC) called [*Mentoring as a Component of Reentry: Practical Considerations from the Field*](https://csgjusticecenter.org/nrrc/publications/mentoring-as-a-component-of-reentry-practical-considerations-from-the-field/). (The Council on State Government’s Justice Center runs the NRRC. The Justice Center and NFI have partnered through the years to help organizations create successful reentry programs.) The guide focuses on these five considerations: 1. Integrating Mentoring into an Adult Reentry Program 2. Collaborating with Corrections, Probation, and Parole 3. Identifying and Addressing Reentry Needs 4. Equipping Mentors to Support Reentry Goals 5. Evaluating Mentoring Services It includes examples of some fatherhood programs that have integrated mentoring into their range of reentry services. If you have a reentry effort, or plan to start one, I recommend you [download this free guide](https://csgjusticecenter.org/nrrc/publications/mentoring-as-a-component-of-reentry-practical-considerations-from-the-field/) to enhance that effort. Does your organization have or want to help incarcerated and formerly incarcerated dads successfully reenter the lives of their family and community? If so, have you considered implementing a mentoring component?   Date Published: 08/29/2017 Last Updated: 11/10/2021 ## Learn How to Build a Fatherhood Program That Works Download this free guide for a proven 7-step roadmap—from making the case and securing funding for your program, to launching and measuring real results! [Get The Guide Now!](https://www.fatherhood.org/starting-a-fatherhood-program) ![7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png?width=700&height=700&name=7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png) [ Previous ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/using-facebook-ads-to-recruit-dads) [ Next ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/fantastic-data-sources-on-child-well-being) ## Related Articles ### [Limited Blog Series: Supporting My Co-Parent Image created with GPT Image 2. 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