The InsideOut Dad® Guide to Family Ties
The InsideOut Dad® Guide to Family Ties is a self-paced parenting program designed to help incarcerated fathers of children ages 0–18 develop fathering skills. The InsideOut Dad Guide to Family Ties aims to support the growth of caring and compassionate fathers by helping dads improve their knowledge, behaviors, and skills. For fathers preparing for release, the program also seeks to build skills for reconnecting, parenting, and other responsibilities in the reentry process. Fathers typically complete The InsideOut Dad® Guide to Family Ties on their own; however, prison or jail staff can also work one-on-one with fathers to facilitate the reading and activities in the guide.
The guide has four parts offering advice and tips on: (1) what to expect for the relationships with children and the children’s mother while the father is incarcerated, (2) assessing relationships with children and the children’s mother, (3) getting and staying involved with children and the children’s mother, and (4) planning for reentry. Topics covered include what physical, mental, emotional, and social challenges children might experience while their father is incarcerated; how the children’s mother might react to their children’s father’s incarceration; how to avoid power struggles; how violence affects families; stress and anger; strategies for getting in touch and staying in touch with children and the children’s mother; and creating a reentry plan for connecting with their family. Each part includes reading and writing activities related to the topic.
The InsideOut Dad Guide to Family Ties does not currently meet criteria to receive a rating because no studies met eligibility criteria for review.
Date Last Reviewed (Handbook Version 2.0): Jul 2025
Date Program or Service Description Last Updated: Jul 2025
Date Originally Reviewed (Handbook Version 2.0): Jul 2025
Sources
The following sources informed the program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information: the program or service manual, the program or service developer’s website, and the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare.
This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, download the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0
Target Population
The InsideOut Dad Guide to Family Ties is designed for incarcerated fathers of children ages 0–18.
Dosage
Fathers typically complete the guide’s readings and written activities at their own pace; however, prison or jail staff can also work one-on-one with fathers to facilitate the reading and activities.
Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings
Fathers complete The InsideOut Dad Guide to Family Ties in justice settings.
Education, Certifications and Training
The InsideOut Dad Guide to Family Ties is a self-directed program, and there are no education, certification, or training requirements.
Program or Service Documentation
Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review
National Fatherhood Initiative®. (2022). The InsideOut Dad® guide to family ties.
Available languages
The InsideOut Dad Guide to Family Ties materials are available in English.
Other supporting materials
The InsideOut Dad® Guide to Family Ties User Guide for Practitioners
For More Information
Phone: (240) 912-1263
Email: fathersource@fatherhood.org
Note: The details on Dosage; Location; Education, Certifications, and Training; Other Supporting Materials; and For More Information sections above are provided to website users for informational purposes only. This information is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.
| Results of Search and Review | Number of Studies Identified and Reviewed for The InsideOut Dad® Guide to Family Ties |
|---|---|
| Identified in Search | 1 |
| Eligible for Review | 0 |
| Rated High | 0 |
| Rated Moderate | 0 |
| Rated Low | 0 |
| Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm | 0 |
Studies Not Eligible for Review
Study 15279
National Fatherhood Initiative. (2015). InsideOut Dad® Guide to Family Ties™: Pre-post test evaluation report, April 13, 2013. https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/135704/file-213229110-pdf/docs/W946_IOD_FamilyTies_EvalReport_05312013_SC_rev.pdf?hsCtaTracking=65851e27-3bf1-4b56-8c63-a59a7ad37a90%7Ce9a261c6-c894-4287-8f9f-3000cb6b6363
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Handbook Version 2.0, Section 4.1.5)