Fatherhood program for inmates loses funding

A fatherhood program for outgoing inmates has lost federal grant funding.

Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota learned this week that it lost its bid for continued funding of the Fatherhood and Families program, which it ran in a partnership with the Department of Corrections.

The Sioux Falls-based non-profit had applied for a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to continue the program earlier this year, but it was not among the five fatherhood programs nationwide selected, according to Rebecca Kiesow-Knudson of LSS.

The new grant would have offered $1.3 million to $1.5 million per year for five years. LSS was informed that its application “scored very high,” Kiesow-Knudson said, but that there wasn’t enough to pay for all the programs that needed funding.

Fatherhood and Families offered training on family re-integration for inmates within six months of release from prison, and was available at five adult DOC facilities. The voluntary program was open to anyone without a domestic violence or stalking record who would return to a family role upon release.

Around 600 people a year used the program, Kiesow-Knudson said.

Its three goals were improving spousal relationships, teaching parenting skills and “improving economic stability” through job search, interview and resume training.

The jobs portion of the program will remain in place, albeit on a limited basis, thanks to funding from the United Way’s Community Impact Grant.

“We are obviously very disappointed not to have been successful at obtaining a grant, but continue to believe that equipping people for success at the point of re-entry helps to strengthen our families and communities in the state,” Kiesow-Knudson wrote in an email.

Some LSS employees will be out of a job, but some will stay on for offender job training. Staffers were informed several months before the announcement that continued funding was not guaranteed.

DOC Secretary Denny Kaemingk said in a statement that the loss of program funding was "unfortunate," but that "we will continue to partner with them for limited services for offenders."

"We appreciate the work they have done, and value their partnership," he wrote.