'All Is Bright' Event Reunites Children With Their Fathers

WARTBURG – This past weekend the children of 15 offenders were afforded the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with their fathers at the Morgan County Correctional Complex (MCCX).  The ‘All Is Bright Event,’ sponsored and organized by long-time TDOC partner, God Behind Bars, aims to provide children of incarcerated adults the opportunity to spend time and celebrate the holidays with their parents while working to mend, rebuild and strengthen the relationships between father and child.  The children in attendance enjoyed dinner with their fathers, played Christmas-themed games and even got the chance to open gifts their fathers ‘purchased’ and wrapped for them.  Those gifts were donated from Faith Promise church, another long-time volunteer and partner of TDOC and MCCX.

“This is a great annual event that we’re proud to host,” said MCCX Warden Mike Parris.  “It’s not only a great incentive for the offenders involved in the program to stay out of trouble and stick with the program, but it teaches them the importance of working on the relationships with their children to ensure the risk of a generational cycle is reduced if not completely diminished.”

“We want to help repair broken families,” said Raeanne Hance, Global Director of Outreach for God Behind Bars.  “These men are realizing what they’ve taken from their families and are working to give back and work on being better fathers.  And by beginning that important reconciliation while here [incarcerated], they’re that much more prepared to be better family men when they return home.”

The Family Reunification program at MCCX is a year-long program that requires offenders to be disciplinary free and have perfect attendance for the entire year.  TDOC proudly offers programs like the Family Reunification program at MCCX, recognizing the importance of positive familial ties in regards to family reunification post incarcerations as well as curbing generational criminal behavior.