Rabun County Detention Center offers more than incarceration, inmate praises STEP program

TIGER — For some inmates, incarceration doesn’t necessarily mean rock bottom. For Ruby Parrish, it allowed her an opportunity to reconnect with her daughter, despite the confinement that separated them.

Thanks to a collective effort between Rabun County Sheriff Chad Nichols and Kelsey Taylor Director of Family Violence Services, a mutual understanding that inmates too can benefit from family-oriented curriculum, was recognized and implemented within the Rabun County Detention Center.

Out of twelve female inmates who participated, Parrish, 39-years-of-age, was the only one to successfully complete the Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP) Program — a several week multicomponent parenting education curriculum course.

According to Taylor, the STEP curriculum offers a chance for inmates like Parrish to become more attuned their children’s feelings and behavior, learn strategies for developing their child’s self-esteem and confidence, and learn a positive parenting approach to understanding and raising children, all while completing their sentence.

Although this is the first course of it’s kind to be offered at the Rabun County Detention Center, Taylor said the initial response among interested inmates who wanted to participate was positive.

However, Parrish had her doubts at first.

“At first I was skeptical of STEP because you never want to hear you’re a bad parent which is what I thought they were going to tell me because of where I’m at, but I kept an open mind because I have a 20-year-old daughter and eventually want grandkids,” she said.

The nearly two-month-long course allowed Parrish to meet once a week and focus on specific topics that deal with parenting. Chapters were distributed on a weekly basis for inmates to review at their own leisure before reconnecting the following week and reviewing the material.

“It was really a great program that allowed me insight on how to more effectively be a mother. It’s hard because you’re away from your child from a length of time while you’re in here and when you get out you don’t know how to be a parent again,” Parrish said. “There’s no perfect way to parenting and you still make mistakes, but the course has allowed me to be a mom again and make better choices that benefit my daughter.”

According to Taylor, the STEP program not only allows inmates the opportunity to reconnect with their children but also grants them a favorable outcome if dealing with child custody issues in court.

Nichols and Taylor plan to extend the STEP program to male inmates in the near future and already have a handful who have expressed interest.

Assistant Jail Administrator Chris Bartolomey said compared to the 12 female inmates who initially participated, nine male inmates are willing to engage in the curriculum when the next course begins.

Taylor explained that initial numbers are hard to maintain since many are released on either bond or have completed their sentence. Though, she encourages all inmates to finish the course whether incarcerated or not.

“I am so thankful for being able to participate in STEP,” Parrish said with a smile. “It is a precious gift that Sheriff Nichols and Kelsey have given me and I can’t thank them enough.”