The incarceration period presents a crisis to the inmates, children, and families. Paternal incarceration leaves children to cope with many of life's threats: poverty, lack of a caretaker's emotional and physical availability, parental substance abuse, other forms of neglect or abuse, and the loss of a parent to incarceration. The inmate father faces continued disempowerment and the potential for disconnecting from significant attachments. Whether in visits or by phone or mail, inmate fathers often report great difficulty in communicating with their children. This difficulty continually results in decisions to cut off contact. Typical prerelease planning that focuses on individual problemsolving and decisionmaking rarely meets the needs of incarcerated fathers. The preparation for release must begin upon entry with programs and supports for the fathers on the inside and for the children and families on the outside. Some family support programs have successfully combined program components such as parent education, support groups, counseling, community outreach, and advocacy; many now include weekend and overnight family visiting as a form of release preparation. Opportunities to visit with each other, worship together, or go on family outings, combined with supports for family problemsolving lay the groundwork for family reunification and parole success. 26 references