HELPING INMATES COPE WITH FAMILY SEPARATION AND ROLE STRAIN - A GROUPWORK APPROACH

This paper describes the Family and Interpersonal Relationship Group ( FIRG), an educational/support group designed to help inmates cope with being separated from family members and significant friends. The bene fits inmates derived from participating in the FIRG are presented alon g with recommendations for developing similar groups for inmates in St ate correctional institutions across the nation, and for their familie s outside of the prisons.