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"developing life skills through faith"
FAQ
WHAT IS FIT?
FIT is an abbreviation for the name of our 501.c.3 non-profit corporation, Family Integrity Training Inc.
ARE CONTRIBUTIONS TAX DEDUCTIBLE?
The IRS has determined that we are tax exempt, tax deductible, and classified as a public charity.
WHO IS MOST INTERESTED IN OUR PROGRAM?
Most of our calls come from new ministries starting up or from existing ministries wanting to strengthen their program. Both are looking for the strongest educational program possible which deals with the issues facing the homeless and incarcerated. They are attracted to the practical, easy-to-use materials that combine life-skills education and faith. They like the friendly, small-group, non-preachy style that emphasizes listening and facilitating. Several have told us that we have done the homework for them concerning effectiveness of materials and strategies.
HOW DOES OUR MINISTRY DEAL WITH ADDICTIONS?
Nearly all sentencing is for drug-related activity (alcohol included). Our emphasis is on unmet needs causing the addictions, not on the addictions themselves. A strong faith and purpose is what is needed. Our teaching in basic life skills is new to them many of them. We emphasize independent thinking and problem solving in all of our materials,
WHY IS OUR PROGRAM EMPHASIZE 100 HOURS OF CLASS TIME?
This originally was done to satisfy the mandatory 100-hour requirement for early release from state prison. Now it is used more to provide a more indepth treatment of recovery in many different settings.
WHAT IS OUR SUCCESS RATE?
Our success rate is comparable to similar programs. Our focus is on the individual and how far we can bring them. See our videos on the home page for examples.
WITH SO MANY PROGRAMS AVAILABLE, WHY IS A NEW ONE NEEDED?
  1. So many others are lecture-based, reading-based, or factual-based. Our program is more verbally-based in order to get into individuals hearts and minds fast by establishing trust, listening to them, and getting them to talk. "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink".
  2. We cover topics in depth with many practical applications and greater engagement.
  3. We provide leaders and group members with special professionally-designed course books. These are provided free of charge to those who cannot afford to pay for them and includes nearly all of our clients because of the settings and situations of life they find themselves in.
  4. Our program provides leaders with training and special course books with notes on how to be most effective. The course books guide discussion and keep everybody on track.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A JAIL AND A PRISON?
JAILS are run by counties to house offenders who have committed misdemeanors or to hold individuals until trial and/or sentencing. First degree misdemeanors are sentenced up to a year and second degree up to a few months. More serious crimes, or felonies, are for more than a year and are dealt with in state and federal prisons. There are roughly 90,000 inmates each in Florida jails and prisons. Slightly more Florida inmates reside in jail as opposed to prison. FIT addresses the needs of both - for the offender soon-to-be released all the way to the offender who will never be released.
IS THERE A CONNECTION BETWEEN HOMELESSNESS, DRUG AND ALCOHOL REHAB CENTERS, AND INCARCERATION?
Professionals in this area are painfully aware of the connections. Many incarcerated are there specifically for drug offenses. Others are there for non-drug crimes related to their drug/alcohol problem. Incarceration and drug use both contribute to homelessness that draws in family members as well. It's a vicious cycle. Effective ministry must address all these aspects as well as the social, educational, and spiritual needs of the family.
WHY DO DETENTION CENTERS TRY TO LIMIT CONTACT WITH PRISONERS?
 They are afraid of collusion, or con artists taking advantage of religion or friendliness over time to get favors they could not get otherwise. Inmates band together and may try to get an innocent person to commit a crime. It is a very serious problem but the need to rehabilitate the prisoner must be balanced against the need to protect by forcing total isolation from the outside world.
WHAT IS RECIDIVISM AND WHY IS THERE SUCH A HUGE FOCUS ON IT?
Recidivism is the rate at which convicts return to detention centers. In short, prisoners are released and re-offend. It is very costly to both society and detention centers. The obvious cure is to rehabilitate prisoners so they won't come back. That takes effort and dedication and has been successful in numerous cases in programs like FIT. Institutions must balance their need to protect from collusion and to rehabilitate. FIT workers must gain the respect of the institutions and follow required procedures.
DOES FIT FAVOR ONE DENOMINATION OVER ANOTHER?
NO! Our by-laws require the board to be represented by more than one Christian denomination. We have more than that. This is consistent with the needs of chaplains, jails, prisons, and halfway houses who must deal with people from all kinds of religious backgrounds, including none at all. We keep with the basics of Chrisianity and the teachings of Jesus and the Bible.
DOES FIT EXCLUDE OR COMPETE WITH EXISTING PRISON MINISTRY?
We exist to make a difference where we minister. Our facilitators often have other ministries they support as well as ours. Some ministries mix and match materials, using some of ours and some from other sources.
DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE A PRISON RECORD TO BE EFFECTIVE?
No. Most of our workers do not have a prison record. Most prisoners are lonely people who are desperate for attention. Some have no visitors. A prison record may or may not exclude you from prison ministry. We have both in our ministry.
WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE INGREDIENT IN YOUR PROGRAM?
Confidentiality and safety. With church people or prisoners, the confidentiality of the small group has been the number one reason given for personal growth and benefit.
HOW I DO I GET STARTED? See our Order Page.