ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Antwane White had just finished a 10-year sentence, losing that time out from his family and he knew he had to change his mindset when he met his family again.
"I had the feeling of I didn't want to come home to my family with the mindset of incarceration," said White on Total Information A.M. "I wanted to come home and be able to do the things a father, a brother, or son should: to provide and protect (his family) while having fun."
During the path to help become a better person, he discovered the Re-Entry program at the Fathers and Families Support Center that helps transition formerly incarcerated men into becoming better fathers.
"I signed up for it and I was accepted into (the six week program)," said White. "Upon entering, I was excited to see what they had to offer and I opened up a way at that time that I couldn't imagine, opening anyone up to that way so much."
Cheri Tillis CEO of Father and Families Support Center says the Re-Entry Program use five curriculum to help them learn to become responsible fathers, keeping a healthy marriage and/or relationship, financial education, economic stability and more.
"We know as fathers they're known to be providers, said Tillis. "We teach them about realizing what their role is in their family as well as helping them understand what their own personal needs are."
A part of the program includes a therapeutic circle that takes place each day that lets participants discuss their concerns, their previous day experience, what they are facing that day. Tillis says the circle is important so it can help participants make positive decisions using the services and tools they were taught throughout the curriculum.
Charles Barnes, the Director of the Re-Entry program says some have seen similar program like it, it's not the fact many incarcerated don't have the resources available to them, it's that many refuse to ask for help.
"The situation is, a lot of times transitioning from boys to men, we decide to go our own way," said Barnes. "It's not the fact they don't have the tools sometime, it just the fact they don't utilize it. All we are doing is introducing some of the things they already have and enhancing those qualities. For those who haven't that do not have it, it's a starting point for a new beginning."
Statistics show that fathers who participate in the six-week program have a recidivism rate of just 3 percent, while the overall average for Missouri is 44 percent.
White says the program was helpful to him, it made him ready to meet his family again after a decade incarcerated.
'When I was reintroduced to my family, I was ready for them," said White.