Supporting vulnerable individuals and families

Focus Area 2

The rehabilitation and reintegration journey for inmates and ex-offenders can be filled with many challenges. Support from the community through various in-care and aftercare programmes can help our inmates and ex-offenders stay on course for long term desistance. 

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) works with other public agencies, and community partners, to support inmates, ex-offenders, and their families on the rehabilitation and reintegration journey. In addition to broad-based programmes that are available to all inmates and ex-offenders, MHA also works with Malay/Muslim (MM) organisations and the M³ agencies, to develop culturally-nuanced programmes to address the specific needs of MM inmates, ex-offenders, and their families.  

This focus area is led by Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs. 

FITRAH

The FITRAH (Family and Inmates Throughcare Assistance Haven) office was set up in November 2018 to provide a more coordinated and holistic support to MM inmates throughout their incarceration period, as well as their families.  

In-care Programmes 

FITRAH provides a structured and values-centric religious programme for MM inmates and also prepares Friday prayer sermons that are contextualised to the rehabilitation needs of the MM inmates.  

On average, FITRAH conducts 30 Friday prayer sessions and 50 counselling sessions weekly. 

FITRAH’s religious counsellors continue to extend their pro-social support to inmates upon their release on a voluntary basis. This is in the form of befriending or outreach to the individuals to participate in FITRAH’s activities in the community. 

Aftercare Programmes and Support 

Befriending Support 

Under FITRAH, volunteer befrienders that provide befriending support to both ex-offenders and their families. The befrienders provide the ex-offenders and their families with social and emotional support, and connect them with the community to expand their pro-social network. The befrienders also refer them to support systems in the community. 

Case Management Support   

FITRAH provide case management services to inmates emplaced on the community-based programme.  

The 18-month case management programme adopt a family-centric approach that supports the offenders and their immediate family members as well.

Referral Support through Home Visits

FITRAH collaborates with Yellow Ribbon Community Project (YRCP) volunteers to visit offenders' families at home. These joint visits allow for a comprehensive assessment of family needs. Based on this evaluation, families are linked to suitable support services offered by various partnering organizations. These partners include M³, the Malay/Muslim Organisations (MMO) Rehabilitation Network, and other community support organisations. Through these connections, families can access relevant social assistance and programmes, such as the MENDAKI Tuition Programme and the Harun Ghani Education Fund.

Back-to-FITRAH Package 

FITRAH officers and volunteers welcome ex-offenders who participate in FITRAH aftercare programmes and services with the Back-To-FITRAH package which includes fidyah vouchers, and an EZ-link card, helping to ease their initial transition back into the community.

Support Group mentoring 

Support group sessions and community activities are organised to facilitate the integration of ex-offenders into the community and expand their pro-social networks. FITRAH works with various MM support groups to organise community activities to help expand their pro-social network and pro-social activities. FITRAH also provides mentorship to the MM support groups by providing them with guidance on their directions and focus. 

Throughcare Programme 

Insan Mukmin 

FITRAH collaborates with PERGAS to develop and deliver the Insan Mukmin programme. The programme provides participants with Islamic values and mindset to aid them in their rehabilitation and reintegration journey.  

After completing the in-prison component of the Insan Mukmin programme and emplacement to the community-based programme, the participants are assigned a befriender to guide them towards pro-social and positive support networks and facilitate their participation in the social activities organised by various mosques. 

The FITRAH office is located at En-Naeem Mosque. Click here to contact FITRAH. 

Partnership with Mosques

FITRAH partners with our mosques for a referral process for families of inmates to the network of 35 mosques disbursing zakat financial assistance. At the mosques, families of inmates will be connected to support programmes, as well as Islamic Education programmes under aLIVE, ADIL, and Home-based Islamic Learning. In addition, FITRAH partners with mosques' asatizah to provide religious programmes for inmates and befriending support for ex-offenders. This approach ensures continuous spiritual and social care throughout the rehabilitation process, from incarceration to reintegration in the community.

The FITRAH office is located at En-Naeem Mosque. You can also click  here to get in touch with FITRAH today.

Family Excellence Circle by MENDAKI 

MENDAKI supports Focus Area 2 efforts through a specially curated Family Excellence Circle (FEC) Programme for families impacted by incarceration.

FEC consists of group work and casework support for families.  The facilitated group work sessions are meant to build the families’ resilience and help them develop problem solving skills. 

FEC provides a platform for the families to share their challenges and build on their strengths. This also creates a network of support amongst the families.   

Based on their assessed areas of needs, FEC participants and children will be supported through MENDAKI’s various programmes and services. Participants and children will also be referred to other services and assistance provided by Social Service Offices or Family Service Centres.

Support from M³ Engagement Coordination Office (M³ ECO) 

M³ ECO is an integrated office comprising officers from People’s Association, MUIS and Yayasan MENDAKI.​ 

To assist offenders in their reintegration journey, M³ Engagement Coordination Office (M³ ECO) organises courses, workshops and learning journeys for offenders residing in Pertapis Halfway House, Jamiyah Halfway House, PPIS Rise Above Halfway House and Selarang Halfway House, as well as their families, through support provided by PA MESRA.  

The courses and workshops include those that impart lifeskills and improve employment opportunities.   

M³ ECO provides support to M³@Towns to engage families of incarcerated persons. 

Malay/Muslim Organisations (MMOs) Rehabilitation Network

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Singapore Prisons Service (SPS) and Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) have been working with various MMOs to disseminate anti-drug messages, conduct rehabilitation programmes for offenders, and provide support to ex-offenders and their families.

The MMO Rehabilitation Network was formed as a result of the MMOs’ interest to form a rehabilitation network to strengthen their existing efforts and provide coordinated and holistic support to Malay offenders, ex-offenders, and their families. The network was formalised by Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim on 30 November 2021.

Developments and Events

1. Annual MMO Rehabilitation Network Korban Distribution Event
   
   An annual event supported by MUIS, where members from the MMO Rehabilitation Network reach out to families impacted by incarceration and provide them with korban meat.
   
   In 2023, nine MMOs came together to reach out to more than 120 families. The event was held at An-Nur Mosque and each family were given 3kg worth of Korban meat.
   

1. Launch of MMO Rehabilitation Network Workplan
   
   On 23 May 2023, MHA organized the MMO Rehabilitation Network forum with Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Health, and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, as the Guest-of-Honour.
   
   The forum was held to launch the inaugural workplan for the network that was co-created by MHA, SPS, CNB, and members from the network. The workplan shared the strategies that would be adopted by the network to further its efforts in preventing offending and reoffending within the MM community.
   
   At the forum, participants also learnt about the developments under the Dadah Itu Haram (DIH) campaign, as well as SPS’s efforts in working with the MMOs in providing rehabilitation support to offenders.
   
   Participants were also engaged in a focus group discussion on the Dadah Itu Haram (DIH) campaign to explore ways to build upon and sustain the success of the DIH awareness campaign.
   

1. MMO Rehabilitation Network Conference 2024
   
   
   The MMO Rehabilitation Network organised its inaugural conference on 25 January 2024 at Singapore Expo MAX Atria. Themed S.H.U.R.A 2024: Synergising Strengths for Collective Wisdom, it reflects the spirit of the MMOs coming together to work towards the betterment of the inmates, ex-offenders, and their families. The MMO Rehabilitation Network Conference 2024 sought to galvanise closer collaboration amongst stakeholders, provide a better understanding on the programmes and services offered by the MMOs, and enable participants to better understand the needs of the MM inmates, ex-offenders, and their families.
   
   The conference saw presentations by member organisations as well as by agencies outside of the MMO Rehabilitation Network. These include KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore Children Society, Lions Befrienders, as well as Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association from the CARE (Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders) Network.
   
    
   
   More than 200 participants from over 30 organisations attended the conference.
   
    
   
   Click here to view the MMO Rehabilitation Network Conference Opening Speech by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law.
   
   At the conference, MHA released a paper titled “Working with the Malay/Muslim Community to Prevent Offending and Reoffending”, which documented the Government’s efforts in working with the MM community to prevent offending and re-offending. Besides showcasing the community’s effort in tackling drug abuse and reoffending issues, the paper aims to inspire more individuals and organisations to join this effort. Click here to download the paper.
   

1. Learning Journeys and Sharing Sessions
   
   
   The MMO Rehabilitation Network organises regular learning journeys and sharing sessions to provide members with the opportunity to better understand the various programmes and services provided by the different MMOs. Such sessions also provide members with the opportunity to explore ways to better support their beneficiaries.

2. The Next Lap projects

On 25 Sep 2024, at the 2024 Forum held at MHA Headquarters, Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim announced the formation of three project groups that will look into three key areas of growth, namely:

1. Strengthening support for families

2. Strengthening support for individuals with poor or no family support; and

3. Strengthening upstream efforts to prevent offending among youths.

Click here to view the full speech by Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim.

The project groups are led by Home Team officers and leaders from the MMO partners of the Network, with many other MMOs taking up membership within the respective groups.

Over the next two years, the groups will deep dive into their respective areas, leveraging on the collective experience and knowledge to identify needs and service gaps, and come up with feasible recommendations to further strengthen support to offenders, ex-offenders and their families.