Most dads feel overwhelmed by the demands of fatherhood, at least some of the time. But for parents who have been in prison, learning to be a good dad can be especially hard.

“The stigma of being incarcerated is a heavy stigma to work with,” says Judge Milton Lee.

Lee presides over Fathering Court, a DC Superior Court program that helps formerly incarcerated parents catch up on child support and reconnect with their children.

“..[It’s] consistency. It’s gotta be that I’m there today and I’m going to be there tomorrow,” Lee says.