Directory of Programs Serving Children & Families of the Incarcerated
The Directory of Programs Serving Children and Families of the Incarcerated is an update of the Directory of Programs Serving Families of Adult Offenders, dated October 2001. This revised directory lists programs in the United States and around the world that offer services specifically for children and families of the incarcerated.
Submit a USA program to the Directory
Submit a program to the Directory that is outside of the USA
To update your entry, please contact us at fcn@fcnetwork.org for a special link
Disclaimer:
Listing on this webpage does not constitute an endorsement of or recommendation for said entity or its mission and philosophies by NRCCFI at FCN, its staff, consultants, advisers, directors or funders. Reasonable efforts have been made to confirm the validity and viability of programs, organizations or resources listed on this website.
Alabama
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Shoals
Area Served: Colbert, Lauderdale & Franklin Counties, Alabama
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 256-764-0772
Address: 300 Industry Street
Florence, AL 35630
E-mail: monica@bbbsshoals.org
Web site: www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org
Secondary Office: P.O. Box 652, Florence, AL 35630
Established: 1987
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest & largest national mentoring program.We match children between the ages of 5 and 15 with adult volunteers.Our vision is successful mentoring relationships for all children who need and want them contributing to better schools, brighter futures, and stronger communities for all.
Family Reunification and Parole Preparation Workshops
Parent Organization: Alabama Women’s Resource Network
Area Served: Alabama
Address: 401 Beacon Parkway West, Rm123
Birmingham, AL 35209
E-mail: awrn.org@gmail.com
Website: www.awrn.org
Phone: 205-916-0135 ext. 501
Established: 2007
Volunteer Opportunities? Yes
AWRN offers Family Reunification and Parole Preparation Workshops for Loved Ones of Alabama State Prisoners. AWRN teaches families how to collaborate with their loved ones on developing a comprehensive reentry plan and how to present that plan to the Alabama Parole Board at a parole hearing.
Mentoring Children of Promise
Parent Organization: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham
Area Served: Greater Birmingham Area – Jefferson, Shelby, Saint Clair, Blount and Walker Counties
Address: 1901 14th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35205
E-mail: aalfano@bbbsbhm.org
Website: www.bbbsbhm.org
Phone: 205-939-5590
Established: 1973
Volunteer Opportunities? Yes
The Big Brothers Big Sisters Mission is to help children reach their potential through one-to-one relationships with mentors that have a measurable impact on youth. The Big Brothers Big Sisters Vision is successful mentoring relationships for all children who need and want them, contributing to brighter futures, better schools, and stronger communities for all.
SKIP, Inc. Community Resource Services
Area Served: AL and MI
Parent Organization: Save Kids of Incarcerated Parents
Telephone: 334/269-4141
Address: PO Box 250347
Montgomery, AL 36125-0347 USA
Email: skipinc@bellsouth.net
Website: skipinc.org
Secondary Office:
Secondary Phone:
Established: 1979
Volunteer Opportunities? Yes
Our Missionis to provide supportive services to children of incarcerated parents and their families, and to increase public awareness of the underlying problems of these children as victims.
Alaska
Arizona
Family Resource Center
Area Served: Maricopa County, AZ
Parent Organization: Child Crisis Center
Telephone: 480-834-9424
Address: PO Box 4114
Mesa, AZ 85211
E-mail: frc@childcrisis.org
Web site: None
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1996
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Parenting & parent support services for any family, including those with an incarcerated parent. Our work also includes programming for Relatives As Parents.
Area Served: Greater Phoenix, Arizona
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 480-767-6707
Address: 8960 E Raintree Dr. Ste. 300
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
E-mail: info@mentorkidsusa.org
Web site: www.mentorkidsusa.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1997
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
MentorKids USA is a faith-based organization dedicated to providing at-risk youth (including children of incarcerated parents) with caring adult mentors.
Middle Ground Prison Reform
Area Served: Arizona
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 480-966-8116
Address: 139 East Encanto Drive
Tempe, AZ 85281-6624
E-mail: middlegroundprisonreform@msn.com
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1983
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: YesTo protect and define the rights and responsibilities of the incarcerated through public education, legislative advocacy and civil rights litigation.
Area Served: Tucson, Arizona
Parent Organization: KARE Family Center
Telephone: 520-323-4476
Address: 4710 E. 29th Street, Bldg. 7
Tucson, AZ 85711
E-mail: KARES@arizonaschildren.org
Web site: http://karefamilycenter.ning.com
Secondary Office: 4710 E. 29th St., Bldg. 7, Tucson, AZ85711
Established: 2003
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Outmates: a support group for friends and families of the incarcerated. Shooting STARS: support group for children of the incarcerated.
Arkansas
Arkansas Voices for the Children Left Behind, Inc.
Area Served: State of Arkansas
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 501-366-3647
Address: 1114 Garland Street, P.O. Box 215002
Little Rock, AR 72225
E-mail: BORPartnership@yahoo.com
Web site: www.arkvoicesforchildren.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1994
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Arkansas Voices for the Children Left Behind is a statewide, non-profit organization whose sole mission is to serve children left behind in the care of relatives due to parental incarceration and other reasons. We offer direct services and advocacy/trainingthroughout the state. Our mission is “Justice for children left behind, including family, social, racial, economic, and educational justice”.
Area Served: Benton County Arkansas
Parent Organization: Boys and Girls Club of Benton County
Telephone: 479-273-7187
Address: PO Box 448
Bentonville, AR 72712
E-mail: sabrina.rampy@cox-internet.com
Web site: www.bgcbentoncounty.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1991
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Mentoring and after school and summer youth development programs.Club Buddies works with Benton County children ages 4-18 who have one or more incarcerated parent. Enrollment includes free membership to the Boys and Girls Clubs (BGC), some monetary incentives, and most importantly a match with a qualifying mentor (Club Buddy).
Area Served: Five counties in the state of Arkansas: St. Francis, Phillips, Benton, Washington, Pulaski
Parent Organization: Arkansas Voices for the Children Left Behind
Telephone: 501-366-3647
Address: P.O. Box 251002
1114 Garland Street
Little Rock, AR 72225
Email: deeann@arkansasvoices.org
Website: www.arkansasvoices.org
Established: 1994
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
HIP Mentoring Program
Area Served: Counties in SW Arkansas and Bowie County in Texas
Parent Organization: Southwest Arkansas Counseling and Mental Health Center, Inc.
Telephone: 870-773-4655
Address: 2904 Arkansas Boulevard
Texarkana, AR 71854
E-mail: mschroeder@swacmhc.com
Web site: None
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2004
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
The HIP Mentoring Program is a mentoring program for children with incarcerated parents in the Texarkana area of Arkansas.
California
Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents
Area Served: Varies by project; 3 national projects, 1 statewide project (California), 2 regional projects (Southern California) and 1 local project (Los Angeles County)
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 626-449-2470
Address: Box 41-286
Eagle Rock, CA90041
E-mail: ccip@earthlink.net
Web site: www.e-ccip.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1989
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: No
The Center conducts research, produces and distributes publications, provides technical assistance, trains professionals and offers direct services.The Center’s program of direct services includes educational services, therapeutic services and family reunification services.All services are free to children of criminal offenders and their families.
Area Served: San Francisco Bay Area, Fresno Central Valley
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 415-456-9980
Address: 2955 Kerner Blvd., 2nd floor
San Rafael, CA 94901
E-mail: cburton@centerforce.org
Web site: www.centerforce.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1971
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Centerforce provides services that support, educate and advocate for individuals, families and communities impacted by incarceration.
Community Mentoring Connections
Area Served: Regional counties surrounding Sacramento, California
Parent Organization: Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency
Telephone: 209-533-1397, ext. 229
Address: 427 N. Hwy. 49, Ste. 305
Sonora, CA 95370
E-mail: elinehan@atcaa.org
Web site: atcaa.org
Secondary Office: 935 South State Hwy 49,Jackson, CA95370
Established:
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Community Mentoring Connection is a regional program matching youth with incarcerated parents with caring adult mentors.
Friends Outside
Area Served: California
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 209-955-0701
Address: PO Box 4085
Stockton, CA 95204
E-mail: info@friendsoutside.org
Web site: www.friendsoutside.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1955
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Programs and services for people impacted by incarceration, including children and families. Programs include assistance with reentry and family reunification; parenting education, fatherhood programs, alternatives to violence and anger management for incarcerated people.
Lifting Lives
Area Served: Los Angeles, California
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 626-376-5463
Address: P. O. Box 94019
Pasadena, CA 91109
E-mail: rtaylor220_2000@yahoo.com
Web site: None
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2001
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, and support to children whose parents are incarcerated.
Area Served: San Francisco Bay Area, California
Parent Organization: We Care San Jacinto Valley
Telephone: 951-654-0080
Address: 300 W. First St.
San Jacinto, CA 92583
E-mail: jbelcher@wecaresanjacintovalley.org
Web site: www.wecaresanjacintovalley.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2006
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
We Care San Jacinto Valley is a community-based nonprofit organization. The purpose of We Care San Jacinto Valley-Mentoring Children & Youth is to promote healthy lifestyles and increase resilience among children and youth ages 4 to 18 and their families through one-on-one mentoring by caring adult role models and improved access to community resources.By spending as little as four hours month, a child can reap positive benefits. Studies have shown children who are mentored have improved self-esteem, do better in school, are more likely to graduate or seek higher education, and reduces the likelihood of initiating risky behavior such as drinking alcohol or using drugs.There are some eligibility requirements to ensure the safety of the children in our program. Mentors must be 18 years of age, agree to a one year commitment with four hours of quality time a month, have no criminal history, and have a good driving record and proof of insurance.Also check out our recent article in the Press Enterprise @http://www.pe.com/family/stories/PE_News_Local_S_mentoring06.379f214.html
Area Served: Amador and Tuolumne County
Parent Organization: Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency
Telephone: 209-533-1397, ext. 229
Address: 427 N. Hwy. 49, Ste. 305
Sonora, CA 95370
E-mail: elinehan@atcaa.org
Web site: atcaa.org
Secondary Office: 935 South State Hwy 49,Jackson, CA95370
Established: 12
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Mentoring Works provides one-on-one matches in Amador and Tuolumne Counties between caring adults and children needing a friend.
Programs include: Project WHAT!, ROOTS, RSVP, One Family
Area Served: San Francisco Bay Area, California
Parent Organization: Community Works West
Telephone: 510-486-2340
Address: 1605 Bonita Ave
Berkeley, CA 94709
E-mail: community_works@yahoo.com
Web site: www.community-works-ca.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1994
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
CW engages youth and adults in arts and education programs that interrupt and heal the far-reaching impact of incarceration and violence by empowering individuals, families and communities.CW believes that the arts and education can serve as valuable platforms for achieving this goal, incorporating personal expression, alliance-building, and public engagement. CW is particularly concerned with the effects of soaring incarceration rates on communities, impacting not only the offending individuals but also families, neighbors, and survivors of crime. CW links up with the institutions that most affect our constituents’ lives, including the criminal and juvenile justice systems, the public school system, and other community-based organizations, in order to provide enriching, sustainable programs that work to bring communities together. Our programs include: ROOTS, a school based program for children of incarcerated parents; Project WHAT! youth working to educate about the impact of parental incarceration; One Family is a parent education and contact visiting program inside San Francisco County Jails; Other programs include Resolve to Stop the Violence Project, Women Rising, and Arts Programs for in custody youth and adults.
Area Served: San Francisco Bay Area, California
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 415-382-8799
Address: 385 Bel Marin Keys, Suite G
Novato, CA 94949
E-mail: info@projectavary.org
Web site: www.projectavary.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1999
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Project AVARY offers longterm support and enrichment for children and youth with a parent in prison or jail.Our program services include a summer camp, monthly outings, leadership training, and family support.
Santa Rita Inmate Services
Area Served: Alameda County, California
Parent Organization: Teaching and Loving Kids (T.A.L.K.)
Telephone: 925-551-6580
Address: 5325 Broder Blvd.
Dublin, CA 94583
E-mail: dimsplace@aol.com
Web site: None
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1990
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: No
Provides parenting, life skills, and reunification training with enhanced visitation for program participants.
Start with a Story
Parent Organization: Alameda County Library
Area Served: Alameda County, CA
Address: 2450 Stevenson Blvd.
Freemont, CA 94538
E-mail: seas@aclibrary.org
Website: http://startwithastory.wordpress.com/
Phone: 510-745-1511
Established: 2007
Volunteer Opportunities? Yes
“Start With a Story”, a project of the Alameda County Library, delivers story times, free books, and family literacy activities to children, ages 1-16 years old, who visit their parents at jails in Alameda County. More than 125 children are served through this program each week.
Colorado
Colorado Family Education, Resources & Training CFERT
Area Served: State of Colorado
Parent Organization (if applicable): Colorado State University Extension
Telephone: 800-457-2736/970-491-3904
Address: University Square, Campus Delivery 4040
Fort Collins, CO
E-mail: cweitzel@colotate.edu
Web site: cfert.colostate.edu
Contact: Christine Cerbana, CFERT Program Director
Email: ccerbana@colostate.edu
Direct Phone: 970-491-2101/800-457-2736
Secondary Office (if applicable):
Established: 2000
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
CFERT offers training/workshops that are focused on the professional development of parent educators, prevention specialists and early childhood care and education professionals. We equip the State of Colorado to help agencies and communities implement family education programs such as Partners in Parenting, Make Parenting a Pleasure, Family Development Training & Credentialing, Strengthening Families, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Brainwise and Effective Training.CFERT also offers a parenting resource library. CFERT is funded by the Division of Behavioral Health and the Department of Corrections.
Connecticut
Area Served: State of Connecticut
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 860-727-5800
Address: 60 Popieluszko Court
Hartford, CT 6106
E-mail: www.familiesincrisis.org
Web site: www.familiesincrisis.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1979
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
FIC is a private non-profit agency that provides family counseling and case management services, family reunification support, domestic violence intervention, parent education and transportation for families to visit loved ones in prison in Connecticut.
Fresh Start Community Reentry Program
Area Served: Connecticut – Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, and five prison sites.
Parent Organization: Family ReEntry, Inc.
Telephone: 203-838-0496
Address: Administrative Offices, 9 Mott Avenue, Suite 104
Norwalk, CT 6850
E-mail: info@familyreentry.org
Web site: www.familyreentry.org
Secondary Office: 126 Washington Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 6604
Established: 1984
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Family ReEntry’s efforts are aimed at comprehensively and effectively addressing the enormous social problems related to crime, violence, abuse, and the unprecedented rates of costly incarceration.Our wide range of behavioral health, substance abuse, case management, domestic violence, mentoring, violence prevention, and parenting programs along with our innovative community reentry program, reentry housing pilot project, and cutting-edge entrepreneurial employment and training businesses help empower individuals and strengthen families & communities; resulting in increased public safety, reduced cost to taxpayers, and vast improvements in quality of life for individuals, families, and communities.
Institute for Municipal & Regional Policy
Area Served: Connecticut
Parent Organization- Central CT State University
Telephone : 860 832 1873
Address: – 114 Vance Academic Center; 1615 Stanley Street
New Britain, CT 06050
Email: keaysaik@ccsu.edu
Web site: http://www.ccsu.edu/imrpimrp
Established: 2007
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities ? Yes
Since fiscal year 2008 the IMRP has been receiving annual funding from the Connecticut General Assembly to administer competitive grants for providing positive interventions for at-risk youth whose parent(s) and/or family members have been incarcerated. All of these services are being evaluated using a mixed methods action research model by CCSU faculty, students and staff as part of the IMRP project evaluation team. Additionally, over the past few years the IMRP has leveraged CCSU’s resources by 1) partnering with several University faculty, classes, and individual students on community engagement initiatives aimed at this population and 2) increasing overall awareness of the issue through print and visual media and the hosting of a statewide conference. The overall goal is to use the various data and knowledge gained in all of our efforts to inform intervention and public policy development.
Delaware
Center for Reconciliation & Social Change, Inc.
Area Served: Delaware, Maryland Eastern Shore, Eastern Shore Virginia, New Jersey
Parent Organization: Living Word Mission, Ex-Offender Program
Telephone: 302-343-9284
Address: 4687 Arthursville Road
Hartly, DE 19953
E-mail: SocialChangeNow@aol.com
Web site: www.socialchangenow.org
Secondary Office: Mother Church, Church of God In Christ, Inc.2701 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19802
Established: 2003
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
We function as a faith based organization in the following areas of social reform or change: Service programs for less advantaged, capacity building and community development.We promote and develop Service Programs that effect incarcerated men, incarcerated women,youth of incarcerated parents, and seniors (55 years and older).
Mentoring Children of Prisoners
Area Served: New Castle & Sussex counties of Delaware
Parent Organization: Professional Counseling Resources
Telephone: 302-656-7737
Address: 2500 W 4th StSuite 5B
Wilmington, DE 19805
Established: None
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
The Mentoring Children of Prisoners Program (MCP) serves youth ages 4-18. MCP provides weekly one-on-one mentoring sessions and periodic group activities for mentoring interactions between mentors and mentees.Mentors receive individual and/or group training and commit 1-hour a week for one year to have fun and build a relationship with a mentee.This small commitment fosters long term mentoring relationships and can help change the lives of children and stop the cycle of incarceration.
Florida
Father & Child Resource Center
Area Served: Martin County, Florida
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: None
Address: 2026 S E Ocean Blvd
Stuart, FL 34996
E-mail: dcardno@mchealthystart.org
Web site: None
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2000
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Services designed to help fathers play a productive role in their children’s lives
Area Served: Ft Lauderdale, Raiford, Lowell, Lake Butler, Jasper, Lake City, Orlando, and Cocoa
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 954-709-5225
Address: 2360 NW 64 Ave
Sunrise, FL 33313
E-mail: natalie@floridavisitingday.com
Web site: www.floridavisitingday.com
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2009
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: No
Charter bus rides from Ft Lauderdale to various correctional institutions in Central and Northern Florida
Mentors Opening Doors Enriching Lives (MODEL) Mentoring Program
Area Served: Central Florida
Parent Organization (if applicable): Children’s Home Society of Florida
Telephone: 321-397-3000
Address: 1485 S. Semoran Blvd Suite 1402
Winter Park, FL 32792
E-mail: amanda.choos@chsfl.org
Web site: www.chsfl.org
Contact: Amanda Choos, Volunteer Coordinator
Email: amanda.choos@chsfl.org
Direct Phone: 321-397-3002
Secondary Office: None
Established:
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
MODEL Mentoring is a one to one community-based mentoring program for children that have at least one parent or parental figure in state or federal prison. Youth must be 4-18 years old and live in Seminole Orange or Osceola County.
R.I.S.E. (Relations of Inmates Supporting Each Other)
Area Served: Statewide
Address: 413 W Imogene St
Arcadia, FL 34266
E-mail: generalquestions@riseflorida.org
Website: www.riseflorida.org
Phone: 941-421-6907
Established: 2007
Volunteer Opportunities: Yes
R.I.S.E. – Relations of Inamtes Supporting Each-other offers, quarterly newsletters, carpool information, website, womens/family retreats, and a summer program for children with an incarcerated parent
Georgia
Foreverfamily
Area Served: Atlanta and surrounding area
Parent Organization:
Phone: (404)658-9606
Address: 765 McDaniel Street, S. W.
Suite 3104
Atlanta, GA 30310
Email:
Website: http://www.foreverfam.org/
Secondary Office:
Established: 1987
Volunteer Opportunities?: Yes
Foreverfamily works to ensure that, no matter what the circumstances, all children have the opportunity to be surrounded by the love of family. We focus our efforts on some of the most marginalized children in our society—those with an incarcerated parent or parents—and support them as they, their parents, caregivers and extended families work to remain a family.
[when] Parents Aren’t There to Help (PATH)
Area Served: Heny, Clayton and South Metro Counties
Parent Organization: HOPE Family Ministries
Telephone: 770 471-5574
Address: 107 Flippen RoadPO Box 1520
Stockbridge, GA 30281
E-mail: hopefamily107@bellsouth.net
Web site: www.hopefamilyministries.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2001
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
PATH is a mentoring and family intervention program for children whose parents are incarcerated.
Meeting of the Herts Mentoring Program
Area Served: DeKalb County, Georgia
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 404-270-1178
Address: 39 Rogers Street
Atlanta, GA 30058
E-mail: moth@co.dekalb.ga.us
Web site: None
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2006
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
We are a mentoring program for children in DeKAlb County GA. who have incarcerated parents.
Mentoring Children of Promise in Central Georgia
Area Served: 15 counties in Central Georgia: Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Greene, Hancock, Houston, Jasper, Jones, Laurens, Monroe, Peach, Putnam, Twiggs, Washington, Wilkinson
Parent Organization: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Heart of Georgia
Telephone: 478-745-3984
Address: 777 Walnut Street
Macon, GA 31201
E-mail: Dianna.Glymph@bbbs.org
Web site: www.bbbsheartga.org
Secondary Office: 320 Hancock, Milledgeville, GA31061
Established: 1953
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Provide screened and trained mentors for children of incarcerated parents.
The Family Center of South DeKalb, LLC
Area Served: Georgia, DeKalb, Fulton and Rockdale counties
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 678-418-0890
Address: 5000 Snapfinger Woods Drive
Decatur, GA 30035
E-mail: dr.janie@hotmail.com
Web site: www.fcosd.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2003
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Couseling Services to families and individuals who have experienced incarceration.Program also provides the A.C.T. program (Assertive Community Treatment) to persons who have a mental health diagnosis.To participate in the A.C.T. program, individuals must have Medicaid.
Hawaii
Supporting Families Affected by Incarceration
Area Served: Hawaii
Parent Organization: Keiki O Ka Aina Family Learning Centers
Telephone: 808-843-2502
Address: 3097 Kalihi Street
Honolulu, HI 96819
E-mail: contact@keikiokaain.org
Web site: www.keikiokaaina.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2003
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Services for children, caregivers, and incarcerated parents through mentoring, parenting classes, and parent-child interactive sessions to help families maintain bonds and children to thrive despite being affected by incarceration.
Idaho
Illinois
Amachi
Area Served: Illinois
Parent Organization: Tower of Refuge, Inc.
Telephone: 217-241-9911
Address: 329 S New St
Springfield, IL 62704
Email: info@towerofrefugeinc.com
Website: www.towerofrefugeinc.com
Secondary Office:
Secondary Phone:
Established: 2005
Volunteer Opportunities? Yes
Tower of Refuge is a grassroots organization whose primary purpose is to reduce the rate of recidivism in the state of Illinois through various programs and community effort. We provide a continuum of services to address the complete needs of individuals who are incarcerated, once were incarcerated and their families. Our services include training, education, counseling, HIV/AIDS awareness and homelessness prevention through housing assistance. Our services and programs focus on improving the successful continuous rehabilitation of the incarcerated and the formerly incarcerated while rebuilding and reconciling family relationships.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois
Area Served: Illinois counties of St. Clair, Madison, Clinton and Monroe
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 618-398-3162
Address: 6400 West Main, Suite 1G
Belleville, IL 62223
E-mail: bbbsbell@peaknet.net
Web site: www.bbbsil.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1980
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois is a donor supported one-to-one mentoring organizations. Our mission is to provide a Big Brother or Big Sisters for every child who wants and needs one.
CLAIM – Legal Aid on Family Matters
Area Served: Illinois
Parent Organization: Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers (CLAIM)
Telephone: 312-675-0912
Address: 70 East Lake Street, Suite 1120
Chicago, IL 60601-5950
E-mail: Zenaida@claim-il.org
Web site: www.claim-il.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1985
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
CLAIM offers free legal aid for incarcerated mothers and for children’s caregivers in Illinois. We represent mothers and guardians in Cook County courts. We draft court documents for cases throughout Illinois. We teach classes on family law for mothers in jail and prison.
Grace House
Area Served: Chicago Illinois and suburbs
Parent Organization: St. Leonard‘s Ministries
Telephone: 312-733-5363
Address: 1801 West Adams St.
Chicago, IL 60612
E-mail: gh-bd@ix.netcom.com
Web site: None
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1994
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
A long-term interim housing program for women coming directly out of incarceration.Parenting, education, employment training, substance -abuse and psychological services for women.We have a family re-connection education and therapy program for children, residents and other family members.
Life Strategies for Success Training
Area Served: Chicago & Kansas City
Parent Organization: First Time Correctional Services
Telephone: 773-952-1224
Address: 1642 Division
Chicago Heights, IL
E-mail: rmckay39@hotmail.com
Web site: None
Secondary Office: 715 W. 51st Street, Chicago, IL 60609
Established: 2004
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Emergency Family Relief Services, Youth/Adult Re-entry Support Services, Social & Academic Mentoring.
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
Area Served: Illinois
Parent Organization: Prisoner and Family Ministry
Telephone: 618-997-9196, ext. 821
Address: 1001 E. Touhy Ave., Suite 50
Des Plaines, IL 60018
E-mail: jane.otte@lssi.org
Web site: www.lssi.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1867
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Provides support to incarcerated men and women, and their children and caregivers. Services include transportation for Visits to Moms (incarcerated in Illinois); family literacy programs for incarcerated mothers and fathers at 19 jails and prisons to record storybooks that are sent to their children; support groups for caregivers; re-entry and family reunification support, information and referral; collaborates with prisons and Habitat for Humanity to enable incarcerated adults and juveniles to construct components for homes for low-income families, and connects previously incarcerated ‘home builders’ with Habitat for Humanity.
Macon County Safe from the Start
Area Served: Macon & Piatt Counties, Illinois
Parent Organization: Macon County Child Advocacy Center
Telephone: 217-422-6294
Address: 164 N. Edward St.
Decatur, IL 62522
E-mail: pamb4kids@aol.com
Web site: mccac.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1999
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
We provide intervention services for children ages 0-5 and their families who have been witnesses or victims of violence.
Mentoring Children of Prisoners
Parent Organization: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago
Area Served: Cook, Lake and DuPage counties in Illinois and Northwest Indiana
Address: 560 W. Lake St. 5th Fl
Chicago, IL 60661
E-mail: contact@creativevisionsia.org
Website: www.bbbschgo.org
E-mail: thurman@bbbschgo.org
Phone: 312-207-5600
Established: 1969
Volunteer Opportunities? Yes
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago matches children ages 7 through 14 with mentors in professionally supported one-to-one relationships. During outings, Bigs and Littles do every day activities that provide children with the opportunity to discover a world of possibilities for their life.
Women of Power Alumni Association
Area Served: Cook County, Illinois
Parent Organization: Cook County Sheriff’s Dept of Women’s Justice Services
Telephone: 773 869-7731
Address: 3026 S California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
E-mail: dwjs@cookcountysheriff.org
Web site: www.cookcountysheriffs.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2002
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Women of Power Alumni Association is a peer led support program.WOPAA offers recovery coaching, spiritual support, parenting support groups, an annual health fair, clothing drives and an annual conference focused on formerly incarcerated and at-risk women.WOPAA provides advocacy for formerly incarcerated women.
Indiana
Area Served: Northwest Indiana
Parent Organization: Offender Reentry & Community Assistance, Inc
Telephone: 219-714-7921
Address: 6111 Harrison Street, # 104
Merrillville, IN 46410
E-mail: msgibs@sbcglobal.net
Web site: http://orcainfo.wordpress.com
Secondary Office: 9526 Luebcke LN, Crown Point, IN 46307
Established: 2003
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Reentry support and services to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated men and women and their families.
Ties That Bind Us
Area Served: Illinois
Parent Organization: – Tower of Refuge, Inc.
Telephone: – 217-241-9911
Address: – 329 S New St.
Springfield, IL 62704
Email: info@towerofrefugeinc.com
Website: www.towerofrefugeinc.com
Established : 2005
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities? Yes
Tower of Refuge is a grassroots organization whose primary purpose is to reduce the rate of recidivism in the state of Illinois through various programs and community effort. We provide a continuum of services to address the complete needs of individuals who are incarcerated, once were incarcerated and their families. Our services include training, education, counseling, HIV/AIDS awareness and homelessness prevention through housing assistance. Our services and programs focus on improving the successful continuous rehabilitation of the incarcerated and the formerly incarcerated while rebuilding and reconciling family relationships.
Stone’s Legal Research
Area Served: Indiana
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 574-333-2900
Address: 1802 Marvin Gardens
Elkhart, IN 46514
E-mail: bettyraymydland@gmail.com
Web site: None
Secondary Office:None
Established: 2001
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: No
Legal research for those who are incarcerated and are looking to file an appeal or PCR.
Use What You’ve Got Prison Ministry Keeping Families Connected, Inc
Area Served: State of Indiana
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 317-924-4124
Address: P.O. Box 1521
Indianapolis, IN
E-mail: uwygm@sbcglobal.net
Web site: www.usewhatyouvegotministry.org
Secondary Office:None
Established: 1988
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Use What You’ve Got Prison Ministry is a prison shuttle service that enables families and friends with no means of transportation to visit loved ones in prison facilities throughout Indiana. UWYGPM is a 501(c)(3) ministry that was started in 1988.
Iowa
Family Reunification Program
Parent Organization: Creative Visions Human Development Institute
Area Served: Polk County and surrounding counties
Address: 1343 13th Street
Des Moines, IA 50314
E-mail: contact@creativevisionsia.org
Website: www.creativevisionsia.org
Phone: 515-244-4003 ext. 110
Established: 1996
Volunteer Opportunities? Yes
Creative Visions’ Family Reunification and Right Start Program was developed to help reduce the recidivism rate and prevent intergenerational crime. Creative Visions’ Family Reunification Program provides comprehensive support services to the offender’s family during incarceration period and to the offender six months prior to his or her release.
Kansas
Area Served: Greater Kansas City Area, Kansas
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 913-403-0229
Address: 1333 S 27th St
Kansas City, KS 66106
E-mail: info@artsinprison.org
Web site: www.artsinprison.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1995
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Arts in Prison, Inc.’s mission is to facilitate personal growth through the arts for the incarcerated and their families. Arts in Prison, Inc. is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization funded by private donations, corporations and grants.
Area Served: Sedgwick County, Kansas
Parent Organization: Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas
Telephone: 316-685-1821
Address: 555 N. Woodlawn, Suite 3105
Wichita, KS 67208
E-mail: compeer@mhasck.org
Web site: www.mhasck.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2003
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Consistent, caring mentors are matched with children of incarcerated parents/caregivers to serve as a positive role model, advocate, and supportive friend. The goal is to enhance a child’s attitude about life and help reduce the possibility of following the cycle of incarceration.
Kentucky
Louisiana
Area Served: Greater New Orleans Area, Lousiana
Parent Organization: Community Service Center, Inc
Telephone: 504-908-6277
Address: 4000 Magazine St.
New Orleans, LA 70115
E-mail: cscnouw@aol.com
Web site: www.cscnouw.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1965
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
CSC provides holistic services to assist people coming out of prison and their families in the re-entry process. Someone To Watch Over Me also provides services to the children with recently released parents.
Maine
Maryland
Area Served: Central MD, Southern MD and the Lower Eastern Shore
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 410-243-4000
Address: 3600 Clipper Mill Rd, Suite 250
Baltimore, MD 21211
E-mail: info@biglittle.org
Web site: www.biglittle.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1950
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
We match competent caring adult mentors with children who want and need them.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Maryland
Area Served: Central Mryland, Southern MD and the Lower Eastern Shore
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 410-243-4000
Address: 3600 Clipper Mill Rd., suite 250
Baltimore, MD 21211
E-mail: info@biglittle.org
Web site: www.biglittle.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1950
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Provide mentors for children who want and need them.
Children of Incarcerated Parents
Area Served: Frederick, Maryland
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 301-473-4103
Address: 275 West Patrick Street
Frederick, MD 21701
E-mail: Scher12345@comcast.net
Web site: None
Secondary Office: Frederick County Public Schools, 115 East Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701
Established: 2006
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: No
We are an inter-agency group that works to inform members of the community of the plight children with incarcerated parents. We distribute resources and useful items to children and their caregivers.
Project SIT
Area Served: Wicomico County, Maryland
Parent Organization: Wicomico County Department of Corrections
Telephone: 410-548-4850, Ext. 361
Address: 411 Naylor Mill Road
Salisbury, MD 21801
E-mail: sit@wicomicocounty.org
Web site: None
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2002
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Project SIT is a support program for children of prisoners, their caregivers, and their incarcerated parent.Contact visits, after school programming, reintegration services are included.
Massachusetts
Area Served: Essex County, Massachusetts
Parent Organization: Community Action Inc.
Telephone: 978-372-5052
Address: 75 Elm Street
Haverhill, MA 3104
E-mail: dlinett@communityactioninc.org
Web site: www.communityactioninc.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2001
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Provide parenting and family literacy services in a step-down facility in Salisbury, MA. Provide substance abuse information and support.
Michigan
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson County
Area Served: Jackson County, Mississippi
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 517-784-7181
Address: 536 N. Jackson St.
Jackson, MI 49201
E-mail: office@bbbsjackson.org
Web site: None
Secondary Office: P.O. Box 1802, Jackson, MI 49204
Established: 1967
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
To provide one-on-one mentoring services to children in need of a male/female mentor.
Mentors-N-More
Area Served: Southeast Michigan
Parent Organization: Children’s Internal Affairs International
Telephone: 313 320-4862
Address: 12751 W. Ten Mile Road
Oak Park, MI 48237
E-mail: ciadetroit@yahoo.com
Web site: None
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2003
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
It is the mission of Children’s Internal Affairs (CIA) Mentors-N-More program to address the physical and emotional needs of children ages 6-18 with an incarcerated parent, and provide resources and training for caregivers and their families.
Area Served: Antrim, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Wexford Counties, Mississippi
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 231-943-7312
Address: 3301 Veterans Drive, Suite 124
Traverse City, MI 49684
E-mail: nexusfamilies@chartermi.net
Web site: www.nexusfamilyservices.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2002
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
We provide educational and counseling services to people in prison and/or their families.These include marriage and family therapy, parenting training, domestic violence services for people in prison, etc.
Region IV Area Agency on Aging1
Area Served: Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties, Michigan
Parent Organization: Senior Volunteer and Intergenerational Programs
Telephone: 269-983-7058
Address: 2900 Lakeview Ave
St. Joseph, MI 49085
E-mail: camelliapisegna@areaagencyonaging.org
Web site: www.areaagencyonaging.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1991
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Grandparents and relatives raising children with incarcerated parents receive a broad array of support services. Children with incarcerated parents are matched with Foster Grandparents in schools, early learning programs, migrant programs, emergency shelters, etc.
SKIP, Inc. Community Resource Services
Area Served: AL and MI
Parent Organization: Save Kids of Incarcerated Parents
Telephone: 334/269-4141
Address: PO Box 250347
Montgomery, AL 36125-0347 USA
Email: skipinc@bellsouth.net
Website: skipinc.org
Secondary Office:
Secondary Phone:
Established: 1979
Volunteer Opportunities? Yes
Our Missionis to provide supportive services to children of incarcerated parents and their families, and to increase public awareness of the underlying problems of these children as victims.
Minnesota
Area Served: Minnesota (Twin Cities & Rochester)
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 612-326-4362
Address: 401 West 7th Street
St. Paul, MN 55102
E-mail: info@bridgebuilders.cc
Web site: www.bridgebuilders.cc
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2000
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Bridge Builders for Kids is a Christian organization that matches children with incarcerated parents with caring Christian adult mentors.We take a preventative/proactive approach by enrolling children in our community-based mentoring program before they are 11 years old.
Area Served: Minneapolis & St. Paul and 7 County Area
Parent Organization: Council on Crime and Justice
Telephone: 612-353-3000
Address: 822 South Third StreetSuite 100
Minneapolis, MN 55415
E-mail: info@crimeandjustice.org
Web site: www.crimeandjustice.org
Established: 2000
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Provides parent education to incarcerated parents at three Minnesota correctionsl facilities and a pre-release Family Reunification Group for eligible fathers.Also provides post-release transitional support.
Kinship of Greater Minneapolis
Area Served: Anoka & Hennepin Counties in Minnesota primarily
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 612-588-4655
Address: 3210 Oliver Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55412
E-mail: mail@kinship.org
Web site: www.kinship.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1988
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Kinship is a community & faith based long-term mentoring programmatching individuals, couples and families to children from single parent homes, homes where one or both parents are incarcerated and homes of recent immigrant or refugee families.
Mentoring Children of Prisoners
Area Served: Minnesota: Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, McLeod, Ramsey, Scott, Washington and Wright Counties.
Parent Organization: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities
Telephone: 651-789-2400
Address: 2550 University Ave. West, Suite 410N
St. Paul, MN 55114
E-mail: thinkbig@bigstwincities.org
Web site: www.bigstwincities.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2003
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
For 89 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities (BBBS) has been matching young people ages 7-13 with adult, volunteer mentors. Volunteers can mentor children of prisoners in any BBBS program, including the traditional one-to-one community-based or school-based, Big Couples/Colleagues and Big Families options.
Mentoring Children Of Prisoners
Area Served: Twin Cities Metro, Minnesota
Parent Organization: Big Brothers Big Sisters
Telephone: 651-789-2400
Address: 2550 University Avenue westsuite 410N
St Paul, MN 55114
E-mail: ashotwell@bigstwincities.org
Web site: www.bigstwincities.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2003
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: children are matched between 7-13 and stay matched until they are 18 or graduate high school
This program specifically matches children with a parent or significant family member who is incarcerated with a caring adult mentor.
Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc.
Area Served: NW Minnesota
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 218-773-8452
Address: 1825 Central Ave. NW
East Grand Forks, MN 56721
E-mail: laura@tvoc.org
Web site: None
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2005
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: No
Resources and parenting information for families with incarcerated individuals.
Mississippi
Area Served: Mississippi
Parent Organization: Lutheran Episcopal Services in Mississippi
Telephone: 601-352-7125, ext. 106
Address: P.O. Box 23815
Jackson, MS 39225
E-mail: sfross@lesm.org
Web site: www.lesm.org
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2007
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Double Time has a weekly meeting on the 1st Thursday of each month with supper and recreational activities for adults & children with incarcerated loved ones.We host monthly meetings for adultswithguests from the community to speak on related issues.We have a quarterly newsletter in order to broaden our community around the state.
Area Served: Mississippi and Georgia
Parent Organization: In Him Ministries
Telephone: 601-924-1352
Address: Post Office Box 1933
Jackson, MS 39215
E-mail: nancy@inhimministries.org
Web site: www.inhimministries.org
Secondary Office: 111 Longwood Drive, Clinton, MS 39056
Established: 2002
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Our program supports families and children of the incarcerated with holiday meals; Christmas presents for children; summer camps, and school supplies.
Area Served: Mississippi
Parent Organization: Lutheran Episcopal Services in Mississippi
Telephone: 601-352-7125
Address: P. O. Box 23815
Jackson, MS
E-mail: csullivan@lesm.org
Web site: www.lesm.org
Secondary Office: 2 Old River Place, Suite E, Jackson, MS39202
Established: 1997
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
We help to build relationships between incarcerated non-custodial parents and their children through books.We package and mail books, written messages, and CD recordings of parents reading to their children.
Missouri
Area Served: Greater Kansas City, MO area (Jackson County)
Parent Organization: 40 Acres & A Mule, Inc.
Telephone: 816-358-9036
Address: 7620 E. 79th Street
Kansas City, MO 64138
E-mail: lav.childrensconnection@yahoo.com
Web site: www.childrensconnectionkc.com
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1999
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Mentoring and leadership development program for children with an incarcerated parent.
Area Served: Missouri
Parent Organization: Alliance for Families & Communities Affected by Incarceration
Telephone: 314-521-5044
Address: 905 S Florissant Road
St. Louis, MO 63135
E-mail: afcai@sbcglobal.net
Web site: afcaistl.org
Secondary Office:
Established: 2006
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Mentoring, Youth Leadership, Support Groups, Workshops, Family Activities & Events
Area Served: State of Missouri and Illinois
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 417-877-7930
Address: P.O. BOX 848
Republic, MO 65738
E-mail: monarch2215@att.net
Web site: jerichocommission.org
Secondary Office: 1925 E. Bennett, Suite Ln/a, Springfield, MO65804
Established: 2005
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
We are a mentoring program and clearinghouse for people coming out of prison, and we work with the courts and judges on the front side of prison, where someone has been convicted and sentenced, but the judge does not want them to go to prison. We also work with county jails, law enforcement and Juvenile drug courts.
Let’s Start
Area Served: St. Louis, MI
Telephone: 314-241-2324
Address: 1408 S 10th Street St Louis MO 63104
Email: courtney.mcdermott@yahoo.com
Website: www.letsstart.org
Established: 1989
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Let’s Start, Inc. aims to break the cycle of incarceration in families by working with formerly incarcerated women and their children to provide support for recovery and reintegration, mitigate the effects of parental imprisonment, educate the public and inform policy.
Area Served: Missouri-Statewide
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 1-800-552-8522
Address: 4800 Santana Cir
Columbia, MO 65211
E-mail: parentlink@missouri.edu
Web site: http://parentlink.missouri.edu
Secondary Office: None
Established: 1989
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
Our goal is to support Missouri families in making the best possible choices for their families.
University of Missouri Extension 4-H LIFE Program
Area Served: Missouri
Parent Organization: None
Telephone: 573-882-3316
Address: 828 Clark Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
E-mail: gillespiet@missouri.edu
Web site: extension.missouri.edu/4hlife
Secondary Office: None
Established: 2000
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities?: Yes
4-H LIFE is a family strengthening program designed to address the needs of children of incarcerated parents and their family members. 4-H LIFE provides a healthy and nurturing family environment during enhanced visits at state correction centers.