Additional Resources
National
National | Prison Fellowship
Angel Tree serves children with incarcerated parents by connecting families with churches and volunteers. Services can include holiday support, mentoring connections, and camping opportunities.
Project Avary National Support Circles
National | Virtual
Project Avary brings together youth from across the country who have experienced parental incarceration. Its online support circles provide peer connection, facilitated discussions, and a community where young people can connect with others who share similar experiences.
National
The U.S. Dream Academy supports children of incarcerated parents and other at-risk youth through mentoring, academic support, tutoring, character development, life skills, and learning opportunities.
National
We Got Us Now provides programming for children and young adults impacted by parental incarceration. Its work includes youth leadership, peer connection, self-advocacy, and opportunities for young people with lived experience to lead community projects.
National
ScholarCHIPS supports young people with incarcerated parents who are pursuing higher education. The program provides scholarships, mentoring, and support designed to help students successfully transition into and complete college.
United States
Camp Reunite provides summer camp experiences specifically for children ages approximately 8–17 who have an incarcerated parent. The program focuses on connection, resilience, healing, and addressing challenges associated with parental incarceration.
National
KidsMates focuses on helping children develop resilience in the face of parental incarceration. It connects families with programs and resources and supports education, mentoring, family connection, and advocacy around the needs of children impacted by incarceration.
Ohio-Based
CARES Ohio – Children of Incarcerated Parents Program
Ohio
This is a direct program specifically focused on children of incarcerated parents. CARES works to bridge the gap between parents and their children while providing services that support young people's continued success, including support after the parent's release when needed.
C.O.I.P.I. (Children of Incarcerated Parents Initiative)
Cincinnati/Silverton, Ohio
C.O.I.P.I. creates opportunities for children of incarcerated parents and their caregivers. Programming includes education, STEM, agriculture, life skills, self-reliance, and exposure to education and employment opportunities.
Multi-state program
The Messages Project helps incarcerated parents maintain relationships with their children by recording video messages for their children. The recordings are sent to families and are often paired with a book read by the incarcerated parent.
Big Brothers Big Sisters–Amachi Program
Available through participating communities
This specialized mentoring approach connects children of incarcerated parents with caring adult mentors. The goal is to provide stability, guidance, positive relationships, and additional support during a parent's incarceration.
Ohio
Amachi Ohio is a mentoring program specifically for children who have an incarcerated parent. Youth are connected with supportive adults through participating Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies.
Ohio
Kairos Torch serves incarcerated youth and provides mentoring, goal setting, self-esteem development, and continued mentoring relationships.