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DEVELOPING RESILIENCE
IN THE FACE OF PARENTAL INCARCERATION
PROGRAMS
MENU
NATIONAL
AMEELIO
A nonprofit organization that offers free digital tools—like Ameelio Mail, Connect, and Learning—to help incarcerated people stay connected with their families, access education, and reduce the exploitation of traditional prison communication systems. Ameelio Mail: Sends free letters and photos to incarcerated people. Ameelio Connect: Offers free video calls and messaging for prisons.
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS - AMACHI PROGRAM
A mentoring initiative of Big Brothers Big Sisters that pairs children of incarcerated parents with caring adult mentors to provide stability, guidance, and positive role models, helping them build resilience, improve outcomes, and break the cycle of incarceration.
GIRL SCOUTS BEYOND BARS (GSSB)
A Girl Scouts program that reunites girls with their incarcerated mothers through joint troop meetings inside correctional facilities, promoting leadership, emotional growth, and family bonding to prevent intergenerational incarceration.
NORTHEAST
CHILDREN OF PROMISE, NYC
Children of Promise, NYC (CPNYC) is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that aims to transform the lives of children and youth impacted by parental incarceration. It offers a comprehensive program combining after-school services, a free summer day camp, one-to-one mentoring, and onsite mental-health support to address trauma and stigma, particularly in Black and Brown communities in New York City.
ECHOES OF INCARCERATION
Echoes of Incarceration is a youth-led documentary and advocacy initiative for those affected by the criminal justice system. It provides hands-on film and journalism training, empowering young people to share their experiences and promote reform. Echoes produces award-winning documentaries used in education and justice training, amplifying youth voices to drive awareness and systemic change.
HOUR CHILDREN
Hour Children supports incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and their children through housing, childcare, job training, and family support. Its mission is to help families reunite, rebuild, and break the cycle of incarceration.
MIDWEST
CAMP REUNITE
Camp Reunite is a U.S.-based non-profit dedicated to providing summer camp experiences for children aged 8–17 who have a parent incarcerated. Its mission is to offer hope, healing, and resilience by strengthening the bond between these children and their incarcerated parent, while also addressing the trauma, anxiety, and stress that often accompany this situation.
SOUTHEAST
ASSISTING FAMILIES OF INMATES (AFOI)
AFOI is a Richmond, VA-based nonprofit founded in 1978 that supports families of incarcerated loved ones. It offers meaningful visitation programs, children’s services, and family supports designed to preserve family connections and reduce recidivism.
CHILDREN OF INMATES (COI)
Children of Inmates (COI) supports children in Florida whose parents are incarcerated by offering bonding visits, wrap-around care coordination, and advocacy to interrupt intergenerational incarceration.
DAUGHTERS BEYOND INCARCERATION (DBI)
DBI serves girls aged 8 to 18 who have incarcerated parents—particularly in New Orleans—by offering mentoring, leadership development, and advocacy to foster strong parent-child relationships and disrupt cycles of poverty and crime.
WEST
THE PLACE FOR GRACE
The Place 4 Grace works to restore families impacted by incarceration, offering programs like father-child camps, literacy recordings between incarcerated parents and their children, and re-entry support.
PROJECT AVARY
Project Avary is a California-based nonprofit organization that provides long-term support, leadership development, and community for children with incarcerated parents. Through year-round programs—including summer camps, mentorship, and online circles—Project Avary helps youth heal from the trauma of parental incarceration, build confidence, and develop life skills. Its approach emphasizes belonging, resilience, and empowerment, offering consistent care and connection that guide participants from childhood through young adulthood.
THE PATHFINDER NETWORK
The Pathfinder Network supports justice-impacted individuals and families through parenting education, re-entry services, youth mentoring, and community programs. Its mission is to equip people with tools to thrive and build stronger, more inclusive communities.
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