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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.
PAIN OF THE PRISON SYSTEM (POPS) THE CLUB
The Pathfinder Club—formerly Pain of the Prison System (POPS)—is a nonprofit that creates safe, supportive school spaces for teens impacted by incarceration. Through weekly gatherings, art, and writing, students share their stories, build community, and find healing. Founded in 2013 in Los Angeles, the organization publishes annual anthologies and continues to empower youth nationwide.
PRISON FELLOWSHIP – ANGEL TREE PROGRAM
The Angel Tree Program, run by Prison Fellowship, connects incarcerated parents with their children by providing Christmas gifts and personal messages on their behalf. Volunteers and churches partner to purchase and deliver gifts, share the Gospel, and maintain family bonds during incarceration. The program also offers year-round support, including summer camps and mentoring for children of prisoners, aiming to strengthen families, reduce the effects of incarceration on kids, and promote hope and restoration.
PROJECT AVARY (ONLINE PROGRAM)
Project Avary is a nonprofit that supports children of incarcerated parents through year-round mentorship, leadership development, and emotional support. Its online program offers virtual group circles, mentorship sessions, and skill-building workshops that help youth process their experiences, build resilience, and connect with peers facing similar challenges. The digital format ensures access for participants nationwide, providing community, consistency, and healing regardless of location.
SAVE KIDS OF INCARCERATED PARENTS (SKIP)
SKIP supports children affected by parental incarceration through education, advocacy, mentoring, and family programs. It works to build resilience, maintain family bonds, and raise awareness to promote compassion and systemic change.
SEE US, SUPPORT US
See Us, Support Us (SUSU) is an awareness and advocacy initiative focused on the needs and rights of children whose parents are incarcerated. The campaign runs year-round and culminates each October with a “Month of Action,” inviting youth, families, service providers and community allies to engage in events, contests and storytelling aimed at highlighting the experiences of child-impacted families.
U.S. DREAM ACADEMY
The U.S. Dream Academy is a national nonprofit that helps children of incarcerated parents and other at-risk youth reach their potential through mentorship, academic support, and character development. Founded in 1998 by Wintley Phipps, the program operates learning centers across the country and offers after-school tutoring, life-skills training, and online learning resources. Its goal is to break cycles of incarceration by inspiring hope, improving educational outcomes, and empowering students to pursue brighter futures.
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.
WE GOT US NOW
WE GOT US NOW offers focused programming for children and young adults impacted by parental incarceration that aims to build leadership, peer connection, and self-advocacy. Through initiatives like the “Actionists” leadership program, participants gain tools and training to share their experiences publicly and influence change, while the “Build” program supports community-based projects led by youth with lived experience.
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.
FOREVER FAMILIES
FOREVERFAMILY supports children and families impacted by parental incarceration with family-centered services: monthly visits, enrichment activities, and leadership development. It works to strengthen parent-child relationships and help children of incarcerated parents thrive.
ScholarCHIPS
ScholarCHIPS is a nonprofit organization that provides college scholarships, mentoring, and support to youth with incarcerated parents, helping them pursue higher education and break cycles of intergenerational incarceration. Founded in Washington, D.C., by Yasmine Arrington, ScholarCHIPS awards renewable scholarships, hosts leadership and wellness workshops, and fosters a supportive community of peers and mentors. Its mission is to empower students through education, encouragement, and opportunity, turning adversity into achievement.
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.
PUT ME IN
Put Me In! is a U.S. nonprofit that helps children of incarcerated parents access sports opportunities by providing annual financial aid—typically about $1,000 per child—to cover costs like equipment, uniforms, and travel. Its mission is to build confidence, resilience, and community for these youth through consistent participation in athletics.
THE WALLS TO BRIDGES PROJECT
Walls to Bridges Project is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting children of incarcerated family members by mailing books on behalf of their loved ones behind bars, aiming to maintain connection, foster learning, and mitigate the emotional impact of separation.
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