Historically, the criminal justice system has overlooked the well-being and needs of children and youth who have a loved one in the legal system. The following links provide services, information, and resources to children with justice-involved parents or caregivers.
A national resource directory has been created by Rutgers University. The directory includes programs and resources from all 50 states and international programs. nrccfi.camden.rutgers.edu/resources/directory/
Area Served: National
Parent Organization: Notre Dame Mission Volunteers–AmeriCorps
Email: natloffice@ndmva.org
Website: ndmva.org
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities: Yes
Notre Dame–AmeriCorps' CHIP program provides one-on-one mentoring for children affected by parental incarceration. NDA also partners with area schools and social-service agencies to provide educational support for youth and adults.
Area Served: National
Parent Organization: Girl Scouts of the USA
Email: misc@girlscouts.org
Website: girlscouts.org/who_we_are/our_partners/initiatives/gsbb.asp
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities: Yes
The goals of the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars (GSBB) program are to lessen the impact of parental separation due to incarceration, oster the personal and social development of girls and their mothers, and provide girls with the opportunity to participate with their parents in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Parents and their daughters take an active leadership role in the planning and implementation of Girl Scout program activities and also participate in facilitated discussions about family life, conflict resolution, and prevention of violence and drug abuse. After release, parents and daughters can continue to participate in troop meetings in their communities, making Girl Scouting a consistent presence in their lives.
Area Served: National
Parent Organization: KidsMates Inc.
Email: info@kidsmates.org
Website: kidsmates.org
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities: Yes
KidsMates Inc. is a national non-profit organization co-founded by children of incarcerated parents. KidsMates Inc.’s advocacy raises awareness about the silent American epidemic of parental incarceration and its lifelong negative impacts on affected children. The organization implements initiatives aimed at improving outcomes, fostering resilience, and empowering children of incarcerated parents. Visit their website to find out more.
Area Served: National
Parent Organization: WeGotUsNow
Email: Ebony@wegotusnow.org
Website: wegotusnow.org
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities: Yes
We Got Us Now is a national nonpartisan organization built by, led by, and about children and young adults impacted by parental incarceration, with the mission to engage, educate, elevate, and empower children of incarcerated parents. They use digital narratives, safe and inclusive spaces, and advocacy-led campaigns to ensure that families are connected to create fair sentencing and end mass incarceration.
Area Served: National
Website: nicic.gov/projects/children-of-incarcerated-parents
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities: No
The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) is the only federal agency with a legislative mandate to provide specialized services to corrections from a national perspective. NIC provides a webpage dedicated to children of incarcerated parents. The webpage includes research, policy, programs, statistics, and resources.
