Children of Incarcerated Parents
Parents and Children Together (PACT). Parents and Children Together (PACT) allows women offenders and their children to share time together in a safe, structured environment. Parents receiving any agency services may participate. There are up to four events annually. Each themed event features healthy, fun activities so the children can have special memories of positive time spent with their mothers. PACT helps to rebuild important family bonds broken during a mother’s incarceration.
Moments of Magical Storytelling (MOMS). When children are separated from an incarcerated parent for a lengthy period of time, they often suffer from loneliness, confusion, guilt and shame. They may lack the emotional makeup needed to develop strong, stable personalities. Moments of Magical Storytelling (MOMS) is a collaborative effort between THE PROGRAM for Women & Families and St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Trexlertown, that helps the children of the women incarcerated at the Women’s Residential Community Center cope with separation from their mothers. Under the supervision of a trained staff person, mothers at the WRCC record stories on audiotapes for their children. They are encouraged to write a note to their child as well. The tape, a donated recorder, note and a copy of the book are then given to the child’s caregiver to share with the child.