Your support helps us to demonstrate the value of what we’re doing.
Women In Transition started back in 1999 on a mission to maintain the ever so important bond between a child and their Parent.
There are thousands of Children of incarcerated parents who never get to visit, never get to hear their Mom or Dad talk to them hear the words I love you or hear their parent read to them from their favorite book.
To be involved in the lives of their children, be more responsible for their own deeds this can make a big difference in the child.
Can this be done from Prison? Can you parent from prison?
YES IT CAN
Through taped Messages from the heart these children will be able to see, hear and maintain a relationship with their parent.
Who are these children? They are the children of incarcerated parents… They are your neighbors, your church members, your children’s playmates. Theirs is the plight of a growing number of children in the Commonwealth of Virginia and across the nation.
How did Women In Transition make it possible for these children to share with their Mothers and Fathers?
Through videotaped messages made by the mothers and fathers for their children. Some of messages were tearful some were joyful. All were messages of love, messages that needed desperately to be made for and received by the children. Thanks to the videos the children can visit their mothers or fathers any time they wish or need by simply watching the tape made especially for them. It is not just a holiday gift, but is a gift of love that continues every day of the year.
This was a landmark project. Nothing like this had ever been in Virginia’s prisons. The enthusiastic response has been and still is overwhelming, from the mothers, the children, their caregivers, and prison officials. Everyone rejoiced in doing it, the tapes make a positive difference in the behavior of many of the children. The Wardens and Department of Corrections officials have given it their blessing and are encouraging its continuance.
Every year we try to add something else to the tapes for the children. In the past we have had donations of children’s books, which were read by the parent and sent to the children along with their tape. For many of our incarcerated parents it was the first time they were able to send a gift to their child. In .June of 2002 for Fathers Day, Women In Transition hit another landmark first with messages going to the children of incarcerated fathers. This again was a first for the Virginia Prison System and has been endorsed by the Warden and the Director of the Department of Corrections. As far as we know it was the first time this has been done in any prison in the US. We continue to do the Dad’s for Father’s Day and Christmas.
Then for Christmas of 2002 we broke more ground by being the first to do the Messages for the Hearing Impaired. What a wonderful and full filling project. No one had ever done something like this for the men or their children or families.
Other institutions have asked about the Project, but time and of course funds have hampered us for the time being. We are working on ways to get this most worthwhile project in any institution that requests it. We are looking at the Messages being a part of the Reentry Project for the inmates and their families.
We will start earlier this year, going to Powhatan Correctional Center before Thanksgiving. This will allow us more time to do more institutions. We look to add more each year. but without your help it will be impossible, so won’t you please help us help the Children for the Holidays..
The video messages are done three times a year, for Christmas, for Mothers Day, and for Fathers day.
One more step forward in the programs that will make a difference in a Child’s life, as well as helping the youth of today. It is said that a child of an incarcerated parent who doesn’t maintain the bound is 6 times more likely to become involved in the criminal justice system. Let’s help the children with the important bond they need to help stay crime free.
Your donations are needed to help keep the bond with the parent and child. It runs around 12.00 per tape to do, won’t you please help by making a donation.