Statistics: A major concern to TIFA is the impact of their parent's incarceration on the children of men and women in Texas jails and prisons. According to recent evidence from the National Institute of Corrections (NIC), parental arrest and confinement add to the stress, trauma, stigmatization and separation problems of the children. As a result, they often exhibit a broad range of behavioral, emotional, health, and educational problems that are compounded by the pain of separation. Most current studies show that children of inmates' risk of future incarceration is now eight times greater than their peers.
Storybook Project
TIFA is engaged in piloting the Storybook Project in several TDCJ units. The Storybook Project allows incarcerated parents to engage in the reading development of their small children and provides an opportunity for meaningful contact between the child and the parent.
The following TDCJ Units are currently participating in TIFA's Storybook Project:
Travis County State Jail - Austin
Dawson State Jail - Dallas
Hutchins Unit - Dallas
TIFA Grant: Pilot GED Program for Ad Seg Inmates (PLUS Update)
TIFA was pleased to pilot GED classes with inmates from the greater Austin area who were in Administrative Segregation. The pilot was funded by TIFA through a grant from the Lola Wright Foundation. Family members of inmates who had not completed high school and who were from the counties of Burnet, Williamson, Hays, or Travis were asked to contact the TIFA office. Eight participants were chosen, and a teacher, Jerry Stegall, was hired to teach them one-to-one at the Hughes Unit in Gatesville.
It was our hope that this pilot effort, in collaboration with Windham School District and the University of Texas Distance Learning Program, would be successful and could be expanded to inmates from other geographic regions of the state. We were most appreciative of TDCJ's working with us to help inmates in Ad Seg who are not eligible to attend regular classes available to those in the general population.
UPDATE from Dr. Joan Burnham who developed the pilot program and obtained the grant that made it possible:
Eight offenders from Travis County participated in the program. Of the group, 5 passed their GED, one was doing well but was transferred to the GRAD program, one participant was paroled, and one was moved into the SVORI program for Ad Seg offenders. All in the program did well, and it was expected that the three who left Hughes would have passed the GED exam. It is hard to say, but their participation in the GED pilot might have been a factor in their transfer (or in one case release) to the other two programs.
The wardens indicated that the offenders were motivated and participation in the program really helped with their attitude and sense of accomplishment. Morale was definitely high with all of them, and they worked hard during the week between their one to one tutoring sessions with the GED instructor.
During the session, a bill was introduced and was sent to the Governor’s office for his approval. It would have made it possible for TDCJ to serve Ad Seg offenders with in-cell GED and other educational instruction. Unfortunately, it was vetoed by the governor. The bill will certainly come up again in the next session
Angel Tree Program
All too often, the forgotten victims of crime are the little children of inmates, who are left without a father or mother - through no fault of their own. We all pay the price for this: the evidence is clear that children with a parent in prison are more likely to end up in prison themselves someday. Now you can join Angel Tree, a ministry of Prison Fellowship, and help break this cycle of crime by sharing gifts for children of inmates during the holiday season.
Link to the Angel Tree Program Web Site.
Summer Camps
Camp Good News: The Episcopal Diocese of Texas sponsors camps for children of incarcerated parents, ages 10-15. Camp is open to any child in Texas with a parent who is incarcerated in a federal, state, county, or local jail. There is no charge for the camp to the family. Enrollment is limited to 60. Camp Good News is held at beautiful Camp Allen (near Navasota) which is owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. This summer's camp will be Aug. 3 - 8, 2008. For information, contact the coordinator for Restorative Justice Ministries at 936-291-3153 or edsalpc@yahoo.com
Promise Camp: Promise Camp is a summer camp for children whose lives have been impacted by the imprisonment of a parent. The Camp is a ministry of the Episcopal Church Diocese of Northwest Texas and is funded entirely by donations. There is no cost to the campers or their parents and the transportation is provided. Promise Camp provides a safe place to rest, play and enjoy being a child. Link to the Promise Camp pdf brochure for more information.
