Program Spotlight

Building Bonds When Bars Come Between

Dressed in blue prison jumpsuits, the 20 inmates waited for the magic to arrive. Prison teaches you a lot about waiting, and these men serving sentences at Dade Correctional Institution in Florida City know about patience.

But this day was different. They were waiting to see their children, and for some, the wait had been more than a year. Twon Adams shifted his feet. Mario Delarosa drummed his fingers on the table. Jessie Smith fidgeted in his seat. One of the men even joked: “It’s just like Christmas – you’ve got to wait for Santa Claus.” Then the heavy metal door opened, and the first of the children stepped in. There were big hugs and warm smiles, and a few tears as the children slid into their fathers' arms. Magic filled the room.

On Dec. 21 and 22, 150 children from Miami-Dade County traveled to six different Florida prisons to visit with their incarcerated parents as part of the Service Network for Children of Inmates, a program that The Children’s Trust funded this year with $778,000. The service network, a coalition of eight faith-based and professional organizations, launched three years ago and has since helped more than 500 children establish meaningful and lasting ties with their mothers and fathers who are serving prison sentences.

Children of inmates are considerably more likely to get into trouble and wind up in prison than other children. The bonding that happens in these visits connects families, boosts the children’s self-esteem and goes a long way toward helping them grow into responsible adults. 

“We focus on the children, try to get them the services and support they need,” said Shellie Solomon, program project director and CEO of Justice & Securities Strategies, which oversees the Service Network. “Because each case is different, you just can’t take a blanket approach.” 

Arranging for the visits takes a mountain of coordination. The Department of Corrections screens the prisoners; those whose crimes or influence with their children might be more disruptive than helpful are denied participation. Though it has been in operation for a relatively short period of time, Children of Inmates has become highly popular both with inmates and with participating detention facilities. 

Inmates tell other inmates who then ask to participate, and the chance to visit with their children serves as a powerful positive incentive. Inmates’ behavior tends to improve while in prison, and the possibility that they will be successful in getting their lives back in order once released is enhanced because of the bonding from the visits, explained Chuck Hood, a consultant for Justice & Securities Strategies.

Hood, former director of Florida’s Department of Children and Families, met with the inmates before the children arrived and encouraged previous program participants to share with new men what to expect and what was most important about the visit. 

“Just love them,” one man suggested. “Just let them know that they’re the number one thing in your life – that’s what they need to know.”  

The day started early on Dec. 22 for the visits to Dade and Homestead Correctional Institutions, two adjacent prisons for men and women respectively, in South Dade. The children and their caretakers met at designated facilities at different ends of the county for breakfast and then boarded buses.

In the south, they gathered at Agape Family Ministries, a non-denominational faith-based community health center. Claudio Perez, president and CEO of Agape, met with the group as they prepared to leave for the prisons.

“It’s the holidays, a time of love, and this is an opportunity to share that love. It’s a special time and means a lot to your loved ones,” Perez told the group At the prisons, the children waited as the entry process took its careful course. Their identity was verified by prison guards, they were passed through security checkpoints and then a series of clanging metal doors. The process of entering a maximum security prison was daunting enough for an adult, let alone a child.

 But once inside and when seated together with “Mom” or “Dad,” the strangeness of the place faded away and “family” took the forefront.

Books, games and toys, purchased at discount prices by the program, were passed out to facilitate the conversation flow. Stacks of dominoes were set up. Games of Monopoly and Chutes and Ladders were spread out on the tables. Some families played rounds of card games, checkers or chess as they talked.

After an hour or so of games and conversation, it was time for lunch. Families enjoyed a meal of pizza, chicken wings and salad together at their tables.

Because Christmas was just days away, there was a special treat for the day. Holiday stockings had been stuffed with small presents and were distributed to the children in each family. William Churchwell, warden at the prison, handed out the stockings himself.

Churchwell, a serious-looking man who wore a tie and sharply pressed shirt, moved from table to table. Speaking in a heavy Southern drawl, he greeted each family with a “How ya’ll doin? Merry Christmas to yah.”

Each family received the gift with sincere appreciation and thanks. For these children and families so unused to moments together like these, the exchange seemed especially meaningful.  After nearly three hours together, the group photo was announced – the signal that the visit was about to end. The inmates were briefed beforehand: when the photo is announced that’s the time for final hugs and to say your “goodbyes.” The program is especially careful to respect the timeframe that the prison has established for the visits.

Twan Adams, 16, spent the afternoon laughing and conversing with Twon Adams, his father. Adam's wife, Raven Adams, and Twan's mother, Alyna Williams, were there as well.   

“This is a top program, a five-star program,” said Williams, as she stood to go. “It’s been so important to us.”

Twan and his dad exchanged a brief parting hug, patting each other on the back. One of the Justice & Securities staff moved by and asked them to pose for a photo. “Do that again,” she said, encouraging them to embrace again. They did, and given this second chance, father and son held each other for a good long time before they let each other go.

Written by Michael R. Malone