It is time for us to take action on behalf of all the vulnerable children of incarcerated parents in the U.S. to help them maintain their relationships while in prison.

Everyone can take an active role in advocating for these children.

The following is a list of ways you can help:

2) Write/call/e-mail the Director of the Department of Corrections for your state

Write/e-mail/call the current or acting head of the Department of Corrections for your state (click the button below for the names and addresses of the Department of Corrections for all 50 states and D.C.).

The communication should advocate for adopting:

(1) More child-friendly visitation policies, such as expanded weekday and weekend visiting hours, and alternatives to invasive searches for children, and

(2) Video conferencing technology and corresponding policy changes that would allow state prisons to offer video visitations for free.

3) Write/call/e-mail the legislative representatives for your state

Write/e-mail/call the legislative representatives (State Assembly or State Senator) for your district and state. You can find your representatives and their contact information via Internet searches.

The communication should advocate for the state legislature to:

(1) Pass caregiver mitigation and diversion laws (if they haven’t already),

(2) Pass proximity laws (if they haven’t already),

(3) Pass laws funding and mandating the adoption of video conferencing technology and offering free calls and video visits for state prisoners, and

(4) Provide funding transportation costs for children to visit their incarcerated parents.

4) Support nonprofit organizations that provide family connection services

Numerous nonprofits provide a range of services to help children of incarcerated parents. These include mentoring programs, counseling and mental health services, educational support, support groups, resource provisions, legal aid, and life skills programs. In addition, many nonprofits provide family connection services, such as organizing prison visits, to help children maintain relationships with their incarcerated parents (click the button below for a list of selected nonprofit organizations and the services the family connection services offer). You can support these organizations by volunteering your time or through donations that help pay for the cost of providing the service.