Prison-Related Family Support Programs

ImPACT (The Importance of Parents and Children Together)

ImPACT Services are provided to children, caregivers and family members of incarcerated parents living in PB&J's service areas. Parents nearing release receive services in three New Mexico state prisons in order to help families build bonds, reduce family violence, learn parenting skills, address substance abuse problems, decrease recidivism and prepare themselves to be responsible members of their communities. Services offered include therapeutic support groups, parenting classes, early intervention, therapeutic family visits between incarcerated parents and their children, counseling for children and their parents, case management and community reintegration services.

KidPACT

KidPACT offers a community support system for school youth of incarcerated or formerly incarcerated parents. Services provided include home visitation, case management, counseling, facilitated support groups and collaboration with mental health teams in South Valley schools. Summertime psycho-social activities and support groups are also offered. The program is designed to reduce drop-out rates by supporting children of prisoners, reducing the shame of parental incarceration and family violence, and teach children awareness and the necessary skills to overcome the developmental effects of parental and/or generational incarceration.

The JJS (Juvenile Justice Services) Program

The JJS Program conducts parenting classes, teaches safety planning, coordinates and supervises family visitation, provides early intervention, and provides opportunities for young parents detained at the YDDC (Youth Diagnostic and Development Center) and the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center to develop and maintain healthy bonds and attachments with their children during detention.

TVCP (Tele-Visitation for Children of Prisoners)

TVCP is an innovative program created to strengthen relationships between children and their incarcerated parents, particularly when contact visits are not feasible for families.  Using televideo conferencing equipment in their own communities, youth are able to visit their inmate parents on a regular basis.  Families are assessed for case management and therapeutic needs and are provided with support throughout the visitation process.

The Jail Program

Parents incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center are provided with parenting classes and support, case management services, and therapeutic family visitation through PB&J's Jail Program.  The program works toward reducing recidivism rates and maintaining parent/child bonds during incarceration.  Children and family members are also eligible for counseling, case management, and home visitation services.  This program targets Native American and rural populations of Bernalillo County.

Heeling Hearts Prison Pets Program 

We provide best practices in gender responsive programming for incarcerated women in the New Mexico Women's Correctional Facility and at the same time rehabilitate and find homes for shelter dogs who would otherwise be euthanized. This program nurtures and heals the daughters, sisters, wives, and mothers of our community who are currently serving time. It builds bridges between the corrections population and the community by allowing the women an opportunity to give back in a very meaningful and beneficial way.  For more information, or if you would like to adopt a pet, Click Here