For incarcerated men and women – about 3700 DC residents in over 100 prisons from here to California – and for their children, displacement has grave consequences. But through Hope House programs, children experience the thrill of new books, the joy of hearing their parent read to them on audio tapes, and the positive messages they hear about education, behavior, and love. Week-long summer camps behind bars focus on arts, literacy activities, and fun. While working together on life-size murals, parents find ways to communicate family history, important life lessons, and even favorite relationship tips. Older kids participate in a college challenge as they seek out resources to support their college dreams; "boost baskets" help the neediest families; peer support groups address a critical problem – the isolation and social stigma experienced by children deprived of a loved parent.
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