Supporting Children of Incarcerated Parents: CIW and Gordon Philanthropies Advocate for Library Programs in Prisons

At the 2024 National Children of Incarcerated Parents Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, discussions highlighted the crucial role of Children's Libraries in correctional facilities. Delinia Lewis, the Acting Chief Deputy Warden at California Institution for Women (CIW), alongside Sylvia Beanes, Executive Director of Gordon Philanthropies, underscored the importance of these facilities for fostering connections between incarcerated parents and their children.

CIW has implemented a Children’s Library to aid in creating a positive environment for visiting children. Funded by Gordon Philanthropies, this initiative provides children with access to books and educational materials while waiting to meet their incarcerated relatives. The project aims to reduce recidivism and support developmental outcomes by nurturing parental bonds during visits, which often span hours due to security protocols.

Lewis and Beanes emphasized the positive impacts of consistent, meaningful visitations facilitated through these library programs. The goal is to replicate such initiatives across other states, making them pivotal in addressing the challenges children face when a parent is incarcerated. It is estimated that around 2.7 million children in the U.S. have at least one incarcerated parent, facing significant educational and behavioral challenges.