Connecting Children and Incarcerated Fathers in Texas
In October 2007, the InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI) in Texas began a new programme called Storybook Dads. Managed by current inmates, this programme allows men in prison to record their voices reading children’s books.
The recordings are then given to their children as a gift from their
dads. The goal is to build or maintain connections between the child
and his/her incarcerated parent while facilitating learning for both
child and parent.
Storybook Dads was the idea of an IFI volunteer who noticed how the
dads in prison struggled to maintain a relationship with their
children. To date, 40 children have received an audio storybook from
their dads. IFI hopes to expand the programme this year to reach even
more children.
July 2008