LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - May 30, 2012) - Center for Restorative Justice Works is again bringing hundreds of children to visit their fathers in prison on Father's Day during this 13th Annual Get On The Bus event.
Twenty-five buses filled with more than 1,000 children and their caregivers will be traveling from San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Central Valley, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, throughout the state beginning June 2nd through June 16th to visit six men's institutions: California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo (Saturday, June 2nd), San Quentin State Prison (Friday, June 8th), Folsom State Prison and California State Prison - Sacramento (Saturday, June 9th), California State Prison - Solano (Saturday, June 16th), Correctional Training Facility and Salinas Valley State Prison (Saturday, June 16th). Buses arrive as early as 7:45 a.m. to accommodate the maximum number of visitors at these institutions. Approximately 200,000 children in California have an incarcerated parent and live with relatives.
Executive Director Kathy Culpepper said, "Get On The Bus exists to unite children with their parents in prison. Distance is the number one reason these children have been unable to see their parents. Most parents in California prisons are incarcerated more than 100 miles away from their children. These children miss their parents terribly and need to know that they are not abandoned. Regular visitation helps to decrease the negative impacts of parental incarceration on the children. For many of these children, this is the only time during the year that they will see their father."
Approximately 200,000 children in California have an incarcerated parent and live with relatives or are in foster care, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
"Last year, Get On The Bus united over 1,300 children with their mother or father. This year we've added an additional prison to our program and have received more applications than ever before," said Get On The Bus Program Director Hilary Carson.
Get On The Bus provides free transportation for children and their caregivers, travel bags for the children, comfort care bags for the caregivers, a photograph of each child with his or her father, and meals for the day. Children will wear Get On The Bus t-shirts with the names of donors and supporters. On the bus trip home following the visit, each child will receive a teddy bear with a letter from his or her father as well as post-event counseling. The program is funded by donations from churches, schools, family foundations, grants and other organizations.
Get On The Bus was founded by Sister Suzanne Jabro thirteen years ago after learning from the women she visited in prison that they never had a chance to see their children. Staying connected to their children is just as important for incarcerated mothers and fathers as it is for the kids; research indicates it's the greatest indicator for a successful re-entry upon release.
The media is invited to ride local buses and/or attend the prison events in Corona and Chowchilla. Gate clearance is required.
For CMC: Contact Lt. Dean Spears at (805) 547-7948
For FSP: Contact Lt. Paul Baker (916) 985-2561 Ext. 3016
For SQ: Contact Lt. Sam Robinson (415) 455-5008
For CTF: Contact Lt. Darren Chamberlain (831) 678-5952
For SVSP: Contact Lt. Michael Nilsson (831) 678-5500 x 5554
For CSP-SOL: Contact Lt. Bea Torres (707) 454-3257
To view highlights of last year's event, visit http://www.youtube.com/CAcorrections#p/c/568AE1C483A924DF/37/O3p7xiQAbTM .
Contact Information:
Contact Information
Contact:
Kathy Culpepper
Executive Director
Center for Restorative Justice Works
(818) 980.7714 ext. 13