Children of incarcerated parents again and again speak of their overwhelming sense of isolation, shame, guilt, grief and loss.

There are over 4,000 Vermont children with one or both parents in prison or somewhere in the corrections system.

50% of all children with incarcerated mothers are cared for by grandparents; nearly 2/3rds of children being raised by single grandmothers live in poverty.

Nearly 75% of those admitted to state prison have been convicted of nonviolent crimes.

Since 1985, the number of women in prison has tripled -- they are the fastest growing segment of the prison population.  The harmful effects on their children have multiplied even more.

“Mass incarceration is the greatest threat to child welfare in the United States.”
-Comment from the international organization that awards
The World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child