Help those who are struggling with the pain and loss of having a family member in prison. The articles on this page will equip you to reach out to hurting children and their caregivers. (Please click on the + to view more resources)
Ministry Basics
FAQs About Children of Prisoners
Gain insight into the problems children face when a parent goes to prison.
To help family ministry volunteers, we' ve prepared a list of...
Impact of Incarceration on Children
Take a look at the confusing emotions felt by children of the incarcerated
Children of prisoners mourn the loss of their incarcerated parent. Some...
Impact of Incarceration on Caregivers
Children aren't the only ones who suffer when mom or dad goes to prison
When fathers go to prison, mothers often become the sole caregivers...
Biblical Basis for Family Ministry
Scriptures tell us why and how to reach out to the needy families of the incarcerated
RECEIVING THE CHILDREN
TRAINING THE CHILDREN
SERVING...
Needs of Prisoners' Families
Find out more about the greatest needs of children and their caregivers.
James 2:14-16 instructs us to show our Christian faith by meeting the needs...
Ministry Tools
Ready for Family Ministry?
Use this tool to evaluate your level of preparedness for helping the families of the incarcerated
This is a self-scoring quiz with 12 statements describing...
Family Embraced Toolkit
Increase your ministry team’s vision and capacity for helping children and caregivers
For more than 30 years, thousands of churches across t...
Short-Term Ministry
Help with Angel Tree Christmas
Show lonely children that their parents in prison have not forgotten them
Angel Tree® has been a ministry of Prison Fellowship for 30 years. ...
Send a Kid to Camp
Camping is a great way to demonstrate God' s love to children of the incarcerated
Regardless of where you live, there are children of prisoners...
Lead Weekend Marriage Seminars
Bring renewed hope to couples trying to survive the challenges of incarceration
Incarceration puts a terrible strain on marriages. A 2004 study...
Long-Term Ministry
Build a Year-Round Ministry
Continue to encourage and support prisoners' families throughout the entire year
The annual Angel Tree ® Christmas program is a great w...
Pray for Prisoners' Families
Lift up the needs of children and families as they struggle to rebuild their lives
According to recent studies, the family is one of this country'...
Reach Out to Families in Crisis
Create a welcoming atmosphere of healing for families of the incarcerated
When a person goes to prison, the whole family system suffers. It is normal...
Mentor Children of Prisoners
A relationship with a caring adult helps build character and decrease destructive behavior
Children of the incarcerated have committed no crime, but...
Recommended Reading
Ministry with Prisoners and Families
Scholars, ministry practitioners, pastors, and formerly incarcerated individuals discuss ways to create authentic relational encounters with prisoners and their families.
A New Kind of Normal
After her only son was sentenced to life in prison, Carol Kent and her husband started a new ministry for prison inmates and their families.
Learning to Sing in a Strange Land
A look at the experience of incarceration both from the perspective of the prisoner and that of the inmate's family.
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