|
Attention: Arkansas Churches, Schools,
Legislators, and Media
On Saturday, May 19, on the steps of the State Capitol in Little Rock,
we are holding a rally and children's parade to gather support for
children of incarcerated parents and their parents in prison. This
campaign is part of a national campaign, conducted by Justiceworks
in New York, to create greater public awareness of the needs of children
whose mothers and fathers are in prison and their families.
These children and families are invisible, under
served, and the most likely to have incarcerations in their futures.
The number of women in prison has tripled the last decade. This
has caused the number of children given to relative and foster
caregivers to increase.
We are inviting individuals, churches, schools and
other organizations to participate in this event. This year we are
focusing on the plight of the children who are left behind when their
mothers are incarcerated. Along with the increased rate of incarceration
of their mothers, the number of children with a parent that is
incarcerated is increasing at such a rate that they can no longer be
treated as if they are invisible.
We are planning a children’s parade to begin at
11:30 a.m. Anyone interested in participating in the parade should meet
on the Capitol steps by 11:10 a.m. There will be balloons, food
and drinks. Several children’s choirs will perform.
Representative Jan Judy and Susan Macdougal will speak following the
parade at about noon. Refreshments will be available.
To provide visual elements to our campaign, we are
asking for the donation of dolls for display on the Capitol steps, to
represent the 50,000 children in Arkansas who have a parent in prison or
jail, or on parole or probation.
We hope this will be an opportunity to use your
creativity and make the dolls colorful and interesting. For display
purposes, the dolls need to be at least 12 inches in length so we can
prop them on the stairs. Commercially purchased dolls are also very
welcome. Following the event activities, the dolls will be given to
children of incarcerated parents and/or donated to the Children’s
Corner at the women’s prison in Newport.
If you wish to donate dolls, they can be mailed or
delivered to the address below. Also, please do not send the dolls
earlier than May 10th (due to space shortages). The dolls may be brought
to the Capitol by 10:00 a.m. on the day of the event.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS -- SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2001
11:30 Children’s Parade
12:00 Choir Performances
12:30 Introduction of Speakers
12:45 Speakers
(Please note: In case of rainy weather, the event
will be moved inside, and no food or drinks will be available.)
We hope to see you at this important public
awareness event. With public understanding about these families, we can
make a difference in the lives of the children left behind and prevent
their future incarceration.
It is estimated that we have 14,000 children in
Arkansas whose mothers are in prison or jail. Less than 10% of these
children are in, foster care. That means they are typically living with
grandparents or other relatives. State and community programs have
provided little support for these families. These children are the most
likely to become our future prisoners.
Thank you in advance for your participation. If
your organization has a newsletter we would appreciate your placement of
the event on your calendar. We also hope you will bring your
children and help lend your voice in support of an invisible and
underserved group of families that needs us. Invite everyone you know
who cares or will want to learn about these children and their needs.
If you want to volunteer to help with the event,
please call me. We need volunteers and supporters. Please let us know if
your are planning to participate. And, if you would like further
information on this whole subject, please visit the FCNetwork.
Sincerely,
Dee Ann Newell, M.A.
Chairman: Mothers in Prison, Children in Crisis
Coordinator: “Arkansas Voices Coalition for Mothers in Prison and the
Children They Leave Behind”
(501) 660-6886 Ext. 3121, Pager (501) 716-1625
The Parent Center / Centers for Youth and Families
5905 Forest Place, Suite #205
Little Rock, AR 72207
-and-
Felicia Davidson
Women’s Project
2224 South Main
Little Rock, AR
-and-
Brenda Olive, Coordinator
Arkansas Voices
-and-
Mothers in Prison, Children in Crisis 2001
Campaign/Arkansas Steering Committee Members:
Women’s Project
MIWATCH
United Methodist Women
Second Genesis Ministries
Make A New Beginning
AR Child Abuse Prevention
Advocates for Relatives and Kids
Trumpet in Zion Ministries
Centers for Youth and Families
Quapaw House
Drug Policy Education Group
Southwest Arkansas Counseling and Mental Health Center
Catherine’s House
Headstart-Prison Connection
UALR School of Social Work
UAMSC Arkansas Cares
Arkansas Interfaith Conference
|