Vermont Children’s Aid Society’s Kids-A-Part Program is here to support families with an incarcerated parent. VCAS staff work with children of incarcerated parents, their caregivers, incarcerated mothers, and incarcerated mothers who are re-entering the community through the Northern Lights program.  We also provide support and training to community groups and caregivers who work with children with parents in prison.  We are currently seeking support that would allow us to begin to expand parent programs to fathers in Vermont’s men’s facilities. If you are interested in getting involved with your area's action team that is working on helping children with a parent in prison, please visit the Vermont Agency of Human Services website to find your district office, and then call to speak with your local field director.

For children with a parent in prison, we provide:

• Individual counseling around issues of grief and loss.
• Referrals to organizations and helping professionals in your own community. 
• Gatherings of children with a parent in prison.  

For caregivers of children of incarcerated parents, we can offer:

•  “Survival Guides” to help you know what to expect during this time – from the children in your care, from the correctional facilities, and about what resources are available.  
•  Gas cards and other transportation support. 
• Referrals to organizations and helping professionals in your own community.
• Gatherings of other caregivers of children of incarcerated parents.

For incarcerated mothers in Vermont’s Dale and Windsor facilities:

Individual Support and Consultation to address: 

• Parent education and counseling during incarceration to coordinate parent-child contact and improve communication with children and caregivers.  
• Visitation assistance including help with financial and other obstacles relating to family visits.  
• Coordination with other community agencies that are working with the family.  
• Referrals to community parent support resources as part of release planning.
  

Group work to help with:    

• Grief and loss.  
• Child development.  
• Effective parenting.  
• Relationship and communication issues with caregivers.  
• Self-awareness.  

Counselors are experienced, sensitive, and caring. VCAS staff is trained and experienced in working with families and children with emphasis on the specific issues that families face during a mother’s incarceration.

For helping professionals and community groups, we can provide training and consultation to help you and your team learn about and meet the needs of children affected by a parent’s incarceration. 

For more information call our Winooski office at 802.655.0006 or our Woodstock office at 802.457.3084, or email us at mainadmn@vtcas.org.