Oklahoma's Second Chance Families project aids children of incarcerated parents

The Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth (OCCY) held a significant meeting on April 11, 2025, focusing on the Second Chance Families collaborative project aimed at supporting children of incarcerated parents. This initiative, funded by a grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, seeks to address the unique challenges faced by these families and improve their overall well-being.

Clint Castleberry from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections presented an overview of the program, highlighting its goals to enhance services for incarcerated parents and their children. The project targets two correctional facilities: the Connors Correctional Center and the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center. Through a self-referral process, incarcerated parents can access various services designed to foster positive family engagement and reduce the cycle of generational incarceration.

The meeting featured presentations from several partner organizations involved in the initiative. Shannon Looper from Girl Scouts Beyond Bars shared success stories from their nurturing parenting classes, which have seen a 49% graduation rate among participants. These classes not only provide essential parenting skills but also facilitate monthly visits between incarcerated parents and their children, helping to strengthen family bonds.

Denise Daniels from the Oklahoma Messages Project discussed their efforts to improve literacy among children affected by parental incarceration. By filming parents reading books to their children, the program creates a vital connection that many families lack due to physical separation. Daniels emphasized the emotional impact of these videos, stating that for some children, these recordings serve as their only form of contact with their incarcerated parents.

Amanda Maxwell from New Hope Oklahoma highlighted the organization’s commitment to supporting children and families impacted by incarceration. Their programs include after-school activities and summer camps, as well as resources for caregivers to navigate the challenges of having a justice-involved family member. Maxwell noted the importance of creating a supportive community for these families, ensuring they have access to necessary resources regardless of their circumstances.

The discussions at the OCCY meeting underscored the critical need for targeted support for children of incarcerated parents, a demographic that often faces significant emotional and social challenges. The collaborative efforts of these organizations aim to bridge the gap between incarcerated parents and their children, fostering connections that can lead to healthier family dynamics and improved outcomes for the next generation.

As the project continues to evolve, the OCCY and its partners remain dedicated to addressing the needs of these families, with the hope of reducing the long-term impacts of incarceration on children in Oklahoma.