David --  Maryland has long had family literacy programs within selected
institutions.  Prisoners who are in the school program are able to bring
children in one morning every other month along with the children's' care
giver.  The incarcerated parent participates in reading activities with the
child or children, and the caregivers have a session led by social workers
or other professionals on how to help children and themselves adjust to the
incarceration of the parent.  The program began at the Maryland Correctional
Institution for Women in the 1990's through Reading is Fundamental.  It has
expanded to two men's institutions and has had continued support from
Maryland's Correctional Education Program under the Maryland Department of
Education.  Each parent studies children's literature appropriate for
her/his children in advance of the visit, and then each child may select two
books to take home.  Some of these books are purchased, and others are
donated.  Last year Maryland's public school teacher of the year made the
donation of these books her project for the year.  There is nothing quite
like watching the commissioner of correction do the hokey-pokey with 25 or
so prisoners and their children.  Recently the program was awarded a Barbara
Bush Family Literacy Grant.  A contact for more information on this program
is the Correctional Education Librarian, Glennor Shirley, at
gshirley at msde.state.md.us.  Thank you for an informative discussion.  

Carolyn Buser, Education Specialist
United States Department of Education
Division of Adult Education and Literacy



-----Original Message-----
From: specialtopics-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:specialtopics-bounces at nifl.gov]On Behalf Of David Rosen
Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 1:56 PM
To: specialtopics at nifl.gov
Subject: [SpecialTopics 215] Family Literacy and Corrections


Bill, John and Steve,

I have a question about family literacy.  "Locked Up and Locked Out"   
points out that punishment “is not appropriate for the more than 1.5  
million children of prisoners” and that  “Neglecting these unintended  
victims will likely lead to these children replacing their parents in  
the prisons of the future.”

What is being done about this? Can you give us some examples of  
programs in prison settings that help inmates help their children to  
read or with their homework, or with other education-related or  
parenting issues?

David J. Rosen
djrosen at comcast.net






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