Reading for a Change Program: Maintaining Familial Bonds Behind Bars

Presenter Information

Kyle WardFollow
Mackenzie Shrake, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
Samantha Qualkenbush, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
Rachel Candelaria, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
Casey Lloyd, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
Shania Garcia, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
Hannah Baker, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
Madison Wegen, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
Miranda Goepfert, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
Colin McGuire, University of Northern ColoradoFollow

Presenter Classification

UNC faculty member

I will be presenting along with students

Name of business/organization/office/department

Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Description

This poster will showcase The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice’s Reading for a Change Program. The program strives to build and maintain familial bonds between incarcerated parents and their children through the participation in this program. The program involves student volunteers traveling to county jails and recording parents reading books to their children. The books and recordings are subsequently sent home to their children so that mom or dad have an opportunity to stay connected from afar. The program is currently operating out of three facilities with over 110 parent participants since 2017. In addition to the program, most participants take part in an ongoing study understanding the impact incarceration has on parent-child relationships and how a program like Reading for a Change can impact these relationships.