One of the greatest and most immediate needs families have who are dealing with the incarceration of a loved one is information. From what services are available locally to help the struggling family meet their basic needs, to navigating the prison system, a complex world of protocols regarding visits, phone calls, care packages, and a host of other details, families need answers to all of their questions as quickly as possible.
One way Extended Family works to fulfill this need for information is through our website. We offer several helpful tips for families trying to adjust to this “new normal,” advice shared by others who have learned to manage life with an incarcerated loved one. Tips include a variety of topics, including preparing for visits to prisons, talking to children about incarceration, and even remembering self-care, all essential to easing the burden for families. We want to provide as much information and support as we can so that no family has to go through this experience alone.
Our website also keeps an updated list of hundreds of resources from across the nation. Our Resource Database lists organizations which provide services to meet the family’s physical, mental, and emotional needs. Service providers like Prison Families Alliance (PFA) provide multiple online support groups for family members every week. This opportunity is especially important for families who live in communities with limited resources, and we are proud to partner with PFA to inform family members about these and other free online services.
We are always looking for information about local resources for families in communities across the country, and we welcome new partnerships. Our goal is to provide the best possible support for the families when they need it the most, fulfilling our mission, “To offer help and inspire hope” for this underserved segment of our society.
For more information about Extended Family and our programs, please visit our website, www.extendedfamilyhelp.org, or contact us at info@extendedfamilyhelp.org. Together, we are making a difference, one family at a time.
