The United States has thousands of federal, state, and local detention facilities. Together, these systems hold more than 1.2 million people in 1,566 state prisons, 98 federal prisons, 3,116 local jails, as well as 1,323 juvenile correctional facilities, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. These numbers represent an even greater number of family members left to carry on in their loved ones’ absence, many of whom are children.
Extended Family provides programs and services for the family members of prisoners. Extended Family for Kids (EFK) is a 9-lesson, evidence-based curriculum for children who have experienced the incarceration of any loved one. EFK provides instruction for physical, mental, emotional and moral development by teaching children to make good choices, even though their loved one made choices resulting in incarceration. The Extended Family for Kids curriculum has been distributed in 18 states and provides Program Leaders with detailed instructions for teaching the nine lessons.
Extended Family staff leads more than fifty EFK groups in schools and juvenile diversion programs every year locally. Additionally, we take Program Leader Training to communities anywhere EFK is needed, in an effort to reach as many of the millions of children affected by the incarceration of a loved one as possible. EFK is designed to help remove the stigma and blame children carry when a family member is in prison. They learn that they are not alone, that there are many other children, even in their own schools and classes, who are sharing the same experience. Children in EFK are relieved to learn “we don’t have to do their time” and other important skills to manage stress and emotions in ways that won’t get them into trouble. By teaching them these valuable skills, we are not only working to break the cycle of incarceration in families but are also trying to prevent children from entering the juvenile justice system. EFK Program Leader Training is in high demand, and we have trained hundreds of leaders to take EFK into their communities.
More detailed information about Extended Family for Kids, and other programs for children and adult family members, is available on our website, www.extendedfamilyhelp.org, or by contacting us at info@extendedfamilyhelp.org.