Connecting At-Risk Youth to Positive Role Models and Activities

Studies have shown that the children of parents who have been incarcerated are six times more likely to be arrested and jailed themselves. BerksConnections links caring volunteers to the children of incarcerated parents, to youth detained at the Berks County Youth Center, and to at-risk youth in our community.

The Mother’s Voice program allows incarcerated mothers of small children to record a story on tape. The child receives the tape and book as a gift from their mother. The child can then listen to the tape of his/her mother reading while following along in the book.

FUNdamentals - Youth participate in educational programs, community service projects and as the name implies, they have FUN, going on field trips and attending several community activities sponsored by BCPS. The program seeks to instruct and educate them on a variety of life skills encouraging responsibility, self-worth and self-reliance and focuses on youth detained at the Berks County Youth Center and in the BCYC PREP program.

The Holiday Gift Drive - BCPS enlists volunteers throughout the community to provide holiday gifts for children of individuals who are incarcerated or involved in the local criminal justice system. Many volunteers choose to deliver the gifts themselves, while other gifts are collected and distributed at a special holiday event courtesy of the West Lawn United Methodist Church.

Family & Friends Coping with Incarceration - BCPS staff and volunteers lead a twice-monthly support group for the families and friends of individuals involved in the criminal and juvenile justice systems. Meetings are usually held on the 1 st and 3 rd Thursdays of the month at the Mental Health Association of Berks County offices at 122 W. Lancaster Avenue in Shillington from 7 to 9 p.m.