IN ARMS REACH, INC., in collaboration with Abandoned Nation (The Foundation) is a non-profit art, music, FREE prison visitation and educational mentoring organization that exclusively services children whose parents are or were formerly offenders of the criminal justice system.



IN ARMS REACH/ABANDONED NATION "THE MOVEMENT"

• Empowers a child by giving him or her academic assistance with qualified mentors, the opportunity to develop new skills and realize their full potential.
  
  
• Breaks the potential cycle of incarceration passed from parent to child by offering one-on-one and group counseling in a supportive setting.
  
  
• Helps build, nurture and maintain parent and child existing relationship to reduce feelings of abandonment, anger, guilt and quell the anxiety children of imprisoned parents are particularly prone - by providing trips upstate to visit their parent(s).
  
  
• Provides a voice for children enrolled in the public school system through meetings with officials, involvement in curriculum, encouragement and supervision of higher grades and academic excellence.
  
  
• Strives to increase public awareness about the effects of parental incarceration on children nationwide.
  
  
• Works in conjunction with City College for the City University of New York in partnership with the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education. Programs and workshops are run on the City College campus.

OBJECTIVE

IN ARMS REACH/ABANDONED NATION focuses on reinforcing positive behavior, decreasing emotional withdrawal by nurturing self-confidence and creative skills. We aim to prepare each child for admission to college so that they may lead productive, crime-free lives. We engage and motivate prison officials and parents to become our partner to realize the effect incarceration has on children. We also aim to give imprisoned parents the strength to better themselves through our commitment to serving their children.

POPULATION

Must be New York City residents between the ages of 7 and 18 with a parent who is currently or has previously served a prison sentence.

IN ARMS REACH/ABANDONED NATION recruits through after-school programs, group homes; foster care agencies, NYS and federal prisons, community-based youth and social service organizations. Members are required to attend regularly and present their report cards in order to remain in the program.


For more information, visit

www.inarmsreach.org

www.myspace.com/inarmsreachab

www.abandonednation.com

This message has been edited. Last edited by: simzz,

Go drop a few words for the kids!

www.myspace.com/inarmsreachabkids

The open house has been rescheduled for April 18th. Sorry for the inconvenience.