Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership

Through a team of dedicated Frederick volunteers, COIPP has developed a unique approach to assisting the children and families who are impacted by incarceration. In fact, COIPP is ostensibly the only organization in the nation that serves not only the child, but also the child’s caregiver and the incarcerated family member. All services are provided free of charge to the families and revolve around the needs of the children. We accomplish this through donations, fundraising, and grants. We care greatly about the children in our community for they are our neighbors and our friends. They deserve to have a happy, healthy childhood so they can grow up to be productive adults.

There are over 2.7 million children, ages birth through 18, with an incarcerated parent in the United States. In Maryland alone there are over 90,000 children in this situation. The exact number of Frederick children with an incarcerated parent is difficult to discern, for their parents may be incarcerated at jails and prisons throughout the United States. In 2019, we served over 700 children in one capacity or another. Many times children impacted by the incarceration of a loved one suffer financially, socially and emotionally. Because the incarceration is often viewed as a family secret, or the family lacks the ability to help with needed resources for the child, this situation can bring about enormous stress and trauma.

Through the Unity Campaign, we will be able to maintain our present efforts and enhance our ability to offer much needed services to meet the needs of these children. Our expanded endeavors will include the distribution of additional, high quality children’s books on relevant topics such as feelings, having an incarcerated loved one, and the meaning of family. Funds raised through the Unity Campaign will enable us to increase the number of Family Resource Boxes we mail out, and expand resources for our Sharing Fairs and COVID Emergency Giveaways. It is our goal to increase the number of scholarships we offer at Frederick Community College for caregivers, ex-inmates who are parents, and children old enough to attend college. We would also like to expand our GED offerings and possibly add scholarships to technical schools and at local four year colleges and universities. In addition, it is our plan to provide financial support for children who would benefit from attending extra curricular activities such as dance classes, art lessons, and sports, and attend summer camps. These ideas grow as we listen carefully to our children, their caregivers and their parents to ensure that we are responding to their needs. For us this means that the assistance we can offer is endless. Help us aid these children by raising money for activities and resources geared to help mitigate the children’s trauma, while supporting their financial needs.