BEYOND THE WALLS
OCTOBER 2019
BEYOND THE WALLS
Chaplain Kemmie McNeese remembers having Simms in the class and how she absorbed all of the information they learned to become a better parent. Now there are dozens of other women in the program working to be where she is now. The Children’s Center focuses on activities that encourage communication and bonding between the parent and child, like worksheets.
“Children get to take those home and the caregiver gets to see what we’ve done, and it gives them a conversation they can have with the caregiver. Now we have the child, mother and caregiver in the conversation,” explains McNeese.
According to McNeese, every month the child, caregiver, and the incarcerated parent have a counseling session in addition to the worksheets that are sent home. McNeese says their goal is to teach each child one tool they can take home and use each time they visit. The Chaplain encourages the ladies to put into action the parenting skills they are learning now. McNeese says changing the family dynamic will help lower the chances of the offenders returning to prison.
19
“Family is crucial in corrections. Being able to have this component leading us to bringing these people together makes a difference in the reintegration process. It plays a big part in recidivism,” says McNeese.
She says the skills they learn in the program help them continue a process of healing and growth, even beyond the walls.
Article and video by Kasandra Ortiz
Kasandra.Ortiz@gdc.ga.gov