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Family Connections
A visit facilitator helps incarcerated parents create and maintain strong bonds with their children through visits. The facilitator provides child-friendly activities in the waiting area and on the visit floor, creating opportunities for parents to bond with their children. Offered in OBCC and Central Visits.
Participants of this program are afforded the opportunity to visit the Children’s Museum of Manhattan with their children. In October 2022, these monthly visits were expanded to include fathers. We are also currently partnering with CMOM to install interactive exhibits in facility visit rooms, creating a more family-friendly environment for the visitors and their children. Offered in RNDC, RMSC, OBCC, EMTC and GRVC. Click here for more information.
DOC partners with community-based organizations to host community engagement days, when families can spend quality time together, share a meal, and participate in structured arts and crafts activities. These events are held across all facilities, fostering opportunities for meaningful connections and positive shared experiences among incarcerated individuals and their loved ones. Offered in all facilities.
Delivered in partnership with the New York Public Library, this program helps to strengthen familial bonds through the use of books and recording devices. Participants are invited to record a book and present it to their child. Offered in all facilities. Click here for more information.
Doulas from the Caribbean Women's Health Association provide pre-natal, post-natal and birthing support to pregnant women or those who have given birth within the past year. Offered in RMSC. Click here for more information.
This program offers 12-weeks of programming aimed at assisting young fathers in custody with maintaining a healthy and positive relationship with their child(ren) and co-parent while providing resources. Offered in RNDC. Click here for more information.
The Department partners with the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, the Osborne Association, and Hour Children to offer the Visiting Family and Assistance Program (VFAP), which provides dedicated services to women housed at the Rose M. Singer Center (RMSC). Through this initiative, Osborne and Hour Children staff offer support during visits, assist in maintaining family connections, provide community referrals, and deliver specialized parenting programming. Visiting Family and Assistance Program - NYC - Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice
Hour Children Visit Services
Hour Children maintains a daily presence in Central Visits to provide direct support to visitors. Staff engage with visitors to assess their needs and facilitate appropriate referrals to external agencies and organizations, including assistance with financial support, public benefits, education, employment, family counseling and trauma-informed services. In addition, Hour Children staff share information about available resources, workshops, and support services offered within DOC facilities for their incarcerated family members. www.hourchildren.org
Museum Visits
The Department partners with the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Children’s Museum to facilitate biweekly visits at the museums. During these visits, families share meals, participate in art activities, and explore interactive exhibits designed to strengthen family bonds and create positive, lasting memories.