Family connection book project

Program Overview

 

The Family Connection Book Project was created to support meaningful connections between incarcerated parents and their children through books and reading. Through community book donations, book drives, and volunteer support, SCV has collected and prepared children’s books for family-focused correctional programs.

 

As Second Chance Volunteers continues to grow, the Family Connection Book Project remains one of our Community Care Projects and may support additional family-focused programs and organizations as opportunities become available.

 

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Expanding Support for Families

 

Incarcerated mothers

Books for the Storybook Project at York Correctional Institution. Books for Hour Children at Western Massachusetts Regional Women's Correctional Center.

 

Mothers rebuilding after release

Children’s books donated to transitional housing or reentry programs serving women and their children.

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Second Chance Volunteers is proud to announce the expansion of our Family Connection Book Project throughout New England, beginning with our outreach to the Western Massachusetts Regional Women’s Correctional Center in Chicopee, Massachusetts.

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Our mission is to help strengthen family relationships through literacy by providing children’s books that encourage meaningful connections between incarcerated parents and their children.

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This initiative demonstrates the important role literacy can play in maintaining family connections during incarceration.

Through our New England expansion, Second Chance Volunteers hopes to support similar opportunities by increasing access to children’s books and encouraging positive family engagement.

 

 

 

How the Community Makes This Possible

 

Community → Children's Book Donations → Volunteers → Incarcerated Mothers → Children at Home → Family Connection 

 

 

 

Why This Matters

 

York Correctional Institution, Connecticut’s only women’s correctional facility, houses more than 850 incarcerated women.

 

We recognize that incarceration affects entire families, including children who are navigating separation from a parent.

By expanding our Family Connection Book Project throughout New England, we hope to create additional opportunities for families to stay connected while promoting literacy, compassion, and hope.

 

In July 2025, First Literacy highlighted a mother-child reading program developed by the Criminal Justice Organization of Hampden County (CJOHC) for women incarcerated at the Western Massachusetts Regional Women’s Correctional Center.

The program was designed to improve literacy skills among incarcerated mothers and their children by providing age-appropriate books and supporting shared reading experiences. Families were offered opportunities to participate through virtual and in-person sessions.

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Studies also show that children who maintain positive contact with an incarcerated parent experience better emotional well-being and stronger family relationships.

 

The Family Connection Book Project helps support these bonds by providing books that allow mothers and children to stay connected through reading.

 

Sources:

 

• Bureau of Justice Statistics

• The Sentencing Project

• The National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated

 

 

 

Program Impact

 

Through the generosity of our community partners and volunteers, Second Chance Volunteers Inc. collected over 1,000 children’s books to support of the Storybook Project at York Correctional Institution.

 

In collaboration with the Storybook Project, incarcerated mothers are able to record themselves reading books that are then mailed to their children. These recordings allow children to hear their mother’s voice and maintain an emotional connection through reading.

 

Together with our community, the Family Connection Book Project is helping families stay connected through the power of reading.

 

Over 1,000 Books Collected

Children’s books gathered through community donations and book drives.

 

Community Partnerships

Support from organizations, corporate volunteers, and literacy advocates.

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​​​Books Collected: 1,044
Goal: 1,000

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Our Role

 

Second Chance Volunteers supports family connection and literacy initiatives by collecting and preparing children’s books for programs that serve incarcerated parents and their children.

 

Our organization works in partnership with community groups and existing family reading programs. While these programs facilitate the recording and mailing of books to children, Second Chance Volunteers helps ensure that books are available through community donations and volunteer support.

 

By working together with trusted partners, we help expand access to meaningful reading experiences for families navigating separation.

 

 

 

Get Involved

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There are many ways you can support the Family Connection Book Project and help children stay connected with their mothers through the power of reading.

 

Donate Children’s Books

Donate new or gently used children’s books.

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Host a Community Book Drive

Schools, workplaces, and community groups can organize book collections.

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Volunteer at Our Book Sorting Events

Help sort and prepare books during community service days and corporate volunteer events.

 

Partner With Us

Businesses and organizations can support the program through volunteer engagement or book donations.

 

 

 

Every child deserves a story with their mother ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​​​

 

 

Local Community partnerships

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• Darien Book Aid Plan Inc.

• UConn Library- Stamford Campus

• DoubleTree by Hilton Volunteers

• Community Donor (Daisy-Volunteer)

• Books 4 Everyone

• Fairgate Farm- Stamford

• Greenwich Event Services

• Community Donor (Bryan-Volunteer)

• Community Donor (Wildin-Volunteer)

• Community Donor (Rashad-Volunteer)

• Citrus Agentina Corp.

• Community Donor (Derek-Volunteer)

• Crest House- Stamford, CT (Community Donors)

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