Three Degree Guarantee: Foreverfamily

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Each month, Atlanta News First donates to an organization doing good in the community. The amount of money we donate depends on the accuracy of our First Alert Weather Team. That amount is matched by our generous sponsors at CoolRay. This month, we are highlighting the work of Foreverfamily, who supports children with a mother or father behind bars.

Nineteen little faces hidden behind pieces of art.

“We support three generations. The incarcerated parent, the caregiver and their children,” said Camilla Paul with Foreverfamily.

They are children who have a mother or father behind bars. They are children who often feel shame for their parents’ decisions. They are children who are hiding their faces because of the stigma that exists around their parents’ incarceration. They might be forgotten by society. They are kids like any other and like yours.

“The children are able to be with the mothers. Touch them, feel them, talk to them,” said Paul.

Kids who need connection with their parents, and kids who need a childhood full of happy memories. Foreverfamily exists to bring them that. They work with families who have an incarcerated parent to keep the family intact. The organization partners with prisons so the kids can have visitations with their parents, full of play and connection. The pay for phone time so the kids can call their parents whenever they want. They have programs for the kids and for caregivers as well.

“It is so nice to see the mother interact naturally with their children. Some of the children are young. We have as young as 3-years-old,” said Paul.

The point of all of this is to nurture children. To give them a way to grow and thrive despite traumatic situations. To have a childhood with their parents as present as they can be.

“It matters because it makes the children whole,” said Paul.