REAL REENTRY: FAMILY MATTERS
by McKenzie Ring, Director of Marketing + Communications
Family matters.
Prior to the pandemic, Mike was able to regularly see his family during visiting hours. They would travel to Lincoln from Grand Island as often as they could.
Following the pandemic, an online visiting platform was introduced and Mike's elderly grandparents were unable to navigate the technology. Connecting with the essential members of his support system stopped.
With Mike's permission, Maeve, RISE's Family Program Associate, called his grandparents to see if she could help.
Together, Maeve and Mike's grandparents worked to overcome the technology barrier keeping them apart. Within a few short weeks, they were able to see him via the online platform and now have regular visits!
Research has shown that staying connected with family while incarcerated is wildly beneficial. It improves health, behavior, and can reduce the likelihood individuals will return to prison after being released.
We are grateful, beyond measure, for the connections the RISE Family Program makes for our program participants. They are crucial in this work of breaking generational cycles of incarceration.
