The Uplifting Families Together Project (UFT) is addressing the needs of incarcerated parents and their minor children in York County by strengthening families and children impacted by incarceration.
Every year in Maine, thousands of children are impacted by the incarceration of their parents. The sudden loss of a parent can be traumatic and result in long-term emotional harm to children. VOA’s UFT Program is working to create a brighter future for local families.
WHAT WE DO:
UFT aims to improve outcomes for incarcerated parents at York County Jail, their minor children, and caregivers.
- Parent skills training in York County Jail
- Reentry Planning
- Connection to community-based resources and support for families
- Support for kinship or relative providers who care for children
- Family activities to build positive bonds
This project takes a collaborative, multi-disciplinary, and trauma-informed approach, leveraging evidence-based assessments, community partnerships, and direct interventions to break the cycle of incarceration and promote family stability.
PROJECT PARTNERS:
- York County Sheriff’s Office
- University of Southern Maine
Over the course of the three years, we hope to serve hundreds of incarcerated parents and provide wraparound support, reentry, and child wellbeing supports to over 160 families.
For more information on the project and how to access or support services, contact Tina Kenney at tina.kenney@voanne.org or Patrice Leary-Forrey at patrice.leary-forrey@voanne.org.