Hello, welcome to the new site of The National Incarcerated Parents and Families Network. My name is Charles E. Stuart, I am the President and Founder of this 501-C3, Tax Exempt Non-Profit Organization. Our Mission Statement: Whether it is knowledge or resources that are necessary to aid others, an advocate is someone who is actively willing to pursue causes that will benefit people in need. This organization was originally created to support families and children with incarcerated parents. We worked as liaisons between families and the incarcerated parent, worked as counselors to the children and parents, both separately and together. The goal was to create a family unit that never felt broken during incarceration, rather to strengthen the bond and parenting skills in anticipation of a successful release from imprisonment as to reduce the recidivism rates. This cause will always be a main reason for everyone involved in this network. However, we have found the need to focus our efforts towards education as well, as it is a key factor in determining future incarceration rates. We need to pay more attention to an education system that is failing our kids, and as a result, the world is seeing more youth in trouble with both their frustrated parents and the law. They are winding up in the juvenile justice system, and even more severe, prison. One of the methods currently used to predict how many prisons to build in the future is to look at students’ reading and math levels as early as the 3rd grade. It is no secret that Pennsylvania schools are declining in the quality of education that is being offered. The records are made public when the scores arrive, the funding is being cut to the districts that are not meeting adequate yearly progress (AYP), and teachers are being furloughed due to these budget cuts, increasing class size and increasing the teacher to student ratios. All students are getting less individualized attention, students with individualized education plans (IEPs) are receiving fewer services to meet their needs and many parents are not aware of what FAPE really means, Free Appropriate Public Education. Appropriate is defined as, “suitable or proper”. In order to reduce the amount of juveniles finding trouble and leading themselves down the wrong path, advocates need to fight for an appropriate education for the youth and future of America. The National Incarcerated Parents and Families Network will continue to advocate for youth with an incarcerated parent, but will also branch out to advocate for youth and families that are not getting an education that will lead that youth to a life of success. SITE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. AS WE UPDATE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME: CSTUARTCONSULT@AOL.COM |