Dads in Prison Get Their Day Too

Children from across California were bused to Bay Area prisons  Saturday to visit their dad in honor of Father's Day, according to the  California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

More than 1,000 kids participated in the corrections department's  12th annual "Get On the Bus" event in conjunction with the Center for  Restorative Justice Works.

Thirty buses took the kids to state prisons including San Quentin,  Solano State Prison, and Salinas Valley State Prison, the corrections  department said.

  "Uniting fathers with their children helps to keep the family bond  that will encourage inmates to change their behavior when they are eventually  released into society," corrections Secretary Matthew Cate said in a  statement.

The buses arrived at 8 a.m. so the prisons could accommodate all  the kids, many of whom see their fathers just once a year.

  Last month, children were bused to the state's three women's  prisons for the 12th annual "Get on the Bus Mother's Day" event.

The program provides travel bags for the children, comfort bags  for their caregivers, a photograph of each child with his or her parent, and  meals for the day.

Each child received a teddy bear with a letter from his or her  parent, plus post-event counseling.

Donations from churches, schools, family foundations and other  organizations fund the programs, and transportation is provided by Silverado  Stages Inc.

About 200,000 children currently have an incarcerated parent in  California.
 

Copyright BAYCN - Bay City News
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