Summary
Organization name
Ambassadors for Hope: Supporting Children with a Parent in Prison
Budget Size
$1-$999,999
Address
PO Box 235Millersville, PA 17551
Lancaster County, PA, US
🐻 Why Choose Us
Everything changes when a parent goes to prison. We're the ONLY agency in Lancaster County focused 100% on kids with a parent in prison.
🐻 Who We Serve
We serve children who have a parent in prison and the people who care for and about them.
🐻 How We Help
We help by providing resources to meet emergency needs, assist with fees for rent, utilities, heat, and gas, provide children with teddy bears that have a voice recording of their parent, and assist, when appropriate, in maintaining contact with the incarcerated parent. We supply age appropriate books and other resources to children with a parent in prison and their caregivers to help them understand and cope with the challenges they face.
🐻 Why the Teddy Bear Is Important
Teddy bears comfort children of all ages. Ambassadors for Hope provides stuffed bears with an internal recording device. Incarcerated parents are assisted to record a message for their child, which the child can play over and over again. A beautiful stuffed bear that plays a comforting message in the parent's own voice helps the child deal with separation from their parent.
🐻 The Book Collection Project
The subject of parental incarceration is not always easy to approach, however, talking about feelings with a parent or caretaker can be extremely beneficial for the child. To help with this, we have read and systematically assessed children's literature about parental incarceration to find books with the most relatable content. This past year we provided one collection to the elementary guidance department of each school district in Lancaster County and one set to the Lancaster County Library system. We are now in the process of putting together a collection for middle school reading levels and are looking for funding to purchase this collection.
🐻 Our Partner--Compass Mark
In response to Ambassadors for Hope's advocacy, Lancaster County supports a Family Services Advocate, housed at Compass Mark. The Family Services Advocate offers services to children as soon as possible after their parents' incarceration. The focus of the Family Services advocate is in assisting the caregiver in meeting the child's basic needs and reducing the trauma that a child faces when a parent goes to prison. You can reach the Family Services Advocate at 717-299-2831 x229 or by email at kshambaugh@compassmark.org
Who We Are
🐻Why Choose Us
Everything changes when a parent goes to prison. We're the ONLY agency in Lancaster County focused 100% on kids with a parent in prison.
🐻Who We Serve
We serve children who have a parent in prison and the people who care for and about them.
🐻How We Help
We help by providing resources to meet emergency needs, help with fees for summer camps and before-school and after-school child care, as well as assist, when appropriate, in maintaining contact with the incarcerated parent. We supply books and other resources to children with a parent in prison and their caregivers to help them understand the challenges they face.
🐻Why the Teddy Bear Is Important
Teddy bears comfort children of all ages. Ambassadors for Hope provides stuffed bears with an internal recording device. Incarcerated parents are assisted to record a message for their child, which the child can plan over and over again. A beautiful stuffed bear that plays comforting message in the parent's own voice helps the child deal with separation from their parent.
🐻What Your Donation Will Pay for
$10 will buy a book
$30 will buy a recordable teddy bear
$50 will pay for a week of before or after school activities
$100 will pay for a booster seat
$150 will pay for a week at camp
🐻Our Partner--Compass Mark
In response to Ambassadors for Hope's advocacy, Lancaster County supports a Family Services Advocate, housed at Compass Mark. The Family Services Advocate offers services to children as soon as possible after their parents' incarceration...
Mission
Mission:
AFH identifies needs and advocates solutions for the children of incarcerated parents by:
• Educating and mobilizing the community
• Empowering affected families
• Influencing public policy
Organization Data
Millersville, PA 17551