You are not forgotten either. Incarceration does not only happen to the person behind the wall — it reshapes entire families. These resources are for you.
"Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body." — Hebrews 13:3
No program, resource, or organization replaces what God can do in a moment of prayer. Before you scroll this page, before you make a call, before you send a letter — pray. Pray for your loved one by name. Pray for their safety, their heart, and for the Holy Spirit to move in that place. Pray for yourself. Pray for the families around you walking the same road. Prayer is not a last resort. It is the foundation.
Send a Prayer Request →Please note: I am a private individual and do not operate or endorse any of these organizations. This list is provided as a starting point only. Always verify contact information, program availability, and eligibility directly with each organization before making decisions based on this page.
TDCJ's GO KIDS program was created specifically to strengthen family relationships and connect children of incarcerated parents with support services, mentoring, parenting programs, counseling resources, and community assistance. It also maintains statewide and national resource directories — one of the most comprehensive starting points available in Texas.
GO KIDS Program →Provides Christmas gifts, summer camps, mentoring, family support, and year-round encouragement for children who have a parent in prison. Families can also request participation through their incarcerated loved one. One of the most widely available programs for children of incarcerated parents in the country.
Angel Tree Family Portal →Offers family support, education, advocacy, and programs focused on children affected by incarceration. Also helps connect families with Angel Tree and other services, and provides guidance on navigating the prison system.
tifa.org →The official TDCJ resource covering visitation rules, mail, phone calls, commissary deposits, and how to navigate the system when your loved one is inside.
Download Family Guide (PDF) →Incarcerated individuals have a constitutional right to medical care under the Eighth Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment — but that right is frequently violated. If your loved one is being denied treatment, ignored, or receiving inadequate care, you are not powerless. Document everything, use the grievance process, and contact these organizations.
Advocates specifically for incarcerated people's right to medical care and supports legal cases involving inadequate or denied treatment. If your loved one is being denied care or has experienced medical negligence inside a facility, this is one of the first organizations to contact.
medicaljusticealliance.org →Founded in memory of Stacy Fox, who died of stage 4 colon cancer after her repeated requests for medical attention were ignored for nearly two years while she was incarcerated. Stacy's Voice advocates for timely and adequate medical treatment for incarcerated individuals and assists families seeking help when a loved one is not receiving care. Named for Stacy — so her story would not be forgotten and no other family would face the same.
A comprehensive guide for people incarcerated in TDCJ prisons and their loved ones. Covers how to request medical or mental health care, ask for disability accommodations, file grievances and lawsuits, and reach legal aid organizations. Authored by the ACLU of Texas with endorsement from multiple civil rights organizations statewide.
aclutx.org/publications →If your loved one is being denied medical care inside a TDCJ facility:
Provides free letter-writing services that help incarcerated individuals stay connected with family members. Letters, postcards, and photos can be sent at no cost. Community members have highlighted it as a meaningful way to reduce communication costs and keep relationships alive across the distance.
ameelio.org →Provides food, utility assistance, shelter, rent assistance, disaster relief, and family support. Available in most Texas cities.
salvationarmyusa.org →Helps with emergency financial assistance, food, clothing, transportation, and household needs. Volunteers visit families in their homes and provide personal, dignified care.
svdpusa.org →Offers food assistance, rent help, counseling, case management, immigration services, and family support regardless of faith background.
catholiccharities.org →Offers transitional housing, substance-abuse services, and support for women with children, including those in crisis or coming out of difficult circumstances.
voa.org →Provides mentoring, life-skills training, job preparation, family restoration, discipleship, and reentry support inside select TDCJ units. The program specifically emphasizes restoring relationships with family and community — not just preparing someone for release, but preparing them to come home.
Prison Fellowship Academy →Offers mentoring, parenting classes, literacy programs, life-skills training, substance-abuse recovery support, and volunteer opportunities inside TDCJ facilities that directly assist incarcerated individuals and their families.
Helps incarcerated and formerly incarcerated parents rebuild relationships with their children. The program continues after release — helping families reunify and connecting them with community resources, parenting classes, and support services in the Houston area.
Provides counseling, mentoring, and academic support for children ages 8–17 with incarcerated parents through its Come to Me Project in the Houston area.
Many TDCJ units offer parenting classes, storybook projects, mentoring, Angel Tree, and family visitation events. Programs vary by unit — contact the unit directly or use the GO KIDS directory to find what is available at a specific facility.
Parenting Program — Parenting skills, relationship-building skills, and family restoration support. Focuses on helping incarcerated parents develop healthier relationships with their children and families.
Parenting From the Inside & Women's Storybook Project — Mothers learn parenting and relationship skills while maintaining meaningful connections with their children. The Storybook Project allows mothers to record themselves reading books for their children.
ARK Program, Parenting From the Inside & Women's Storybook Project — The ARK Program continues after release, helping families reunify and connecting them with community resources, parenting classes, and support services.
Day With Dad — Children spend a special day participating in activities with their fathers, strengthening family bonds despite incarceration.
Angel Tree & Day With Dad — Provides Christmas support for inmates' children and family-focused visitation events.
Angel Tree, Day With Dad & InnerChange Freedom Initiative — Children and fathers participate in activities together, and children may attend summer camps through affiliated ministries.
Women's Storybook Project — Allows mothers to maintain emotional connection with their children through reading recordings and literacy activities.
Love Me Tender — Provides extended bonding opportunities for incarcerated mothers and newborns under approved circumstances.
Provides case management, food assistance, transportation support, childcare, and after-school programs for families in need.
ymcahouston.org →Offers parenting classes, family support, foster care services, and programs that include incarcerated parents and their children. Operates across Texas.
buckner.org →Parenting classes, family support, foster care services, and programs that include incarcerated parents and their children.
buckner.org →Provides career planning, educational resources, and employment assistance useful for returning citizens and their families navigating reentry.
twc.texas.gov →Provides temporary foster care and family crisis intervention while parents work toward stability.
mch.org →Provides counseling, crisis intervention, and family preservation services across Texas.
pchas.org →Advocates for children's well-being and supports programs that address youth at risk of social and economic hardship.
texanscare.org →Connects families to emergency food, rent assistance, utility assistance, counseling, childcare resources, transportation assistance, and healthcare services. Dial 211 from any phone.
If you or a family member is in emotional crisis, call or text 988. Free, confidential, available 24/7. The weight of incarceration on families is real — you do not have to carry it alone.
Provides referrals, advocacy, and services for women, men, and children affected by family violence — including those navigating dangerous home situations during or after incarceration.
tcfv.org →Protects children, elderly adults, and people with disabilities while providing prevention and intervention services.
dfps.texas.gov →Provides child support services and fatherhood involvement programs — relevant for families managing custody and financial support while a parent is incarcerated.
texasattorneygeneral.gov →Free civil legal services for low-income Texans, including issues related to housing, family law, benefits, and reentry.
tlsc.org →Free legal services for low-income residents in Southwest Texas, covering civil matters including family law and housing.
trla.org →Pre-release and post-release employment, entrepreneurship training, executive mentoring, and long-term reentry support for returning citizens.
pep.org →A program of Texas Legal Services Center providing free legal information on prisoner rights, reentry, expunctions, nondisclosures, and how to request a court-appointed attorney. Includes guides and tools designed specifically for people who have been incarcerated and their families.
texaslawhelp.org →A curated directory of Texas and national organizations serving incarcerated individuals and their families, including civil rights groups, advocacy organizations, reentry programs, and legal aid. TIFA compiles this list as a public resource to help families find support beyond TIFA itself.
tifa.org/other-resources-in-texas →An informational reference covering inmate rights under Texas and federal law, including the right to medical and mental health care, how to file civil rights complaints, the grievance process, living condition standards, and how oversight bodies like TDCJ and the Texas Board of Criminal Justice operate.
hrcr.org/texas →A non-profit, non-partisan organization producing research on mass incarceration and its impact on families and communities. Their research index is updated regularly with new findings on criminal justice policy, prison conditions, reentry barriers, and advocacy campaigns.
prisonpolicy.org →Austin-based organization working with currently incarcerated and recently released individuals on housing, resource navigation, and harm reduction education. Their Incarceration and Re-entry Team specifically helps reduce the risk of overdose, isolation, and recidivism for people coming home. Also provides a drop-in center, street outreach, and access to medication-assisted treatment.
The Practising Law Institute maintains a pro bono resource hub connecting individuals who need legal help with attorneys willing to provide free legal services. A starting point for families seeking free legal representation in civil matters related to incarceration, reentry, and rights violations.
pli.edu/probono →A downloadable directory from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Texas, specifically for people reentering society after incarceration. Covers how to obtain ID documents, navigate child support, find transportation, employment, housing, health services, and education programs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Download PDF (justice.gov) →A national philanthropic network partnering with over 320 nonprofits focused on building stronger communities. Includes programs addressing criminal justice reform, reentry, education, and community-based support. Their Communities program specifically funds organizations working on the ground to remove barriers for people impacted by incarceration.
standtogether.org/programs →"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction." — James 1:27. A church willing to step into this space can change generational trajectories. Here are practical ways to serve.
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