User:Carolinachildren

Our Children’s Place is a non-profit organization which aims at allowing young children, mostly infants and preschoolers to live with their mothers while the women serve out their sentences for nonviolent offenses. This initiative breaks the cycle of crime, poverty, substance abuse and family violence among generations as well as empowers the child with the help of his/her mother to enhance his/her social, cognitive, physical and emotional development. Ultimately, this project could allow many children to develop better inter-personal skills for their future by interacting with their mothers and will allow them a better chance at a successful future. Our Children’s Place was spear-headed by North Carolina Senator Ellie Kinniard in 2004. They are finally completing construction on a $3.5 million facility that will be able to hold ten women and twenty children, which will open in 2010. These women must be serving a sentence of three years or less and must be convicted of a non-violent crime. The children will receive free childcare, in addition to sessions with therapists and other health professionals. Our Children’s Place also works with H.A.T.S. (Handcrafted And Totally Special), an organization that allows female inmates and community members to create hats and other items.

http://ourchildrensplace.com/