When a parent goes to prison, the child's life changes forever!

Ambassadors for Hope is the only organization in Lancaster County with the sole function of supporting children as soon as the parent is incarcerated. As a result of the advocacy of Ambassadors for Hope, a fulltime caseworker is available to identify resources to address guardianship issues, medical insurance for the child, financial assistance or food stamps, and other immediate needs.

Ambassadors for Hope supports the assistance of the Family Service Advocate in a variety of ways. We supply age-appropriate books for children to help them understand what it means to have a parent in prison. We encourage and facilitate letter writing in order to foster close family contact, which research shows makes it less likely the parent will reoffend. We also provide teddy bears with recording devices on which the incarcerated parent conveys a message to the child.

Vision

Ambassadors For Hope will be the premier advocate on behalf of children of incarcerated parents and their families.

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

Our Mission is to provide information about resources available to strengthen families impacted by incarceration. As a community benefit organization, comprised of various network participants, we value listening, advocating, educating, networking to serve children with a parent in prison.

We are committed to the children, caregivers, families, and communities affected by the issue of a parent being incarcerated.

We are a voice for the 3,000 children in Lancaster County who have a parent in prison and often go unnoticed.

We are committed to ending the cycle of crime which affects our community by providing these children, and their caregivers, with the necessary resources to empower communities to be the change they wish to see.

Children Of Incarcerated Parents: A Bill Of Rights

1. To be kept safe and informed at the time of my parent's arrest.
2. To be heard when decisions are made about me.
3. To be considered when decisions are made about my parent.
4. To be well cared for in my parent's absence.
5. To speak with, see and touch my parent.
6. To support as I face my parent's incarceration.
7. Not to be judged, blamed or labeled.
8. To a lifelong relationship with my parent.