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| Imprisoned Moms Enjoy X-Mas Reunion |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 12/28/2000 |
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p>Christmas had arrived at Rikers Island. Infants and teen-agers were reunited with their mothers recently through the Children of Incarcerated Mothers Initiative. The program, launched six months ago, is run by New York City's Department of Correction and the Administration for Children's Services. It brings children in foster care to their incarcerated mothers for weekly visits. The women in the program are at Rikers Island awaiting court appearances or serving 12 months or less for misdemeanors. Gelisha Paige, 37, couldn't hug her toddler fast enough as he came through the sliding metal security door into the room. “Whenever he comes to visit, it's the happiest moment in my life,'' she said. Besides promoting close family relationships, the program may help rehabilitate the women, according to officials. The visitors' center usually contains small, square, numbered tables arranged in rows, with blue chairs on one side for inmates and red chairs on the other for guests. But organizers transformed the center for the gathering, modeling a home situation where the bond between parent and child is the focus. Mothers sat next to their children at round tables covered with white linens, red-and-blue chairs were scattered around the tables and gift-wrap dressed the walls. After lunch, mothers picked wrapped gifts from a table to give their children. Others looked on, sometimes helping younger ones open their presents. A cake - baked by inmates - was served and a children's services worker took instant snapshots of each family. |
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