Children Get on the Bus for CIW, CMC visits

April 16, 2024

A family enjoys time together at CMC.

California Institution for Women (CIW) and California Institution for Men (CIM) participated in the Get on the Bus events offered during spring.

California Men’s Colony sees 70 family members attend

The California Men’s Colony (CMC) visiting department participated in the Get on the Bus event coordinated by the Community Resource Manager and the Center for Restorative Justice Works.

CMC had 20 incarcerated persons and 70 family members attend this event. Transportation was provided for the family members and included a family photo, lunch, and fun family activities. Each child also reviewed a new backpack, school supplies and a teddy bear after each visit.

Submitted by Lt. T. Eilers

CIW sees 80 visiting kids and caregivers

A child draws at a table at CIW as part of the Get on the Bus program. — Children visited their incarcerated parents at CIW with Get on the Bus.

Over 80 visiting children and their caregivers visited their incarcerated loved ones at California Institution for Women (CIW) thanks to Get on the Bus.

The Get on the Bus program brings children and their caregivers from throughout California to visit their incarcerated parents in prison.

Get on the Bus offers free transportation for the children and their caregivers to the prison, provides travel bags for the children, comfort bags for the caregivers, a photo of each child with his or her parent, and meals for the day.

Meals include breakfast, snacks on the bus, a special lunch at the prison with their parent and dinner on the way home. Get on the Bus is provided at no cost to the children’s family.

On the bus trip home, following their four-hour visit, each child receives a teddy bear with a letter from their parent. The children also received post-event counseling.

The April 6 Get on the Bus event at CIW was enjoyed by the families, according to organizers.

Submitted by Lt. William Newborg