High Desert State Prison recently hosted Camp Grace, a five-day music and art-based program for families impacted by incarceration.
Team Place4Grace arrived at High Desert and received invitations to an Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment (ISUDT) graduation. The camp participants sat and watched their incarcerated parents’ graduate. The children’s faces beamed with pride as they watched their fathers accomplish this goal.
Throughout the week, the incarcerated parents participated in daily activities with their children such as music, art, dancing, and writing to each other. Staff from the prison and the organization said they could visibly see changes in the participants.
High Desert and Camp Grace staff also hosted a scavenger hunt for the children. This experience showed children how CDCR staff are not to be feared, thanks to positive interactions.
To complete the Camp Grace experience, High Desert staff hosted a barbecue to show appreciation to the Camp Grace staff and the children.
Story submitted by Monica Hess, Executive Assistant to Warden Rob St. André
High Desert State Prison
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