Me & Mommy Campaign
The Me and Mommy campaign is an initiative aimed at addressing the specific needs of incarcerated mothers with young children. The program takes a clinical and scientific approach within a controlled environment to better understand the factors contributing to the overrepresentation of young and new mothers in the prison population.
The primary objective is to strengthen the bond between the mother and child in a nurturing environment, with the ultimate goal of breaking the cycle that leads to children following their mothers into the prison system. The program aims to tackle the concerning statistics of young and new mothers being incarcerated while pregnant or shortly after giving birth. Research shows that these children have a 32.8% chance of following their mothers into the prison system, perpetuating a destructive cycle.
The objective of the program is to identify the core causes of this trend and actively work to reverse it. This involves introducing positive stimuli, such as the presence of the mother and child, the environmental conditions, the availability of toys and puzzles, and even the use of technology, to achieve the most beneficial outcomes for both the mother and child.
The mission of the Me and Mommy program is clear: to break the cycle that is negatively impacting the parent-child relationship and contributing to various social burdens. By addressing the mental health of both the parent and child, reducing the likelihood of depression, lessening the strain on the welfare system, promoting the social development of both the mother and child, and reducing the impact on the legal system, the program aims to create positive change across multiple fronts.
By providing a nurturing and supportive environment for both mothers and their young children, the Me and Mommy program seeks to not only improve individual outcomes but also contribute to breaking the intergenerational cycle of incarceration and its associated societal challenges.