Children raced across the visiting room at Osborn Correctional Institution shouting “Daddy!” as they reunited with their fathers during a June celebration organized by the Connecticut Children with Incarcerated Parents (CTCIP) initiative. 

The Father’s Day event, called “Donuts with Dads,” brought together approximately 12 incarcerated fathers and nearly 20 children, ranging in age from toddlers to 13, for a morning of games, arts and crafts, and quality family time. 

Nationally, more than 5 million children have experienced the incarceration of a parent at some point in their lives, and roughly half of the incarcerated population nationwide are parents.  

“Much of our work tends to lean toward policy and resources,” said Irvine Peck’s-Agaya, CTCIP’s Program Manager. “In addition, we aim to run hands-on, meaningful, child-centered events for incarcerated individuals and their families. Programs inside the facilities are a great way to do that.” 

Earlier this year, CTCIP hosted a winter celebration at York Correctional Institution for incarcerated mothers and their children. Encouraged by the success of that event, the CTCIP team partnered with staff at Osborn, a medium-security facility for men in Somers, and the Department of Children and Families to create a similar opportunity for fathers and their children. 

“The success of the York event showed it was possible to host these types of programs in our correctional facilities,” said Kate Mazzotta, CTCIP Policy and Research Associate, who helped coordinate both events. “Incarcerated fathers are not always viewed as active parents while behind bars, so this type of fatherhood engagement is extremely important.” 

More than a month of planning preceded the day. Families enjoyed playtime activities, created Father’s Day cards together, and visited a photo booth where they captured keepsake photographs. 

For some participants, the event provided a rare opportunity to reconnect in person. 

“One attendee hadn’t seen his 5-year-old daughter in person since she was a baby,” noted Mazzotta. “Having the opportunity to take pictures together means he now not only has lasting memories from the day, but he has a picture he can look at of his growing daughter until he sees her again.” 

The event was more than a celebration. It also created opportunities for fathers to engage in everyday parenting moments. Mazzotta recalled one instance when a toddler fell and cut her lip during the event. 

“Her father was right there to pick her up and soothe her crying. He assured her all was okay and cleaned her lip and got her ice from DOC staff,” she said. “It was a typical parenting moment between a father and a child. The only difference is that it happened inside of a carceral facility.” 

For IMRP graduate research assistant Anya McGlaughlin, who recently joined the CTCIP team, the event offered a firsthand look at the impact of family-centered programming inside correctional facilities. 

“I had never been in a correctional facility before, so I didn’t know what to expect,” McGlaughlin admits. “I was just excited for the kids and the fathers to have the opportunity to spend (the day after) Father’s Day together. Seeing the fathers interact with their kids and the love in their eyes shows why it is so important to have events like this.”

A key objective of CTCIP is reducing the stigma experienced by children with incarcerated parents and supporting opportunities for healthy family connections. 

“For us, it’s important to give them a sense of normalcy, to bridge the gap between what’s allowed at a prison,” said Peck’s-Agaya. She said the Osborn staff and team were great hosts, fostering engagement, putting the kids at ease by shaking hands and serving pizza, and ensuring the day went smoothly. 

“This event shows that what children care most about is getting to see their parents and the importance of these in-person visits,” said Mazzotta. “These men may be behind bars, dressed in prison uniforms, but all their children see is their father.” 

“Visitation should be a right, not a privilege,” agreed McGlaughlin. “It’s not just for the kids, it’s for the parents too.”