Community
Resources

These organizations are placed here for your convenience. Their listing on this site does not in any way constitute PEP’s “seal of approval.” These organizations are all independently run and may change their website information at any time without our knowledge.  If you come across a link that is no longer active, please let us know so we can keep things current by emailing us at family@pep.org.

Family Support Services

2-1-1 Texas InfoLine
By providing your zip code online or dialing “211,” this organization provides free, confidential listing of local agencies that provide help with food, housing, employment, health care, counseling and more.

https://www.211texas.org

East Texas Food Bank
This non-profit agency serves 80,000 East Texan households in 26 counties and has eight different programs (BackPack Program, Kids Cafe/Afterschool Snack, Summer Food Program, Senior Box Program, Mobile Pantry, Fresh Produce Program, Nutrition Education and Benefits Outreach).

easttexasfoodbank.org

Christian Assistance Ministry (CAM)
CAM is supported by member churches as well as several other supporting churches in the San Antonio area. CAM provides food, clothing, financial assistance, miscellaneous items, counseling and referrals to other agencies for clients who qualify.

christianassistanceministry.org

Cancer Care Services
Non-profit agency in Fort Worth helping families with needs resulting from cancer.

cancercareservices.org

Jonathan’s Place

Provides direct care to Dallas area at-risk teens and their families through individualized support, skills, encouragement and hope to live a better life.

www.jpkids.org

South Texas Food Bank
A non-profit organization serving 8 South Texas counties provides the following programs: Adopt-A-Family, Commodity Supplemental Food Program, Kids Cafe, BackPack Program, SNAP Ed Program (Food Stamps, Medicaid, and TANF), TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program), Food Banking (Food Pantries)​, Mobile Food Pantry, and PAWS Hunger.

southtexasfoodbank.org

Gonzales Christian Alliance Ministry
Local churches support this centralized agency to help the indigent with local aid, including food, clothing, and financial assistance as funds are available. No website address is available; can contact by calling directly: (830) 672-5566

 

Ascend Dallas

Its mission is to empower women, fight poverty and impact generations by providing personalized confidence- and skill-building services.

https://ascenddallas.org/about-us/mission-impact/

North Texas Food Bank
Non-profit agency providing emergency food assistance for 13 North Texas counties through a network of 300 member agencies and 1,000 feeding & education programs.

ntfb.org

West Texas Food Bank
Non-profit WFTB has been serving 170+ partner agencies for more than 20 years with emergency food assistance.

wtxfoodbank.org/

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Provides financial help for children and relatives living with them, covering food, clothing, housing, utilities, furniture, transportation, telephone, laundry, household equipment, medical supplies not paid for by Medicaid and other basic needs.

hhs.texas.gov/hhs-services

Teen & Family Services

Uses peer group setting to address substance abuse; behavioral issues; anger management; self-esteem issues; depression; anxiety; trauma resolution; parent/child conflict; impulse control problems; feelings identification and expression; communication difficulties; social and coping skills; family and marriage issues; obsessions and compulsions.

teenandfamilyservices.org

Mercy Heart
Assists inmates’ families with re-entry issues and how to process feelings of hopelessness, guilt, defeat and discouragement.

mercyheart.org

Active Parenting Publishing
Curriculum publisher with books and resources geared toward children and families of inmates.

activeparenting.com

Families of Prisoners Support Group
Free, anonymous, online support group that deals specifically with families who have been affected by a loved one’s incarceration.

dailystrength.org/c/Families-of-Prisoners/support-group

Roy Maas Youth Alternatives

Individual and family counseling provided – low cost, fees based on a sliding scale. Includes emergency shelter for children in crisis, individual and family counseling, short-term pediatric and adolescent psychiatric services, and parent education classes for youth and their families.

https://www.rmya.org/family-counseling-and-resource-center/

 

Celebrate Recovery
Confidential group sharing of “hurts, habits and hang-ups” that uses a loving, Biblical approach to help get people through the hurt and to the point of healing.

celebraterecovery.com

Travis County Family Support Services
Travis County emergency services site run by the county’s Health & Human Services.

traviscountytx.gov/health-human-services

Mothers of Incarcerated Sons Society

Free, anonymous, online support group that deals specifically with families whose loved one is both mentally ill and incarcerated.

https://www.mothersofinmates.org/

South Texas Children’s Home Ministries
STCHM offers Christ-centered assistance through family counseling services (in Corpus Christi and Victoria, TX) and job readiness training for women (in Corpus Christi).

stchm.org

DePelchin Support
Examples of family issues addressed by this non-profit include: bullying; parent-teen relationships; low self-esteem; fear and anxiety; sadness or depression; child abuse/assault; academic/behavioral problems.

depelchin.org/counseling

InterNational Prisoners Family Conference
The conference is significant for all wanting to learn and do more to improve the quality of life for all affected by incarceration personally and/or professionally.

prisonersfamilyconference.org/the-conference

National Family Preservation Network
Free resources, articles, videos, and links are hosted on this part of their site; NFPN advocates for the preservation of the family unit, family reunification, and fatherhood.

nfpn.org/free-resources.html 

Prison Visitation Fund

This organization provides a way to apply for funds so that families can afford to visit a loved one in prison.

https://www.prisonvisitationfund.org/

Services for Children and Teens

Amachi

A special program operated by Big Brothers/Big Sisters to provide positive mentoring relationships for children whose parent is incarcerated.

https://www.bbbs.org/amachi/

 

Texas Youth Hotline
The Texas Youth Hotline is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and provides prevention services to youths, parents, siblings, and other family members who are in need of a caring voice and listening ear. The toll-free number is 1-800-98-YOUTH.

https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/youth-helpline/

GO KIDS Community Services
Programs and services, listed by city, include: mentorships; support in the areas of health, legal counsel and employment; parenting classes, stress management training, social and mental health services, home-based interventions and advocacy with schools.

tdcj.texas.gov/gokids/gokids_resources_in_community.html

Cherish Our Children
This non-profit operates to help stop the “cradle to prison pipeline” in some of Houston’s poorest schools with a program called No More Victims. NMV helps build social and emotional skillsets students need, including resilience, empathy, leadership and executive function/impulse control.

cherishourchildren.org

Mentoring Brother 2 Brother, Inc.

Its mission is to empower at-risk African American male youth from single female-headed households in the Dallas area by focusing on leadership, academics, spiritual growth, community service, career exploration and life skills.

mb2b.org/who-we-are.html

Clearfork Academy

Clearfork Academy is an outdoor adventure program for teens 13-17 years old that provides substance use treatment and help for teens experiencing anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns. This is a faith-based, therapeutic environment for youth struggling with the physical, mental, social, and spiritual bonds of chemical dependency and mental health.

https://clearforkacademy.com/

Seedling
Seedling’s Promise is a one-on-one community-based mentoring program for children, ages 5-18, who have an incarcerated parent. Emphasis is placed on long-term mentor relationships, where mentors meet with their mentees once a week over the school year, during the child’s lunch time.

seedlingmentors.org/about

DePelchin Children's Center

This organization provides counseling services to children and their families using a variety of counseling modalities including play therapy techniques and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

https://www.depelchin.org/counseling/

Free Camps/Retreats

GO KIDS Kids’ Camps
  1. Learning Plus Fun Summer Camp – boys’/girls’ camps for 4th-12th graders in the Beaumont area
  2. Camp Good News – run by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas at Camp Allen in Navasota, TX, serving ages 10-15
  3. GRACE Camp – a NW Texas Conference Camp (UMC) designed for incoming 4th-6th graders (max age: 13)
  4. Frontier Camp – participates in Angel Tree Camping (started by Prison Fellowship Ministries), serving ages 8-15

tdcj.texas.gov/gokids/gokids_camps.html

Kairos Outside
Women’s retreats hosted throughout the state and rest of the country; women who attend are supported and “loved on” in a safe environment with others who have (or have had) a loved one incarcerated. 

kairostexas.org/Outside.html

Spark of Life
Adults’ retreat held at Tanglewood Resort on Lake Texoma for those working through any kind of loss of a loved one.

sparkoflife.org

Free Legal Clinics & Educational Support

Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program
Free legal assistance to low income families in the Dallas area, providing advice, brief assistance and representation in matters of family, benefits, consumer employment, housing, landlord-tenant, probate, and wills.

dallasvolunteerattorneyprogram.org/get-help

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc.
Offers legal clinics and outreach programs designed to empower through education on a wide range of legal issues – please visit this site for what each individual office can provide, but generally tries to help low income residents with legal services.

trla.org

Houston Volunteer Lawyers
Free legal assistance in the Houston area, assisting low-income citizens that other programs often cannot serve, with matters of domestic violence, child custody rights and child support, and cases related to housing issues (foreclosures, unlawful evictions).

makejusticehappen.org/node/24/how-get-help

Lone Star Legal Aid
Free civil legal help to low-income families re: domestic violence, child advocacy, home-owner protection, tenants rights/public housing, income maintenance/public benefits, health care access, consumer fraud protection, disabilities rights, employment, education, civil rights, disaster relief.

lonestarlegal.org

Legal Aid of Northwest Texas
Free civil legal services offered to low income residents re: civil rights, consumer rights, crime victims, disability, elder law, employment, family law and domestic violence, health, housing, immigration, military & veterans’ affairs, public benefits, wills & estates.

internet.lanwt.org/en-us

Educational Opportunity Center (EOC)

Provides 100% free support for adults wanting to continue their education. EOC can serve anyone in Texas through a video appointment (would need to sign up online) – offices in Johnson, Tarrant, and Dallas counties. Free services include:

  • Assistance applying to college (trade school, community college, university)
  • Assistance applying for financial aid (includes FAFSA)
  • Online GED & TSI study portal
  • Financial Assistance for GED & TSI testing
  • Scholarship research assistance

 https://orstx.org/eoc/

General Information

The Prison Show
Talk radio show discussing current issues and reviewing the week’s mailbag, followed the second hour by people calling in. The Prison Show airs on 90.1 FM (KPFT) in Houston Fridays at 9-11 p.m. Central Time. People can listen live online by going to the website and clicking where it says “Listen Live to KPFT.”

kpfttheprisonshow

Texas Inmates Family Association (TIFA)
Provides basic information about how to put money on the books and prison mail options, among other topics.

tifa.org

Prison Talk
Lists multiple topics of interest for families, including “Husbands and Boyfriends in Prison”; “Parents with Children in Prison”; “Raising Children with Parents in Prison”; and “Siblings of Inmates.”

prisontalk.com

Sanity Support
A book site about setting boundaries with adult children, aging parents, and generally difficult people.

allisonbottke.com

Addiction Resources

*** FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, PEP DOES NOT ENDORSE OR PROMOTE ANY PROVIDERS OF THIS INFORMATION ****

Drugs Teens Abuse
https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/teen-addiction/drug/commonly-abused-drugs/
Setting Boundaries
Provides ideas for how to set boundaries with loved ones struggling with addiction: https://www.nfabehavioralhealth.com/resources/setting-boundaries-for-loved-ones-with-an-addiction/
Polysubstance Use
https://www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/polysubstance-use/index.html
Fentanyl Facts
https://www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/fentanyl/index.html
Opioid Addiction

Discusses opioid addiction: https://www.greenmountaintreatmentcenter.com/opioid-addiction/

Support vs. Enablement
Discusses differences between supporting a loved one in recovery vs. enabling addictive behaviors: https://www.graniterecoverycenters.com/resources/supporting-your-partner-in-recovery-without-enabling/
Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
https://www.mentalhealth.gov/what-to-look-for/mental-health-substance-use-disorders
Start Your Recovery

Start Your Recovery is a groundbreaking website developed by bringing together experts in substance use disorder treatment from leading nonprofit, academic, and government institutions. https://startyourrecovery.org/treatment/rehab-centers/texas/houston