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 If you come across a link that is no longer active, please let us know so we can keep things current by emailing us at family@pep.org.
At-Risk Family 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.
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).
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.
Cancer Care Services
Non-profit agency in Fort Worth helping families with needs resulting from cancer.
Promise House
Provides direct care to Dallas area at-risk teens and their families through individualized support, skills, encouragement and hope to live a better life.
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.
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
WiNGS Dallas
WiNGS provides a full suite of tailored services to empower women and families to live their fullest potential by providing a continuum of resources for near-term needs, first-time motherhood, financial resiliency, career growth, and entrepreneurial development.
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.
West Texas Food Bank
Non-profit WFTB has been serving 170+ partner agencies for more than 20 years with emergency food assistance.
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.
Services for Children and Teens
Amachi Texas
A special program operated by Big Brothers/Big Sisters to provide positive mentoring relationships for children whose parent is incarcerated.
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.
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.
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.
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.
U.S. Dream Academy
The Dream Center at Foster Elementary School, accommodating 60 students between the ages of 8-13, promotes engagement in the arts, such as dance, music and theater, as well as academic and other support.
Mentoring Brother 2 Brother, Inc.
Provides mentoring, tutoring, community service, leadership, spirituality, character and life development skills to disenfranchised and at-risk African American young men within the South Dallas and surrounding communities.
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.
We the Village
This non-profit strives to support children of inmates ages 6-18 by providing assistance to caregivers (help with financials, employment and other concerns) and increasing the likelihood of successful reunification with incarcerated parents through communication.
DePelchin Children's Center
DePelchin Children’s Center partners with schools to help students make positive life choices. Skills for Success is offered to elementary, middle and high school students to help them evaluate the consequences of their behavior and the impact on their future.
Advocacy/Counseling/Parenting Resources
Mercy Heart
Assists inmates’ families with re-entry issues and how to process feelings of hopelessness, guilt, defeat and discouragement.
Active Parenting Publishing
Curriculum publisher with books and resources geared toward children and families of inmates.
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.
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.
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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.
Travis County Family Support Services
Travis County emergency services site run by the county’s 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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Teen and 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.
Free Camps/Retreats
GO KIDS Kids’ Camps
- Learning Plus Fun Summer Camp – boys’/girls’ camps for 4th-12th graders in the Beaumont area
- Camp Good News – run by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas at Camp Allen in Navasota, TX, serving ages 10-15
- GRACE Camp – a NW Texas Conference Camp (UMC) designed for incoming 4th-6th graders (max age: 13)
- Frontier Camp – participates in Angel Tree Camping (started by Prison Fellowship Ministries), serving ages 8-15
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.
Spark of Life
Adults’ retreat held at Tanglewood Resort on Lake Texoma for those working through any kind of loss of a loved one.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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
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.”
Texas Inmates Family Association (TIFA)
Provides basic information about how to put money on the books and prison mail options, among other topics.
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.”
Twogether in Texas
Marriage education classes covering topics such as conflict management, effective communication skills, and components of a successful marriage; set up for both those already married and for those hoping to marry.
Sanity Support
A book site about setting boundaries with adult children, aging parents, and generally difficult people.
Addiction Resources
*** FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, PEP DOES NOT ENDORSE OR PROMOTE ANY PROVIDERS OF THIS INFORMATION ****
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
Fenanyl Facts
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
Opioid Addiction
Discusses opioid addiction: https://www.greenmountaintreatmentcenter.com/opioid-addiction/