Volunteer Opportunity: Parent Support Group Facilitator – Prison Groups
Location: Greater Boston Area (In-Person at Massachusetts Correctional Facilities)
Commitment: Weekly commitment, minimum 6 months after training
Parenting does not stop during incarceration—and neither does the need for connection and support.
At Parents Helping Parents (PHP), trained volunteers facilitate peer-led parent support groups inside Massachusetts correctional facilities. These groups create a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental space where incarcerated parents can reflect on their parenting journey, connect with others who understand, and strengthen emotional connections with their children.
We are seeking compassionate, reliable volunteers to help facilitate these important conversations and create space for parents to feel heard.
What Does a Prison Group Facilitator Do?
As a Prison Group Facilitator, you will co-facilitate a weekly support group for incarcerated parents in a correctional setting.
This role is not about being a parenting expert or giving advice.
Instead, facilitators help create a respectful, supportive environment where participants can share openly, listen to one another, and learn through shared experiences. PHP’s prison groups follow a peer-to-peer, trauma-informed, mutual aid model, where healing happens through connection, validation, and support—not instruction or curriculum.
Facilitators help hold space for meaningful conversations while maintaining consistency, trust, and group boundaries.
Current Correctional Facility Locations
Prison Group Facilitators support parents at Massachusetts correctional facilities in the Greater Boston area. Volunteers must be Massachusetts-based and able to travel to one of our current partner locations.
Current locations include:
Plymouth County Correctional Facility (Plymouth, MA)
MCI-Norfolk (Norfolk, MA)
Suffolk County House of Correction (Boston, MA)
Placement opportunities may vary based on current group needs, volunteer availability, and facility scheduling.
What You’ll Do
Responsibilities may include:
Co-facilitating one weekly in-person support group at a correctional facility
Creating a safe, respectful, and confidential environment
Welcoming participants and reinforcing group guidelines
Encouraging peer connection and mutual support among group members
Helping maintain healthy group dynamics and respectful discussion
Following correctional facility policies and procedures
Coordinating with facility staff and PHP team members as needed
Partnering with a co-facilitator for preparation and debriefing
Our goal is to create a space where parents feel supported—not judged—as they navigate parenting while incarcerated.
What Makes a Strong Volunteer?
Strong facilitators are:
Compassionate, dependable, and non-judgmental
Comfortable listening more than talking
Interested in trauma-informed, peer-led support
Able to navigate emotional or complex group conversations calmly
Comfortable working within a correctional facility environment
Respectful of confidentiality and group boundaries
Open to training, feedback, and ongoing support
You do not need prior experience in corrections, counseling, or social work to volunteer—though experience with group facilitation, peer support, or trauma-informed work can be helpful.
Time Commitment
Prison Group Facilitators are asked to:
Facilitate one weekly in-person support group
Commit to a minimum of six months after training
Complete required correctional facility onboarding and clearance processes
Participate in occasional check-ins, support, and ongoing training as needed
Because consistency matters in building trust with group participants, this role is best suited for individuals seeking a longer-term volunteer opportunity.
Training and Support
All volunteers receive training and support before beginning facilitation.
Training includes approximately 6 hours of live virtual instruction, along with role-specific preparation and required onboarding through the assigned correctional facility. Sessions are interactive and held during weekday business hours (Eastern Time) and require attendance at scheduled times.
Training includes:
PHP’s peer-to-peer, trauma-informed support model
Active listening and parent empowerment approaches
Group facilitation skills
Confidentiality and boundaries
Best practices for facilitating support groups in correctional settings
Volunteers receive ongoing support and guidance throughout their time with PHP.
Why Volunteer in a Prison Group?
Parents who are incarcerated often face isolation, shame, and barriers to maintaining connection with their children.
By volunteering as a Prison Group Facilitator, you help create a space where parents can reflect, share openly, and feel supported during a difficult chapter in their lives.
You do not need to have all the answers—just a willingness to listen, show up consistently, and support connection.
Ready to Get Involved?
If you are interested in supporting incarcerated parents and creating meaningful opportunities for connection and growth, we would love to hear from you.
