What It Means to Show Up: Volunteering with Parents in Prison
When people think about volunteering in prisons, they often imagine teaching a class, leading a workshop, or offering expert advice. But at Parents Helping Parents (PHP), our work inside Massachusetts correctional institutions looks a little different.
We’re not teaching. We’re listening. We’re creating space.
Every week, our volunteer Parent Support Group Facilitators walk into jails and prisons across the Greater Boston Area to lead parent support groups—not to provide answers, but to hold space for questions, reflection, grief, and growth. These groups are often the only space where incarcerated parents can talk openly and without judgment about what it means to be a parent while behind bars.
Why It Matters
The Sentencing Project reports that 2.7 million children in the U.S. have a parent in jail or prison. And when a parent is incarcerated, the entire family serves time. Relationships are strained. Communication breaks down. Guilt and shame grow in silence.
Our parent support groups interrupt that silence.
They help parents stay connected to their children—even when they can’t be physically present. They offer tools for reflection and emotional regulation. They remind group members that they are still parents—and that parenting doesn’t end at the prison gate.
Volunteers are the heart of this work. They create a consistent, trauma-informed space where connection is possible. And they witness something remarkable: people showing up for each other, week after week, determined to break generational cycles and build a future that looks different.
What Volunteers Say
Volunteering inside a correctional facility isn’t always easy. But those who do it often describe it as some of the most meaningful work they’ve ever done.
“I’m not there to fix anyone,” one longtime facilitator shared. “But I am there to remind them that they matter—and that they’re not alone in trying to be a better parent.”
Where We Work
Currently, PHP support groups for incarcerated parents are offered at:
Norfolk House of Corrections
Middlesex House of Corrections
Suffolk House of Corrections (Morning & Evening Groups)
Each site offers unique challenges and opportunities. Volunteers receive training, guidance, and ongoing support to navigate the setting and build rapport with group members.
Is This for You?
If you’re someone who believes in second chances, who listens more than you talk, and who wants to hold space for healing rather than impose change, this might be the right fit.
You don’t need to be a parenting expert. You don’t need a background in criminal justice. You need to be consistent, open, and willing to show up.
Here’s what’s required:
A one-year commitment (2 hours per week)
Completion of PHP’s 8-hour virtual training and facility-based DOC training
Strong listening skills and a non-judgmental presence
Comfort working in a prison or jail environment
What You’ll Get:
A front-row seat to real transformation
Deep human connection across barriers
Training, peer support, and the backing of a dedicated team at PHP
The knowledge that you're helping break intergenerational cycles by supporting parents when it matters most
Take the First Step
If you’ve ever wondered how to make a real difference in someone’s life—this is it. Volunteer to facilitate a parent support group in a correctional setting and help bring dignity, hope, and connection to families who need it most.
