Clicc

CLICC Inc. uses skilled mentoring and literacy activities to increase communication and deepen bonds between children and their incarcerated parents. Our goals are to help incarcerated parents read books and develop the communication and parenting skills they need to have a successful transition back to the community and reduce the risk of recidivism. At the same time, CLICC mentors help children read books they have selected and provide caring support to mitigate feelings of shame, stigma, social isolation, toxic stress and trauma that these children can experience.CLICC was an important resource for families impacted by incarceration in 2022. Weekly CLICC mentoring groups for incarcerated parents resumed in Connecticut state prisons beginning in fall of 2022, following a hiatus of nearly three years due to the covid pandemic. For children, however, literacy and mentoring services continued throughout the pandemic on virtual platforms. Just as we began meeting again with incarcerated parents in fall 2022, we began meeting in person with children who are enrolled in CLICC at public libraries and bookstores across the state of Connecticut. We also continued our practice of providing basic-needs support to participating families.1) CLICC works simultaneously, but separately, with incarcerated parents in Connecticut and their children. In this way, reading books selected by the children becomes an activity parent and child can share, even though they are apart.2) Interest in mentoring children (ages 5-17) remained strong. CLICC trained approximately 75 volunteers in 2022, most of whom were students in criminal justice, social work or education from CLICCs 15 Connecticut college and university partners. By educating and raising awareness among these students about the challenges faced by children and families of the incarcerated, CLICC helps to train the next generation of leaders in their fields.3) CLICC-supporting books and materials are delivered to, and then distributed by, prisons across the state. 4) For the first time, CLICC opened virtual enrollment to children who live in other states but have a parent incarcerated in the Connecticut state system. This will allow us eventually to serve children across the country.5) CLICC received grants for gift cards to grocery stores and general retailers for enrolled families across Connecticut.6) In 2022, CLICC completed its third and final year of data collection for an evaluation of the child experience with CLICC. A preliminary report on findings is expected in early 2023.CLICC mitigates pressing challenges:1) Strained, often destructive relationships among families which include an incarcerated parent. Reinforcing the literacy skills of re-entering parents and their children will help to ease their transition, help the family move forward more cohesively, and better equip formerly incarcerated people to enter the workforce.2) Children of the incarcerated can experience a combination of shame, stigma, trauma and toxic shock that, if left unchecked, can thwart healthy development and pose health challenges that last a lifetime. Having an incarcerated parent is one of 10 Adverse Childhood Experiences, as classified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Caring adults, such as CLICC mentors, can help.The CLICC model calls for volunteer CLICC parent mentors to meet at the facilities to help parents read books and write letters to their children, while children do similar activities with their own mentors at community sites near their homes.The program also includes childrens caregivers, who tend to have complicated relationships with incarcerated parents, yet are so important to the future of the children and their families.CLICC matches pairs of mentors and children. CLICC mentors serve on average families composed of about 20 parents and 30 children, for a total of 50 participants. $147,840

Contra - Pro bono mentoring services, not included in program services in Form 990, Part I or Part VII, Revenues.

Pro bono mentoring estimated at 2,000 hours, valued at $15 / hr, $30,000.