Child-Friendly Visitation Experiences

The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) will create child-friendly family waiting and visiting spaces and experiences in 15 of its prison facilities, while also implementing model practices, including reviewing and modifying visitation policies, procedures, and training to support family strengthening and the best interest of child visitors within those facilities. Grant funding will be used to hire a part-time Visitation Coordinator to assist with purchasing supplies and materials to create child-friendly waiting and visiting spaces and experiences, facilitating visiting room and lobby enhancements and project implementation, conducting occasional site visits and visitation observation, and coordinating family day events. Grant funding will also support travel to each of the sites, supplies and materials necessary to create child-friendly visiting spaces, and various parent-child engagement activities within the 15 facilities.