Photo by Nicole Bengiveno/The New York Times

Last evening, Makeba and I hosted another edition of Family Life Behind Bars radio.  I started things off by speaking to Bobby Blanchard, the Director of The Children’s Center at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility.  She spoke about the program, how it helps to sustain the relationship between the mother and child, and the obstacles presented by the prison system that both the mothers and their children face.

Next, we brought in Linda Moro, the Teen Director of the center to talk about the type of the issues that teens there face, and how the center goes about addressing them.

Johnathan Santiago, 22 talked about his personal experience with growing up with an incarcerated mother who’s serving a 25 year sentence at Bedford Hills.  Hear what he had to say about the center, how he’s been able to sustain a relationship with his mother, and how he refused to succumb to the same circumstances.

Please share your thoughts, comments, and suggestions in the comments section below.

Photo by Nicole Bengiveno/The New York Times

On Monday May 4th at 6:30 p.m., Makeba and I will be talking to Bobby Blanchard, the Director of The Children’s Center at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility.  Just an hour north of New York City, the maximum security women’s prison where the center is located, is home to mothers looking to maintain an active role in their children’s lives.

Founded over 25 years ago, The Children’s Center offers programs and services that helps the mother strengthen her role as a parent, improve family ties, and support and nurture the children.  The center is funded by an agency of Catholic Charities Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens.

Blanchard, who has worked at the facility for 15 years and has been the director for four, will talk about the center, her experience working with both the mothers and children in the program, as well as what can be done to repair relationships that have been strained by separation.

We’ll also be talking to a young adult who utilized the center’s programs about their own experience with growing up with an incarcerated mother and how the program helped to sustain their relationship.

We anticipate a dynamic conversation so be sure to tune in on Monday, May 4th at 6:30 p.m.  You can listen online at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/familylifebehindbars or by calling (347) 326-9981.  If you have a comment or question during the show,  press 1 on your phone, and wait to be patched in.  Keep in mind that the phone number is a New York number and your phone company will charge you for long distance calling.

We hope you listen live and call in to be a part of the conversation!  As always, we welcome your comments, suggestions for guests and/or topics for future programs so please share those in the comment section below.