ONESIMUS
FOUNDATION
SUPPORTING CHILDREN
1
'CAPO'
CHILDREN AFFECTED BY PARENTAL OFFENDING (CAPO)
Based on a successful initiatives by Barnardos in the UK local practitioners in Tasmania have formed a working group focused on Children Affected by Parental Offending (CAPO).
2
HOMEWORK
We provide opportunities for offenders to spend quality time assisting their children with their homework. In addition to in prison visits his program uses video technology to connect children who are unable to visit the prison to connect with their incarcerated parent to do homework.
The video homework program has attracted interest from Sir Richard Branson who writes concerning the program. Click here to read his blog.
3
SUPPORTED VISITS
Because of disruptions to family relationships it is not always practical for offender's family to bring children into the prison to visit a parent or relative. Through the work of a Family Engagement Worker Onesimus can assist children to visit their parent in prison.
Those interested in this service should contact Risdon Prison Visitors Centre or Onesimus's Office.
4
KIDS DAYS
Kids Days are a time for mums and dads in prison to have a special visit with their children, to have fun together, and create some great memories. Each Kids Day is based on a different theme, with lots of activities and games to keep everyone entertained. Kids Days have been operated by Onesimus since 2012. Since 2019 Onesimus has partnered with Save the Children to provide this service to the prison.
5
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT WORKERS
Onesimus provides Family Engagement Workers to the prison to work one one one with incarcerated parents to better help them engage with their children with families to maintain and/or develop healthy relationships.
6
PLAYGROUND
IN PRISON
I
ncarcerated fathers at Hobart’s Risdon Prison Complex can watch their children play during visits thanks to a new playground at the Ron Barwick Men’s Minimum Security Facility.
The Christian Family Centre received a $50,000 community infrastructure grant from the Tasmanian Community Fund (TCF) to purchase and install the play equipment, which was opened in December 2016. It has been constructed in hopes of creating memories and a sense of normalcy for inmates and their children.