Are you—or someone you know—facing incarceration and in need of temporary, safe housing for your children or kids? Are you looking for a loving and supportive home where your children can stay while you serve your sentence, while also maintaining a strong connection with them during your time away? Operation Open Arms may be an option for you.

Our Incarceration Support Program is designed for women who are being sentenced or are currently incarcerated and need temporary housing for their children. We provide an alternative placement option that allows mothers to ensure their children are safe, supported, and loved while they are away.

Many women are unaware that they have options, and as a result, their children may automatically enter state care. Others turn to family or friends, only to find that these arrangements are not sustainable long-term. Operation Open Arms offers another solution. Through our program, children are placed in certified, safe, and nurturing homes. We provide ongoing support, encourage and maintain meaningful connections between mothers and their children, and work toward reunification once sentencing is complete.

During intake, incarcerated women meet with a social worker to review available services and determine whether Operation Open Arms is the right fit. If both parties agree, we collaboratively develop a transition plan, a visitation and communication plan, and a schedule for regular meetings with a case manager who will support the mother through reentry. Depending on the circumstances, this process may move quickly or occur over time.

Each mother is assigned a dedicated case manager who focuses on goal-setting, strengthening support systems, and preserving the parent-child bond. This support continues throughout reentry, reunification, and post-reunification. In addition, each child is assigned a separate case manager to ensure their individual needs are met and that they are placed in a stable, nurturing environment. The two case managers work closely together to provide a coordinated, team-based approach.

Reentry into society can be a challenging transition with many responsibilities and adjustments. Our goal is to provide additional support to make reunification a gradual and successful process—allowing mothers the time they need to stabilize, achieve their goals, and reunite with their children. After reunification, we continue case management and supportive services, including respite care, for a minimum of six months.