Words travel is a family-strengthening literacy program for parents incarcerated at Airway Heights Correctional Center in Spokane, WA. Founded in 2002 as part of a pilot program at six correctional facilities across the country, Words Travel is the first national reading, learning and family-strengthening program of its kind.
Parents participate in a six-week program based on Reading Starts with Us, a family literacy program created by Scholastic author Ellen Goldsmith. During the course, parents learn how they can play a key role in supporting their child’s reading development, even while serving time. They gain familiarity with the different genres of children’s literature learn how best to read aloud to their children.
After completing the Words Travel classes:
- parents read and record books on tape for their children
- the books and tapes are sent to the children or given to them at a visit
- children also receive a special book bag, personal tape player and other supplies to keep so they can listen to their parent’s voice and read along whenever they like
Some correctional facilities around the nation offer incarcerated parents the opportunity to read to their children during visiting hours. A few offer partners the chance to record books on tape. Words Travel goes much further, allowing parents to:
- bond with their children as they read to them
- build relationships with their children
- consider child development and parenting issues.
- experience and talk about books
- make progress as parents and individuals
- relate the content to their own lives
When the parents have a relationship with their children and share quality time, such as reading together, the children benefit in many ways:
- aids in promoting and preserving the bond between incarcerated parents and children
- assuages lack of contact
- gives them a sense of security
- hear their mother’s voice while reading a story
- minimizes the abandonment issues
Scholastic Books, Inc. donates the books and materials, while the program is administered and facilitated by Volunteers of America coordinating with other parenting and family-strengthening classes within the correctional facility.