Based in Columbus, Ohio, The Valen Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to reuniting families and restoring bonds between children and their parents. In 2004, The Valen Foundation was founded by Vickie Stringer, best selling author and owner of Triple Crown Publications. Named for her son, Ms. Stringer established The Valen Foundation for families that are separated by incarceration. What We Do Each year, The Valen Foundation reunites 1000 families separated by incarceration. The Valen Foundation provides transportation and accommodation for children and caregivers to visit an incarcerated parent residing in a state or federal institution. For those families in the United States that are separated by over 200 miles for 2 years or more, The Valen Foundation makes visiting possible, allowing each member of the familial unit to play active roles in the lives of one another, creating and restoring long-lasting relationships. Our Purpose The preservation of communication is vital in overcoming the obstacles of separation As incarceration rates in the United States reach record numbers, millions of children are separated from their parents each year. According to the Urban Institute Justice Policy Center, over half of the 1.4 million adults incarcerated in state and local prisons are parents of minor children. Incarcerated men reside an average of 100 miles away, while incarcerated women reside in prisons an average of 160 miles away from their children. Of these mothers, over half report never having received a visit from their child/children. Incarceration of a parent disrupts the parent-child relationship on emotional, physical and social levels, as each member of the family faces issues of abandonment, loss, confusion and lack of communication. Without the proper attention and action, children have and will continue to surrender to a cycle of crime. According to the California Research Bureau, children of offenders are at high risk for negative behaviors that can lead to failure in school, delinquency and intergenerational incarceration. These children are five times more likely than their peers to end up in prison themselves, and one in ten will have been incarcerated before reaching adulthood. Despite the fact that studies comparing prisoners who maintained contact with family during incarceration compared to those who did not show that those who did reduced recidivism rates in both parents and children, there are few government programs in existence that target children and caregivers of incarcerated parents. Because little attention has been given by the government to this problem, collaborative efforts of individuals and non-profit organizations such as The Valen Foundation are central to improving outcomes of prisoners and their families. Learn More About Our Services Make A Donation Contact Us Today