Department of Corrections brings virtual reality to augmented programming for incarcerated parents and their children

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — George Little, Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC), joined Amachi Pittsburgh Executive Director Anna Hollis to announce an innovative virtual reality (VR) pilot program that leverages technology and community partnerships to facilitate incarcerated parents healthy relationships and equality with their children.

This first-of-its-kind collaboration between DOC and Wrap Technologies builds on existing InsideOut Dads and Parenting Inside Out programs designed to improve communication skills, facilitate the expression and processing of emotions, and introduce effective parenting skills. With the introduction of VR immersion, participants can learn and practice healthy parenting skills in a 360-degree environment. Each VR interaction is guided by a lesson plan and managed by DOC staff who have the ability to adjust and customize the situation in real time.

“The vast majority of incarcerated parents will return to their families and communities at the end of their sentences, and the DOC is committed to helping them succeed,” said Acting Minister Little. “Practice makes perfect, and we hope role-playing with the help of virtual avatars , can help parents and children go beyond facility walls to build stronger families and safer communities.”

Children do not have to travel to a DOC facility to participate. Community provider Amachi Pittsburgh and the Philadelphia Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) facilitate virtual reality visits for participating children and support services for their families.

“Our team is excited to partner with the PA Department of Corrections to provide our teens and parents with a VR experience,” said Anna Hollis, executive director of Amachi Pittsburgh. “VR is our way of sparking interest, engaging new participants and inspiring learning, creativity and A new, innovative approach to the imagination.”

β€œIn our work with incarcerated people, we know how important it is to have family support, including contact with children,” said Laurie A. Corbin, managing director of community engagement at PHMC. “We want parents and children to have a fun and educational experience that will provide them with happy memories despite their separation from each other.”

Penn State researchers have been named evaluators for the pilot project.

Sara Brennen of Penn State’s Edna Bennett Pierce said, “We are excited to evaluate this new innovative program with DOC and community partners. We hope the results will provide more ways for incarcerated parents and their children to enjoy learning together. .” Center for Prevention Research, College of Education and Goodlin Family Literacy Institute.

All funding for the VR program comes from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Crime Prevention Programs. The InsideOut Dads program is offered in every male facility at DOC. VR components have been introduced in SCI Phoenix, SCI Fayette and SCI Frackville. VR is also available at women’s facility SCI Muncy, which builds on a similar Parenting Inside Out program.

Incarcerated parents must be placed in the general population, within three years of their minimum date, and have not been convicted of a crime involving a child to be eligible for the VR experience.

For more information about the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and the InsideOut Dads and Parenting Inside Out program, visit cor.pa.gov.

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