New Hope serves children of prisoners ages 5 through 17 by providing school-based and community-based after school programs; weekend retreats; holiday gatherings, monthly family social events and residential summer camps.
These programs are possible through individual and corporate donations, foundational grants, trained volunteers and a highly qualified staff.
New Hope Oklahoma received national news coverage for their work with children with a parent in prison. John Bentley a native Tulsan who currently works for the CBS evening news in New York after reading a Tulsa World article about the programs for children with a parent incarcerated was inspired to film a national story about the children of New Hope.
The national exposure of this issue has begun to create awareness of this issue not only in Oklahoma but on a national level. New Hope Oklahoma would love to see more programs of this kind throughout the United States while expanding its services to all Oklahoma children.
You can view the news piece on CBS evening news website at:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50133554n&tag=mncol;lst;6
New Hope is changing the lives of children of prisoners everyday. When a child’s parent goes to prison, many important developmental milestones are put in jeopardy and children suffer, but New Hope is working to break the cycle of generational incarceration in the state of Oklahoma. Through our life affirming programs, children are lifted from isolation and fear into possibility and hope. New Hope addresses the issues these children face through our main service areas: community and school-based after school programs, weekend retreats, summer camps, holiday assistance, and social service coordination.
New Hope Children
In our fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, New Hope provided services to 402 children across the state of Oklahoma who have a parent in prison. The vision of the organization is to “End generational incarceration one child at a time” and through hope and opportunities for children of prisoners, New Hope creates positive, productive, contributing members of society.
Oklahoma has one of the highest incarceration rates in the nation, and the Oklahoma legislature created a Children of Incarcerated Parents Task Force in 2011. In the task force report released January 1, 2012 (available on the web site for the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, okkids.org), the task force stated that more than 26,000 children in Oklahoma on any given day have a parent in prison. The report stated that these children have increased problems compared to peers, “including school challenges, attachment disorders, behavioral problems, criminal activity, physical health problems, and substance abuse.”
A previous study concluded that Oklahoma children who have a parent in prison are five times more likely to enter prison themselves than are their peers.
These studies show that our state has a societal problem because these at-risk children may never become productive and healthy members of society. New Hope aims to end the societal problem of intergenerational incarceration by helping individual children meet their challenges.
Our Programs
New Hope which offers services to children that have one or both parents incarcerated offers community-based groups on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings as well as school-based groups at Eugene Field Elementary, Kendall Whittier Elementary, Mark Twain Elementary, Emerson Elementary, and Broken Arrow Rhoades Elementary.
School-based after-school programs and Monday community based programs focus on issues like friendship, peer pressure, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and making healthy choices. These programs use an evidence based circle format where participants can express themselves through arts and crafts, games, journaling and discussions. Monday community based programs also offer a reading group for early readers and pre-readers to help enhance literacy from a young age.
Tuesday evening after school programs focus on arts and sciences, A sample of New Hope arts and science after-school programs include pottery, drumming, dance, photography, culinary arts, and science based projects.
Wednesday evening community-based programs will continue to focus on recreation for healthy development.
New Hope’s case management program. New Hope has provided social service coordination for years, but now has a dedicated program to assess needs and coordinate community services for our families who may be experiencing crises. The agency believes that this added client and family support program will significantly increase children’s outcomes.
New Hope’s after-school programs, like all of its programs, are offered free of charge for eligible children, and all programs will be administered by caring adults who have been carefully screened and trained to work with children.
New Hope’s objective is to break the cycle of generational incarceration through hope and opportunities for children of prisoners.
The programs are designed to meet the needs of the children we serve and create positive, productive, contributing members of society. The evidenced based and best practices used in all aspects of programs and evaluation processes ensure that we are utilizing the time spent with the clients and resources provided by the community in the most effective manner. The overall goal for the after school and community based programs is to provide the tools needed to make positive decisions that will put the children on the path to success and defy the odds of becoming a future incarcerated Oklahoman.
Through the use of best practices and evaluation we can review and adjust curriculum and activities when needed according to the results of the evaluations in order to provide the highest level of programs.
In our program, 81% of clients feel that the adults respect and care about them; 95% feel safe ; and 72% feel that they can share their thoughts/feelings honestly. Because of our program, 80% feel they are able to say no when asked to do something wrong or dangerous; and 83% make more positive decisions.
Words of Hope
“ I learned that there are nice people that care.”
“My favorite is feeling safe at camp vision.”
“I love this camp I wish I could stay here forever.”
“I learned how to solve my problems and how not to fight 
Thanks!”
“I learned to be proactive, not reactive. To be a better person.”
“New Hope helped me become the first person in my family to graduate from the 8th grade. It’s helped me get farther in high school than anyone in my family ever has, and even though my momma can’t be there, I know next year everyone at New Hope’s gonna be there cheering me on when I become the first person in my family to graduate school. I hope to pursue a career in the military, and I hope to come back and help kids like me.”
Camp New Hope began in 1992 when Oklahoma Episcopalians visiting prisons realized the number one concern of those in prison was the children they had left behind. A small group of volunteers created a camp for children ages 8-12 who had a parent in prison. The three day camp served six children. Evidence of the need of such a program became clear as the number of children served by the camp increased each year.
In 2000, a second camp was added for children ages 13-15 and children who had participated in the camp were now counselors–in–training and served as camp staff to the younger campers in 2002. In 2003 New Hope Oklahoma expands to provide service throughout the year for children with a parent in prison. In 2006 two additional camps were added, retreats and holiday parties were also included in the yearlong programming.
In 2007 New Hope becomes a non-profit corporation with 501c3 status. In 2009, four days of after-school programs were implemented and the number of campers had increased to 134. Today we serve more than 400 children through the year in various programs. We serve approximately 150 children each week in our after-school and community based programs and provide camps, retreats and holiday parties to more than 400 children across Oklahoma.
Camp New Hope began in 1992 when Oklahoma Episcopalians visiting prisons realized the number one concern of those in prison was the children they had left behind. A small group of volunteers created a camp for children ages 8-12 who had a parent in prison. The three day camp served six children. Evidence of the need of such a program became clear as the number of children served by the camp increased each year.
In 2000, a second camp was added for children ages 13-15 and children who had participated in the camp were now counselors–in–training and served as camp staff to the younger campers in 2002. In 2003 New Hope Oklahoma expands to provide service throughout the year for children with a parent in prison. In 2006 two additional camps were added, retreats and holiday parties were also included in the yearlong programming.
In 2007 New Hope becomes a non-profit corporation with 501c3 status. In 2009, four days of after-school programs were implemented and the number of campers had increased to 134. Today we serve more than 400 children through the year in various programs. We serve approximately 150 children each week in our after-school and community based programs and provide camps, retreats and holiday parties to more than 400 children across Oklahoma.
Lindsay Fry-Geier –
Executive Director - 918-508-5932 – Lindsay@newhopeoklahoma.org
Cole Starkey -
Director of Programs - 918-582-4128 – Cole@newhopeoklahoma.org
Jennifer Davis -
Director Client Services - 806-441-6186 - Jennifer@newhopeoklahoma.org
Lee Longhorn -
Program Coordinator - 918-978-1399 – Lee@newhopeoklahoma.org
Berincya Littlejohn-Taylor -
Program Coordinator - 918-946-6978 – Bebe@nwhopeoklahoma.org
Rondrea Taylor -
Program Coordinator - 918-812-3943 - Rondrea@newhopeoklahoma.org
Eight Part-Time or Seasonal Employees -
Danielle Bishop – Secretary
Tulsa Police Department
Rachel Campbell
Reset Restoration Services
Jane Elbon
Coldwell Banker
Robert Fallis
Tulsa Police Department
Missy Frette – President
Direct Connect
Kellie Gilpin
OKDHS
Josh Juarez
Josh’s Sno Shack
Aaron Kesler – Treasurer
Helmerich and Payne
Janelle Ligons
Cobalt Mortgage
Stuart McDaniel
The GuRuStu Group
Scott Milburn
WPX Energy
Adria Phillips – Tulsa Young Professionals Intern
Chase
Jane Simmons
Conoco Phiilips, Williams Companies
Dr. Mike Smith
Medical Physician
Successful partnerships with businesses, foundations, and organizations are vital for the continued success of New Hope and each partnership will help us reach our vision of ending generational incarceration on child at a time.
Corporate alliances unite your company’s charitable giving with New Hope and provide a hope for children of prisoners
Community Partners with New Hope provide the opportunity for employees or members of your organization to volunteer with the organization.
Foundations and corporations provide grants that will enable remarkable organization-wide growth in the number of children served.
Advocacy partners understand the importance of providing services to children with a parent in prison and support our programs in communities across Oklahoma.
Start a partnership with New Hope
If you want to discuss becoming a partner please contact:
Lindsay Fry-Geier , Executive Director lindsay@newhopeoklahoma.org or 918-508-5932Links to our Partners
New Hope provides resiliency and prevention programs for children with a parent in prison. Each at-risk child receives the Five Promises that all children need to become responsible adults. (America’s Promise Alliance):
New Hope currently serves nearly 400 children. Through our work, we are giving New Hope to the growing and at-risk group of children who have a parent in prison in Oklahoma. Through the generous support of our community, New Hope serves Oklahoma children with year round after school programs, retreats, and social opportunities as well as camping and mentoring programs in the summer.
One in five Oklahoma children goes to bed hungry. At every New Hope event, children are not only offered emotional support but also given a meal and sent home full- often with additional food.
Download ApplicationWhether you get involved with New Hope as a donor, volunteer, partner, advocate, or family member, you have the power to change the lives of children everyday and break the cycle of generational incarceration.
Being a New Hope volunteer will be one of the best experiences you will ever have. You have the opportunity to help shape a child’s future for the better through time spent in positive and constructive activities that empower them to become successful adults.
New Hope 501. South Cincinnati Avenue Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103