Lutheran Social Services of Illinois Connections Program

Lutheran Social Services of Illinois offers programs and services for incarcerated persons at 25 Illinois prisons and jails, and their families. It also provides services for previously incarcerated persons who are returning to Illinois communities. Through Connections, LSSI provides services and programs for incarcerated mothers and their families.

Its Visits to Mom program provides approximately 500 visits annually for Chicago children to keep in touch with mothers during their incarceration. While children visit their parents, caregivers meet for support and informative meetings. In addition, re-entry services are provided to women who have left prison and are newly returning to the Chicago area or for women who have been out of prison for a while and are still in need of services.

Partner Edward R. Moor works with Lutheran Social Services in its Family Connections program, taking children to visit their incarcerated parents once a month as part of the prison ministry programs at the First Presbyterian Church of Evanston, Ill.