ChIRP

Children of Inmates Reading Program (ChIRP)

BCFI’s commitment to the successful reintegration of inmates and to stronger, healthier communities includes the development of Children of Inmates Reading Program (ChIRP). The mandate of ChIRP is to build and enhance a healthier parent/child relationship, develop literacy and listening skills, increase vocabulary and attention spans for children and promote a love of learning in children through the consistent presence of a parent and books.

For the past 15 years, Carla Veitch, a children’s educator, has been successfully developing and operating ChIRP. Once a month, ChIRP volunteers enter the institution and offer inmates the opportunity to select a book for their child and then read that book into a recording device. The book and recording are then mailed to the child.

This initiative provides a direct connection for the child with his or her incarcerated parent. In addition to the opportunity to hear a parent’s voice, the reading initiative underscores the value of reading and the importance of books. For a number of the participants, reading aloud to their child has not been part of their pattern of parenting, nor was it modelled for them as part of their early childhood years.

Children are never responsible for their parents’ choices. At the same time, they are the hidden victims not only in the justice and correctional system, but also within our larger community.

Carla Veitch

ChIRP Facilitator

As the Children’s Programmer for the past eight years at Gravenhurst Public Library, Carla has a passion for promoting Family Literacy. Through her visits to local classrooms and programs out in the community, she has become known as “Miss Carla!” Twelve years ago, she began the ChIRP (Children of Inmates Reading program) in two local federal correctional facilities. Recently, the program has been expanded to four other sites across Canada.

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