Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Breaking the Cycle with Academic Support for Children Affected by Incarceration
Posted on 09/18/2025
The New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) is taking strong steps to address the intergenerational impacts of parental incarceration through a new partnership with Give Something Back (Give Back), a nonprofit organization that provides long-term coaching and academic support to underserved youth. This new program adds to NJDOC’s broader reentry strategy, and aims to end the cycle of incarceration by providing long-term academic support to justice-impacted youth.
Give Back will provide professional academic coaching and mentoring services to children whose parents are incarcerated at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility (EMCF). These students will be matched with a mentor who coaches them from middle school through early adulthood. The coaches help guide academic planning, career exploration, and college preparation. In many cases, they also support basic needs like access to meals or transportation.
Give Back has built a data-driven model to track student progress and tailor services accordingly. Since 2018, the organization has collected over 1.2 million data points, allowing coaches to provide timely, individualized support. To date, more than 2,000 students have been supported by Give Back nationally, with more than 80 percent on track to complete or already completing college.
By connecting with students early, the Department hopes to reduce the long-term effects of parental incarceration, and provide more stable outcomes for children impacted by the justice system.
