1 in every 28 children in the United States has an incarcerated parent.*
In North Carolina, more than 20,000 children have a parent in prison. According to The Annie E. Casey Foundation, an estimated 160,000 children in the state have experienced parental incarceration and the resulting consequences.
Our Children’s Place of Coastal Horizons Center is a statewide program committed to the well-being of these children through advocacy, education, and outreach.
In order to support children with an incarcerated parent and help them persevere through such a challenging experience, Sesame Workshop launched the Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration initiative. The bi-lingual (English/Spanish) resources include videos and a storybook for children to help support and comfort them, videos and guides for parents and caregivers to help them find the language to talk about incarceration with their children, and a resource for the incarcerated parent that highlights the importance of communication.
For more information, visit the Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration website or contact Our Children's Place.
A Bill of Rights for the Children of Incarcerated Parents
The San Francisco Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (SFCIPP) created this downloadable bill of rights. Click either link below to download your copy.
Parenting isn’t easy—but you don’t have to do it alone. 💙
Coastal Horizons is proud to offer The Incredible Years®, a FREE, evidence-based program designed to empower EVERY parent and EVERY caregiver of children ages 6–12.
For more than 40 years, this proven program has helped families:
✔️ Decrease challenging behaviors
✔️ Strengthen parent-child relationships
✔️ Create clear family rules
✔️ Get on the same page with co-parents
✔️ Reduce stress in parenting
📅 Tuesday, February 17, 2026
🕠 5:30–8:00 PM
📍 Mary C. Williams Elementary School, Wilmington
📅 Thursday, February 12
🕠 5:30–8:00 PM
📍 Rocky Point Elementary, Rocky Point
✨ Also included at no cost:
• Childcare
• Family-style meal
• Transportation assistance
Call today to register: 910-523-3016
Stronger families build stronger communities—and our community believes in supporting its parents. 💛
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Thanks to Lincoln County DSS for inviting Our Children's Place to present to child welfare and foster care social workers this a.m. We appreciate the invitation and look forward to a thoughtful conversation! #lincolncountync
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Last night, Coastal Horizons was honored to attend the Milestones 2026 Dinner in support of LINC, Inc. — one of our valued community partners dedicated to helping justice-involved individuals rebuild their lives.
LINC (Leading Into New Communities) works to break cycles of incarceration by providing reentry services, mentoring, housing support, employment assistance, and long-term guidance for individuals returning home. Their work strengthens families, reduces recidivism, and makes our communities safer and healthier.
We are especially proud to celebrate Christy Morris, REACH-NC Care Manager, who received special recognition during the program. 💙
Since beginning her journey with LINC in 2022, Christy has demonstrated what long-term success truly looks like. She earned her Certification as a Peer Support Specialist and is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Social Work — all while serving others with compassion, integrity, and strength.
Christy has been instrumental in launching Coastal Horizons’ REACH-NC program in Pender County. Her leadership reflects the powerful combination of lived experience, professional dedication, and a deep commitment to helping others move forward. She embodies hope in action.
We are proud to collaborate with community partners like LINC who believe in second chances and new beginnings — and we are incredibly proud to have Christy on our team.
📸 Pictured:
• Christy Morris
• top right photo: Billy McGowan, Jamie Melvin, Candace Small, Atabaa Goodman, Allison Schurr, Amy Miles, Christy Morris
• bottom right photo: Jamie Melvin, Candace Small, Allison Schurr, Billy McGowan, Atabaa Goodman, Kenny House, Jason Black, Amy Miles, Ebony James
Congratulations, Christy — your journey inspires us all.
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Have You Seen Us?
We travel the state educating North Carolinians about the children of incarcerated parents. Have we been in your neck of the woods? Click here to find out! If you'd like us to visit you next, let us know!
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