F.E.A.T for Children of Incarcerated Parents

F.E.A.T. for Children of Incarcerated Parents (FEAT) is dedicated to supporting children who are affected by parental incarceration. FEAT has developed 6 supportive programs to meet the unique needs of children and families affected by the criminal justice system. These programs are:

  • After-School Program
  • Youth Mentorship
  • Family Visitation
  • Girls’ Empowerment Retreats
  • Youth Diversion
  • Texting Support Line

FEAT Family Visitation Program

FEAT Family Visitation Program provides transportation to Federal Correctional Institutions in Ontario on the weekends so children and families can to maintain healthy relationships with loved ones inside.

Every Saturday the bus travels to Kingston Ontario Correctional Institutions and Sundays the FEAT bus rotates between Beaver Creek Medium/Minimum in Gravenhurst, Ontario and Warkworth Institution in Campbellford, Ontario.

The bus departs at 6:00AM from 3140 Dufferin St, North York, ON M6A 2S7 and picks up passengers from:

  • 10 York Mills Rd, North York, ON M2P 2G4
  • The McDonald’s on Markham road
  • With various pickups along the 401 GO Bus route, Ajax-Pickering and Whitby

The bus arrives at most institutions around 9:30AM and returns on Saturdays around 7:00PM and 6:00PM on the Sundays.

All children ride for FREE on the bus, Adults must pay $40 for Kingston trips and $30 for Gravenhurst and Campbellford departures.

For more information and to reserve seats contact Derek Reid at 416-505-5333

After-School and Youth Mentorship

The After-School and Youth Mentorship programs provide support for children and youth affected by parental and familial incarceration in the Greater Toronto Area. The activities are designed to build protective factors and resilience by facilitating children and youth to develop a positive peer support network, learn social, leadership, and mentoring skills, receive academic and employment support, and teach healthy coping strategies.

Texting Support Line

FEAT will be launching a Texting Support Line in early October which will have trained staff to provide support to children and their families across Canada.

Kilometers for KIP

On Saturday October 19th, 2019 FEAT is having a fundraiser, Kilometers for KIP, a 54 km walk from their office in Toronto to the City Hall in Hamilton. Click here for more information.

If you are interested in how you can participate or help in the walk please contact Derek Reid at 416-505-5333 or dreid@featforchildren.org. If you would like to help support FEAT programs, online donations can be here.

To learn more about any of FEAT’s programs you can contact Jessica Reid at jreid@featforchildren.org