Regardless of conflicting perspectives about criminal justice issues, perhaps everyone can agree that children with an incarcerated parent deserve encouragement and comfort, both for their sake and for the sake of society as a whole. In addition to the real-time stress and sadness that having a parent behind bars can cause, long-term repercussions can also be significant: such children face a higher risk of future criminal justice involvement compared with their peers. Fortunately, a local program called Waiting Room Welcome places children at the center.
The program helps create supportive environments for children visiting loved ones at the Franklin County House of Corrections (FCHOC) and the Community Justice Support Center (CJSC) in Greenfield. In less formal terms, that’s the county jail on Elm Street and the courthouse on Main Street. The program operates under the auspices of the Foundation for Community Justice (FCJ), which was founded in 2001. Don’t let the many acronyms in this column put you off, dear readers; this story is all about heart, not red tape.
FCJ board members Lucinda Brown and Linda Singer administer Waiting Room Welcome, and the program is making a big difference. On a recent Thursday morning, the women sorted through kid-friendly materials to create gift bags for youngsters. They perform this function six times a year because contact visits between children and incarcerated parents are allowed only every other month.
Before each visit, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) notifies Brown and Singer of the number and ages of children expected, helping them determine how many age-appropriate toys, books and snacks to purchase, along with gift cards for the children’s caregivers to use for groceries, gas and meals at local eateries. The program has benefited about 170 children since it began in May of 2025.
As they prepare for visiting day, Brown and Singer are in constant motion. Two days before the Aug. 8 visit, Singer muttered, “Is this toy appropriate for a 4-year-old? No, I think I’ll put it in the 5-year-old bag.” Choosing a different toy, she said, “I think this one is better for a 4-year-old.”
When Brown was asked a question, she replied while gesticulating with her hands, both of which were full. Holding a teddy bear in one hand and two packages of baby wipes in the other, she said, “At one visit, two five-year-old girls who didn’t know each other met while visiting their dads. For both of them, it was their first time. They came back out of the visiting room holding hands.”
The program provides both delight and comfort. It’s not just about gifts; calming, low-key recorded music also plays as kids arrive. The program’s success is apparent: children who once arrived for visits appearing anxious now walk quickly or run toward the building, looking energized. Once through the doors, they scramble toward reception tables and greet each other with smiles.
As Brown and Singer worked in tandem, FCJ Board President Annie Diemand Bucci arrived in a Diemand Farm truck during a short break from the land of fresh poultry, pot pies and other delectables. The longtime farmer came by to thank Brown and Singer for their work.
“This is the sweetest organization in the world,” Diemand said. “If we can make kids’ visits with their parents less scary, it’s all worth it.”
For those who think these women are do-gooder softies, consider this: Diemand is a retired Wendell police officer with three decades of experience and is also a former correctional officer.
“For years, I volunteered with the restorative justice program and also on the juvy (juvenile) board. Listen, bad choices can result from trauma,” she said. “When you have a loved one in jail and you’re not allowed to touch them, that can cause real trauma.”
Diemand recalled witnessing a visiting day at both sites around the holidays last December. “It was so joyous. That matters. It really does.”
Brown and Singer each also have decades of professional experience related to criminal justice. Instead of leaving them jaded, their backgrounds inspire them to make a difference. At the jail site, staff and administrators are on board, too. Because children must visit their parents without caretakers accompanying them, everyone involved is sensitive to their needs. Inmates and staff alike wear street clothes rather than uniforms during visits, which take place in the jail’s library. These aspects help to make visits more relaxed and less intimidating.
When asked about the impact of the program, Sheriff Lori Streeter said “Waiting Room Welcome is a wonderful way to support children who are visiting a parent at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. These visits can be difficult for kids, and having someone there to greet them with a smile, a snack, a book or a small gift can make a real difference. We’re grateful to the Foundation and its volunteers for helping make the experience more positive for these children and their families.”
On a recent Saturday, Brown dropped gift bags off at the jail and then headed to the downtown site where minimum-security visits take place. There, she spoke with a mom whose 8-year old was visiting dad. Brown learned that the man was likely to be released before the next scheduled visit. The mom expressed gratitude for the support Waiting Room Welcome has given her child.
Singer shared a vignette that sums it all up: “One of our peer ambassadors (through the Communities That Care Coalition and The Brick House) told us that, when they were young, their dad was incarcerated, but they didn’t visit him because it was too scary and hard.” Singer added, “That’s why we do what we do. Kids need this.”
Eveline MacDougall is the author of “Fiery Hope” and can be reached at evelinemacdougall@gmail.com.