Emotional Support Programs – The Aleph Institute
Emotional Support Programs
Incarceration often has profound emotional effects on those who are incarcerated as well as their families. When a parent or spouse is literally torn from the fabric of their families, they leave a gaping void and a reeling, fragmented household behind.
For those behind bars, the results can be devastating. Endless feelings of guilt and remorse, and solitude and failure, combined with harsh, isolating conditions in even the most respectable institutions, can have serious psychological consequences.
For the shattered families left behind, children and spouses are left to grapple with a harsh new reality and the stigma of having a loved one in prison. Added financial stress, along with feelings of loneliness, resentment, shame, and embarrassment, all contribute to the struggles and at times, even the deterioration of a formerly stable family unit.
Recognizing this challenge, Aleph has consistently developed and expanded our emotional support programs in order to accommodate these individuals and family members.
We currently offer the following emotional support programs:
Aleph family services offers supportive counseling provided by the Angel Program, an independent nonprofit organization:
Families with someone in prison face overwhelming challenges and are often left alone to grapple with their feelings of shame, resentment, fear, betrayal, and the unknown.
The Angel Program recognizes that the key to surviving these life challenges is having a strong support system. Our program provides supportive counseling to individuals and families navigating these experiences, helping them feel less alone and more empowered.
We are committed to creating a safe, compassionate space where participants can express their feelings, develop emotional skills, and feel seen and heard every step of the way.
Our Angels are trained, supervised, graduate students earning their Master of Social Work (MSW) or Mental Health Counseling (MHC) degrees.
Since the program’s inception in 2020, there have been more than 80 Angels working on rotation, connecting with parents, children, partners and ex-partners of incarcerated individuals. On average, over 200 family members connect with an Angel each week.
The impact of this program has been truly remarkable. One participant highlighted the incredible benefits:
“I want to thank my Angel who has guided me through this challenging transition. I never thought I would be near the end of this difficult time, but my Angel was always available. She didn’t judge me or challenge my anger, but listened as I shared my concerns. I feel blessed by the Angels program and wish each mother, spouse, sister, and child can have one, if needed.”
Shiffy Lichtenstein – Director – Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Founder of the Angel Program, established in 2020. Provides leadership and guidance to the program and its team.
Chaya Henchy Friedman – Clinical Supervisor – Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Oversees the Angels to ensure that families receive high-quality and clinically appropriate support.
Menucha Niyazov – Administrator – Works closely with both the Angels and Aleph families. Coordinates programs and ensures smooth transitions. Also provides technical assistance, resources, and ongoing support wherever needed.
Navigating the challenges of having a family member in prison can be overwhelming. Angels provide one-on-one supportive counseling to families affected by incarceration. Each client is seen every week for one hour on Zoom.
The Angels provide a safe, confidential space to process feelings and give support that is tailored to their clients needs.
Finding a supportive community can make all the difference. Our Angels lead a myriad of virtual support groups where family members of the incarcerated person can share their experiences, provide empathy, and emotionally support one another. Each support group has 6 to 8 participants, who meet weekly for 10 to 12 weeks on Zoom. We have meticulously designed a range of support groups tailored to accommodate diverse family situations, backgrounds, demographics, and age ranges, ensuring that no one is alone or forgotten in their challenging times.
Groups run on an as needed basis and include:
- Dad’s Group: For fathers with an incarcerated child.
- Moms Group: For mothers with an incarcerated child.
- Partners Group: For partners and ex-partners of incarcerated individuals.
- Sex Offense Group: For mothers with a son incarcerated for a sex offense.
- Almost Out/Out Group: For mothers whose sons are out or almost out of prison.
- Journaling Group: For mothers who have an incarcerated child.
- Long-Term Incarceration Group: For mothers with sons facing long-term incarceration (20 to 25+ years).
- Moms Age 65+ Group: For older mothers who have an incarcerated child.
- Grandmas Raising Grandkids: For mothers of incarcerated individuals who are raising their grandchildren.
- The Angel Movie Club (AMC): For women with an incarcerated family member. Members watch a selected show at their convenience and then join a lively discussion at the movie club.
The Angel Book Club is a family-focused program that connects Angels with families of incarcerated individuals. The program is designed for children ages 7–11 and their caretakers. ABC families receive a children’s book and craft each month and meet on Zoom to discuss it in a fun and engaging way.
The C.A.R.E Program is an empowering ‘for us, by us’ initiative that provides job counseling to family members of incarcerated individuals, as well as formerly incarcerated individuals who are reentering society . Designed to guide individuals to enter the workforce with confidence, this program offers a personalized journey including individual career counseling, workshops, and group support.
Stage 1 – Individual counseling to assess fears and sensitivities, and address specific needs. Stage 2 – Enhancing self-esteem in workshops with skill-building activities.
Stage 3 – Personality assessments to ascertain transferable skills and explore suitable career paths.
Stage 4 – Writing a resumé, learning interview skills, and building job search strategies.
Each participant receives customized 1-on-1 sessions (spanning 1 to 6 sessions), and group sessions are available as well. Resources are provided as needed.
Are you a Social Work or Mental Health Counseling student seeking a fulfilling internship? Would you like to do meaningful clinical work? Consider interning with the Angel Program!
As an intern in our program, you’ll have the opportunity to be an “Angel” for people affected by a family member’s incarceration. Your role would be to create a safe therapeutic environment and to provide an empathetic, non-judgmental, and healing space for your clients to share their experiences and emotions. We provide our interns with weekly clinical supervision, ongoing training, and two weekly collaborative team meetings. As an intern, you will have a caseload of 8-10 clients per week and you will also have the opportunity to lead support groups and work with families. This is a remote internship and all sessions and meetings are done via Zoom.
If you are interested in joining our internship program, please have your field coordinator/instructor send your CV to [email protected] . If you qualify, we will contact you and set up an interview.
A minimum commitment of 7–8 months is required.
Aleph Visitation Circle (AVC)
- Following a visit, one person wrote to us : “I had a plan in L.A. county jail before I met you. I was going to end my life. Your hugs were a recharge for my soul every single time.”
- *For more information, please contact [email protected]
Feelings of abandonment and loneliness prevail among the spouses of incarcerated individuals. Aleph’s Family Services hosts multiple virtual and in-person support groups where spouses of the incarcerated can share their experiences, provide empathy, and support each other emotionally. We also have a private Facebook group where members can ask questions and exchange advice pertaining to having a loved one in prison.
General Support and Guidance
Aleph’s Family Services team is always available for these families in crisis. Whenever the phone rings and someone is crying out for help, even in the dead of night, our dedicated staff will always answer. We lend a sympathetic ear, offer words of encouragement, and provide practical support and advice.