Dee Ann Newell, Executive Director of Arkansas Voices for the Children Left Behind, was honored at the White House in a ceremony on June 12, 2013.  She was one of 12 individuals selected as Champions of Change for the work she has done with children of incarcerated parents. 

The White House Office of Public Engagement, created in 2011 to recognize community leaders working to strengthen democracy and increase participation in government, hosted the event.  This event also marked the introduction of a new Sesame Street Muppet character, Alex, who has an incarcerated parent.  Alex is pictured here along with Dee Ann (left) and two other honorees, Nell Bernstein and Yali Lincroft, close colleagues.

The 12 honorees have all dedicated their lives to working with incarcerated parents, their children, and the caregivers of those children.  The White House describes them as heroes, working every day to help families affected by incarceration.

The work of Arkansas Voices and the other Champions of Change is complemented by the Federal Interagency Reentry Council, convened by the Attorney General two years ago, which seeks to reduce barriers to jobs, housing, and education, with a special emphasis on the needs of veterans and women as they rejoin society after involvement with the criminal justice system.

"This White House event offered the first-ever federal policies to soften the impact of parental loss for a child of an incarcerated parent, including a model law enforcement training and protocol when children are witnesses to their parent's arrest, along with other needed policies," noted Dee Ann.  "It is our hope that we will see further federal efforts to insure children and parents are not needlessly separated, including diverting parents into productive programs without parent-child separation.

Arkansas Voices works with many wonderful families, providing support during the parent's incarceration and re-entry. To learn more about Arkansas Voices, visit our website at www.arkansasvoices.org.

                                             A trip to the Arkansas State Capitol Building for a group of high school girls was a lesson in civics and a chance to meet the Governor.  It was also a chance to relax and have fun, something these girls badly need.  


Arkansas Voices supports two school-based peer support groups made up of high school students who share the harsh impact of an incarcerated parent or family member.  These students often have special needs and concerns.  They frequently take on the role of an adult, holding down jobs and taking responsibility for younger siblings.  For teens, peer support groups can be the strongest guiding force in their lives. 

For these girls, all of whom live in Little Rock, this was their first trip to the State Capitol.  The groups provide not only encouragement and guidance, but also educational and leadership development opportunities. 

Arkansas Voices works with many outstanding youth such as these wonderful girls, providing support during the parent's incarceration and re-entry. To learn more about Arkansas Voices, visit our website at www.arkansasvoices.org.