Join us for a meeting of the Coalition for Women Prisoners' Incarcerated Mothers Committee. The Committee focuses on promoting policies that strengthen bonds between incarcerated mothers & their children. Currently the Committee is working on a campaign to restore the DOCCS "Free Bus Program," which was eliminated in July 2011. This critical service allowed family members with incarcerated loved ones to maintain family ties by facilitating visits for those who were unable to otherwise afford the trip. This cut has been devastating to families who rely on this bus service, as well as to incarcerated people who rely on these visits to provide them with hope, healing, and the strong relationships that make a successful transition home more likely. The Committee is also working to ensure the successful implementation of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) Expanded Discretion Law. This bill amended NY's ASFA law, which almost always requires foster care agencies to file for a termination of parental rights if a child has been in care for 15 of the last 22 months. The new law allows foster care agencies to decide not to file for termination if a parent is in prison/jail or in a residential drug treatment facility. We encourage you to join the committee, share your thoughts and input as we continue to support incarcerated mothers maintain bonds with their children.