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Get On The Bus 2024 Season

Men's Prisons:

California Men’s Colony
(CMC)
APRIL 13TH, 2024

Calipatria State Prison
(CAL)
APRIL 20TH, 2024

High Desert State Prison
(HDSP)
MAY 3RD -5TH, 2024

Folsom State Prison
(FSP)
JUNE 15TH, 2024

CA State Prison - Sacramento
(CSP-SAC)
JUNE 15TH, 2024

Salinas Valley State Prison
(SVSP)
JUNE 29TH, 2024

Correctional Training Facility
(CTF)
JUNE 29TH, 2024

San Quentin
(SQ)
JULY 11TH, 2024

Substance Abuse Treatment Facility
(CSATF)
JULY 25TH, 2024

Corcoran State Prison
(COR)
JULY 25TH, 2024

Women's Prisons:

California Institute for Women
(CIW)
APRIL 6TH, 2024

Central California Women’s Facility
(CCWF)
MAY 11TH, 2024

What is Get On The Bus?

Get On The Bus unites children throughout California who have been separated from their mothers and fathers in prison. An annual event, Get On The Bus offers free transportation for the children and their chaperones to the prison, provides travel bags for families, a photo of each child with their parent, and meals for the whole day including a shared meal with their parent, all at no cost to the children’s family. On the bus trip home following the visit, each child receives a teddy bear with a letter from their parent in addition to post-event counseling.

Our Mission

Get On The Bus – uniting children with their mothers and fathers in prison-this statewide prison visiting program trains and educates hundreds of volunteers and supporters throughout California and engages the media to raise awareness about the plight of children with a parent in prison. Get On The Bus advocates for the right of children to see, embrace, and talk to their parent.

Why do the children need transportation?
Children with a parent in prison are usually cared for by relatives, often grandparents. Many caregivers are unable to make the drive due to distance or expense. Get On The Bus offers a priceless opportunity a mother’s touch, a father’s hug, a family photo, a private conversation, and a connection with hope and healing.
When does it take place?
Each year around Mothers Day and Father’s Day, hundreds of children and their caregiver’s board buses and travel from cities all over the State of California to be united.