Get On The Bus is for children of moms and dads who are in prison. Get On The Bus provides transportation for children and one caregiver to SVSP for Father’s Day.

 Children of the incarcerated parent and ONE caregiver or volunteer over the age of 18 will escort the children into visit you.

GOTB is FREE to families. Transportation, food and photos are all FREE.

The incarcerated parent can sign up for Get On The Bus from September until November 15, 2016 at the prison.

Get On The Bus will be June 10, 2017!

 Each family receives a 4 hour visit.

Transportation, meals, items (coloring books, crayons, puzzles, etc) to keep them busy, t shirts, a special visit with child focused activities, a photo with you, stay connected bags (stationary, pens, stamps, etc.) so that they can keep in touch after the visit, and a teddy bear and a letter from you, which they receive on their way home.

The opportunity to unite with their children for a special day, a free lunch, and a photo.

The incarcerated parent cannot visit anyone they’ve been restricted from having contact with and cannot participate if he/she has restrictions visiting with minors.

Incarcerated parents can pick up an application from the MAC Representatives or the chapel.

 Return completed applications to the Visiting Sgt. or Ms. Hernandez, CRM.

No. The incarcerated parent will need to be cleared by SVSP to participate. The parent can’t participate if he/she has visiting restrictions or restrictions with minors. There are no non-contact visits and parents can’t participate if they are placed in administrative segregation.

Yes, the prison will notify the incarcerated parent if he/she is not approved.

The prison will mail all the approved applications to the central GOTB office. The applications will then be separated by prison and area and given to a GOTB volunteer.

GOTB will contact your family in mid-January to February. If you do not receive a call by the end of February and you know your loved one submitted an application, please give us a call at 818-980-7714.

 If GOTB is unable to contact your family, the incarcerated parent will be notified by the prison and asked to produce more telephone numbers. If GOTB can’t reach your family by mid April, your family will not be able to participate in this year’s event.

If your family chooses not to participate, GOTB will not force them to participate. No, means no.

The incarcerated parent will be notified by letter if your family does not want to participate.

 GOTB will call your family and set up a time and place to meet so they can fill out all the necessary paperwork for the prison and for the program.

Yes, but they will need a signed notary with the legal guardians signature (matching the birth certificate) in order to accompany the child. GOTB will help this person fill out the notary paperwork. Their clearance will be dependent on CTF approval.

Another person you know or a GOTB volunteer will escort your child (pending prison clearance). A notary giving this person permission to escort your child is required.

The incarcerated parent will sign a notary at the prison giving permission for another adult or GOTB volunteer to escort the child.

The age limit for children is infant to 25 years of age.

 No, due to capacity limits in the visiting areas, only your children or step-children can participate.

 If the step-child/children considers the incarcerated parent a father/mother figure then he/she may participate.

If the daughter is the primary caregiver and there is no care available for the baby on the day of the event, then yes. This will be dealt with on a case by case basis.

 Only ONE caregiver or guardian per family is permitted to ride the bus.

The child’s guardian in this case, the social worker will have to approve of it. The social worker may need to present a court order to the prison for further approval.

GOTB strongly suggests picking ONE family to avoid conflicts. However, GOTB will make decisions on a case by case basis.

The child needs a valid birth certificate, and a signed notary if he/she is being accompanied by someone other than the legal guardian.

GOTB will provide funding to purchase a birth certificate if one is not available.

You can also send donations directly to our Central Office: 6400 Laurel Canyon Blvd. Ste 304, North Hollywood, CA 91606. If you or your group raises more than $550, your name will be printed on a Get On The Bus t-shirt. If your group raises more than $2000, your group’s logo will appear on the t-shirt.