Get On The Bus
The Process
An annual event, Get On The Bus offers free transportation for the children and their caregivers to the prison, provides travel bags for the children, comfort care bags for the caregivers, a photo of each child with his or her parent, and meals for the day (breakfast, snacks on the bus, lunch at the prison, and dinner on the way home) all at no cost to the children’s family. On the bus trip home, following a four-hour visit, each child receives a teddy bear with a letter from their parent and post-event counseling.
Our process starts with the parents. Please encourage your loved one inside to initiate the process by filling out an application! Here is how we work:
September – November:
Any interested Mom/Dad at one of our participating facilities for events can sign up by filling out an application at the prison in October – December. Note: We do not accept any applicants with visiting restrictions against anyone who is requesting to visit with him/her, or visiting restrictions with minors. We also do not provide non-contact or administrative segregation visits.
November – December:
Each prison reviews the applications and sends approved applications to the GOTB office.
December – January:
Applications are sorted by bus and distributed to our local volunteers at our statewide training in January and February. New: In 2021, virtual training will be available.
February – March:
February – March:
All Father’s Day families are contacted and a GOTB volunteer goes to the home to complete necessary prison/GOTB paperwork. Note: If we are unsuccessful in contacting your family by mid-April, your family will not be able to participate in this year’s Father’s Day Event. Please contact our office at 818-980-7714 or lrios@crjw.org if you have further questions.
Early April:
Approval of the visitors for our Events begins. Note: If an adult is not approved, a GOTB volunteer can accompany a child to the prison with the proper notary paperwork.
April through June: Events
