Staff from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Education Based Incarceration, or EBI, Bureau and Grace Baptist Church, Santa Clarita are going to reunite children with their incarcerated fathers for one day, as part of “The Returning Hearts Celebration.”

“The Returning Hearts Celebration,” which will be on Friday April 29, is a one day event that unites children with their incarcerated fathers. The “Returning Hearts Program” is an integral part of a parenting program sponsored by the Education Based Incarceration Bureau, or EBI, that teaches inmates how to become better fathers by promoting personal growth, accountability, and decision making.

This event is an excellent way for incarcerated fathers to reconnect and bond with their children, and to work on their relationships which places them on a path towards family reconciliation.

Approximately 23 male inmates, who qualify, are allowed to invite their children and grandchildren, 5-17 years of age, to attend a carnival in a grassy area outside the jail compound that is removed from other inmates. The carnival will include food, music, and entertaining carnival games.

The Returning Hearts Celebration will be hosted by Grace Baptist Church, Santa Clarita who will be providing volunteers, food, and fun activities for the EBI inmates.

Approximately 34 children are invited to participate in this event. The children will be chaperoned by volunteers from Awana Lifeline Ministries. Since the purpose of the celebration is specifically for uniting Fathers and their children, no other family members are allowed to attend.

EBI Bureau is responsible for managing 67 inmate educational and vocational programs within seven Los Angeles County jails. There are approximately 18,000 inmates in the Los Angeles County jail system. Within that population more than 6,000 inmates are currently participating in educational programs.

For more about these programs, visit the EBI website at: www.EBI.lasd.org.