LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - June 12, 2009) - The Center for Restorative Justice Works Get On The Bus program is again working together to bring hundreds of children to visit their incarcerated fathers.

On Friday, June 19, 17 buses filled with more than 500 children and their caregivers will travel from major cities across the state to California Men's Colony (CMC) in San Luis Obispo and Correctional Training Facility (CTF) in Soledad.

Maria Palmer, Director of the Get On The Bus program, knows first hand the pain that can be caused by having a father in prison. "I believe that every child should have access to their parents no matter where they are. Your dad will never stop being your dad."

The buses will depart early Friday morning from different locations throughout the state and are scheduled to arrive between 8 and 10 a.m. to accommodate the greatest number of visitors in visiting rooms with limited space.

Get On The Bus provides free transportation for children and their caregivers, travel bags for the children, comfort care bags for the caregivers, a photograph of each child with his or her father, and meals for the day. The meals include breakfast, snacks on the bus and lunch at the prison. Following their visit, the children are taken to local churches for a reception dinner. There, the children can share their experiences with each other and they are also given teddy bears with a letter from his or her dad.

The program is funded by donations from churches, schools, family foundations, grants and other organizations.

Get On The Bus is celebrating 10 years of bringing children to see their mothers in prison for Mother's Day. This year's Mother's Day event has been rescheduled to Friday, June 26 at the three female institutions due to the H1N1 virus precautions in May.

"Children want to see and hug their parents, whether they are in prison or not," added Sister Suzanne Jabro, who has spearheaded this event for 10 years and is the Executive Director of The Center for Restorative Justice Works. "With Get On The Bus, our goal is to raise awareness regarding the needs of these children of incarcerated parents."

Contact Information: CONTACT: Maria Palmer Get On The Bus (818) 980-7714 ext. 12