1 in every 28 children in the United States has an incarcerated parent.*
In North Carolina, more than 18,000 children have a parent in prison. According to The Annie E. Casey Foundation, an estimated 160,000 children in the state have experienced parental incarceration and the resulting consequences.
Our Children’s Place of Coastal Horizons Center is a statewide program committed to the well-being of these children through advocacy, education, and outreach.
In order to support children with an incarcerated parent and help them persevere through such a challenging experience, Sesame Workshop launched the Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration initiative. The bi-lingual (English/Spanish) resources include videos and a storybook for children to help support and comfort them, videos and guides for parents and caregivers to help them find the language to talk about incarceration with their children, and a resource for the incarcerated parent that highlights the importance of communication.
For more information, visit the Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration website or contact Our Children's Place.
A Bill of Rights for the Children of Incarcerated Parents
The San Francisco Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (SFCIPP) created this downloadable bill of rights. Click either link below to download your copy.
Happy Global Peer Support Recognition Day!
Today, we celebrate the incredible peer support specialists who make a lasting difference in the lives of individuals navigating substance use recovery and mental health challenges.
At Coastal Horizons Center, we are proud to recognize the amazing peers who bring hope, understanding, compassion, and lived experience to the work they do every day. Their ability to connect, listen without judgment, and remind others that they are not alone is truly powerful.
Through their stories, encouragement, advocacy, and unwavering support, they help build bridges to recovery, strengthen our community, and inspire others to believe in the possibility of a brighter future.
To our peers, today, and every day, we celebrate YOU! Thank you for turning lived experience into purpose, challenges into hope, and connections into meaningful change.
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No student should have to face a mental health challenge alone. 💙Coastal Horizons is proud to partner with New Hanover County Schools to expand student mental health and emotional well-being supports through a $7.5 million, five-year federal Project AWARE grant awarded to Coastal Horizons by the SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
With $1.5 million annually, this initiative will strengthen prevention, early intervention, access to behavioral health services, and crisis response—working alongside families and community partners to connect students with the support they need.
“This five-year investment gives us the opportunity to work alongside New Hanover County Schools to recognize concerns earlier, connect students with care, and build a lasting network of support,” said Margaret Weller-Stargell, President & CEO of Coastal Horizons.
Together, we’re helping students build resilience and ensuring that asking for help is met with compassion and a clear path to care.
portcitydaily.com/local-news/2026/10/13/nhcs-coastal-horizons-to-partner-on-student-mental-health...
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Thanks to Travis (McCracken) + Travis (Hardin) for today's #SeeUsSupportUs post! Day #14, Photo #14
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Have You Seen Us?
We travel the state educating North Carolinians about the children of incarcerated parents. Have we been in your neck of the woods? Click here to find out! If you'd like us to visit you next, let us know!
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