Prison Nursery Offers Moms Healing, Hope, and Redemption

Missouri is now one of just 10 states in the country with a correctional nursery program. Before the program’s launch, incarcerated mothers were typically separated from their newborns within 24 to 48 hours after delivery. Infants were usually placed with relatives or sometimes were placed into the foster care system. This program offers a different path—one grounded in dignity, healing, and the belief in second chances.

MCC talks with Kim Perkins, nursery program manager at the Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center (WERDCC) in Vandalia. Kim discusses the challenges and successes of the program.