In Allegheny County alone, there are more 7,000 children with an incarcerated parent. Today, more than 30 people joined the Gwendolyn June Campbell Elliot Family Activity Center as it triumphed over its first year of continually easing the discomfort and anxiety children face while waiting to visit a loved one in jail.

The family center opened in late spring of 2007 and thrives on the time, effort and sincere commitment of 40 volunteers from Allegheny County.

A PROUD MOMENT—Program coordinator Shirlene Jones talks to the media as County Executive Dan Onorato looks on. To the left is a portrait of the late Gwen Elliott.

“The volunteers are so vital to the success of this program. There is only one paid staff member other than myself, so the volunteers keep the center running,” said Shirlene Jones, program coordinator of the center.

County Chief Executive Dan Onorato commended the center’s volunteers. “(The volunteers) have donated well over 2,000 hours; that’s 2,000 hours we could not afford to pay for. With that said, I send great thanks to the volunteers and all that they’ve done.”

With more than 3,800 visits from children of all ages, the family activity center keeps them entertained with videos and television, arts and crafts and books. Additionally, there is a mock visiting booth where children and families may have the opportunity to see how it will look when they see a loved one and perhaps even practice what they will say.

Because parents or caregivers are accompanying the children, there have been more than 3,200 visits from adults. The family activity center makes an effort to accommodate the adults as well.

“Some of these kids are being raised by grandparents or aunts and uncles because for some reason or other their parents aren’t around. So we’ve provided a multitude of resources to assist them in their new roles—everything ranging from non-profits, to social services for them or the children,” Jones said. “We’ll find them referrals for just about anything.”

“This year has been a fun and eye-opening experience for me,” said Robert Canter, a volunteer at the activity center. “I started out as an intern in September of 2007. I stayed around because it’s still around and as a criminal justice major, this is great exposure and insight.”

With a successful first year behind them, the family activity center has much to look forward to.

“We’re planning to improve on the first year,” Jones said. “We plan to offer trainings to give more responsibility to volunteers so that we can evenly disperse the expectations. With the trainings, the volunteers will receive certificates of completion and have input on implementing new activities for the family activity center.”

Ramon C. Rustin, the warden at the Allegheny County Jail, is eager for continual success of the center, and plans to expand the internship program. The interns will be exposed to much more than the family activity center, they will be exposed to all different areas of the jail and the officers will serve as their individual liaisons.

“This is a really heartfelt project. I have a strong sense of pride regarding this project,” said Rustin. “It’s success is vital.”

The center, named in honor of the late Cmdr. Gwen Elliot, was honored during the day’s celebration.

“Gwen Elliot went above and beyond her duties as an officer and helped to make southwest Pennsylvania a much better place to live,” Rustin said.

During the tribute, her daughter, Kathi Elliot, unveiled a portrait of Elliot. Emotionally, she said, “I know my ma would be proud. This center has brought so many people together, even in their most trying of times.” The portrait was donated to the family activity center from Gwen’s Girls, a nonprofit organization founded by Gwen Elliot.

(For more information about the center, call Shirlene Jones at 412-350-6423.)