Kentucky has the second highest female imprisonment rate. Operations Open Arms works with our community to reduce the impact on our children and support women upon reentry.
We provide three programs: Incarcerated Foster Care, Recovery Over Incarceration, & Short-Term Foster Care. All three programs offer case management, support services, respite care, foster home services, and services to strengthen the parent-child bond for incarcerated women and their children. Criteria include currently incarcerated, history of incarceration, and women with children.
If you are facing sentencing, have been incarcerated, or are choosing recovery over incarceration and believe you could benefit from our services please contact us.
Our Kids Clothes Closet is designed to provide children entering our foster care program with essentials such as a bed, bedding, clothing, luggage, car seat, and other necessities. These items are upgraded as needed while the child is in the foster care program. When exiting the program, the children receive upgraded items and take with them a journal, backpack, blanket, and memory box. Our goal is to provide them with essentials and empower them.
The clothes closet is also available to foster families in the community. Please contact us to learn more about visiting the clothes closet and making donations.
- Incarceration Services - Foster Care & Support
Operation Open Arms Incarceration program is designed for women who are being sentenced or serving time and need an option for placement of their children. Sometimes, women may not realize they have options, and as a result their children automatically enter states care. In other cases, women may turn to their family or friends for help, only to discover that it’s not a viable long-term option. Operation Open Arms is nationally accredited, and state licensed to provide foster homes, however, we operate privately and offer an alternative to the state system.
“I was skeptical about using OOA. I really didn’t know who else to turn to for help. I didn’t have much local support. I needed someone to help me with my child. It was hard. I don’t trust people and it meant I had to trust them, strangers. I found a great job for myself and a new apartment. A family took care of my child while I took care of both of us with my job and apartment. OOA helped me with some items for my home, support, and a home for my child. The staff and family genuinely care. As they say, with courage I changed my circumstances. I made a better life for me and my child, OOA helped us to be able to do that. I am thankful. I would tell others to trust and put the work in because with support you can change your circumstances.” - Anonymous Biological Mother Testimony
Foster Homes Needed
At Operation Open Arms we need families seeking to learn how they can assist in providing children with respite homes, short-term foster homes and long term foster homes. There is no commitment in learning more! Learn how you can become part of the OOA family and how your family can grow as they give to those who need them most.
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- Recovery Over Incarceration - Respite Services
Operation Open Arms Recovery Over Incarceration program is designed to support women with children who are either referred to recovery programs over sentencing or are entering a recovery program with a history of incarceration. Through collaboration with local recovery centers and community grants, we provide temporary homes for children while their mothers undergo medical detox and enter recovery programs. The length of stay in our care can vary from ten to thirty days, depending upon the recovery center’s requirements.
Short-Term Foster Care Services
Operation Open Arms Short-Term Foster Care program provides temporary homes to children in our commnity. Due to funding limitations, this program has limited availability. This program is designed for women who have a history of incarceration and are in need of a temporary home for their children due to homelessness, recovery, or other related needs.
Adoption Services
Operation Open Arms is a licensed, nationally accredited agency with over twenty years of experience conducting home studies and interstate compact agreement services on the placement of children. Our professional staff are located across the state offering local convenience and flexible scheduling. Our highly skilled employees have firsthand experience offering both the personal and professional touch.
