W W W . P A C E . E D U / D Y S O N W W W . P A C E . E D U / D Y S O N W W W . P A C E . E D U / D Y S O N
A
ll mothers face distinct chal-
lenges in raising their children,
perhaps none more so than
those who are incarcerated. Research
indicates children of an incarcerated
parent are six times more likely to
be involved with the criminal justice
system. Recognizing the need for more
support for women in detention facili-
ties, Associate Professor of Criminal
Justice and Security Kimberly Collica-
Cox developed Parenting, Prison, and
Pups, an innovative and award-winning
program that combines a parenting
class with animal-assisted therapy
(AAT) to help mitigate stress and reduce
recidivism. This first-of-its-kind program
is a partnership among Pace, the
Metropolitan Correctional Center (a
federal detention facility in New York
City), the Westchester County Depart-
ment of Correction (a county jail), and
the Good Dog Foundation (a nonprofit
that trains and deploys therapy dogs).
It is supported by Pace grants and
$45,000 in external funding from an
anonymous donor.
Although data on the results of
the program is forthcoming, anecdotal
feedback from participants suggest
positive outcomes, and Collica-Cox
has received numerous accolades
for her work. In July 2018, she was
honored with the Outstanding Public
Service by an Employee Award by
the Jefferson Awards Foundation, the
nation's longest-standing
organization dedicated to
inspiring and celebrating
public service.
An award-winning
professor, Kimberly
Collica-Cox aims to
reduce recidivism among
incarcerated women in
a unique way.
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19
Parenting,
Prison, and
Pups
