POPS The Club

Research has found connections between parental incarceration and childhood health problems, behavior problems, and grade retention. POPS (pain of the prison system) is a nonprofit organization that offers community and emotional support to high school students who's lives have been impacted by the prison system in some way. The organization, which started in Venice High School in Los Angeles, uses art and writing as ways for the students to express their emotions. Every year these stories of suffering and triumph are published in annual anthologies.

Since its inception in 2013, POPS has expanded to 5 additional high schools in Southern California and will soon be establishing clubs in Minnesota, Washington State, and Ohio.