RILEY’S READERS: SC program named after former governor allows inmates to read to their children

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — For people in prison, seeing their children may be a rare occurrence.

Now, a program in South Carolina is helping create a link between inmates and their kids back home.

“With all that our great state has to offer, if you don’t have an education, you’re missing the most important key to all those doors,” said Gov. Henry McMaster.

However, for young children whose parents are in prison, they might not have a person to educate them.

“It’s heartbreaking seeing some of these children that don’t have anyone at home to read to them at night,” said SCDC director Bryan Stirling. “The average education level of someone who comes to the Department of Corrections is 10th grade.”

Since 2016, a program called Mother’s/Father’s Voice allows incarcerated parents to record storybooks to send home to their own children.

“They record the book and sent it home. They can put little notes in there,” Stirling said. “There was a young lady with a Charleston accent who I remember saying ‘My little sleepyhead, please brush your teeth and be good for grandma.’ That connection just rings in my head.”

Since the program began, almost 500 books have been recorded by inmates.

“Some of the females and the males have a hard time reading. Other inmates would come over and help them read to their children. This is funded by donations,” Stirling said. “They have to qualify for this program by being discipline free for 6 months.”

The program was started by Midlands leaders partnering with the Riley Diversity Leadership Program. Wednesday morning, the Mother’s/Father’s Voice program was renamed Riley’s Readers to honor former US Secretary of Education and South Carolina governor Richard Riley.

“I think there’s no more appropriate name for this program as well as for the institute that has produced many great ideas like this one,” McMaster said.

When in office, Governor Riley worked to improve education in the Palmetto State and this new program hopes to promote literacy and connecting families.