MATCH
Mothers and Their Children
Providing support to the children of incarcerated mothers
About MATCH
MATCH (Mothers and Their Children) helps children stay connected to their mothers while their mothers are in prison. Located at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women (NCCIW) in Raleigh, MATCH offers a safe, welcoming, home-like space where children can spend meaningful, unhurried time with their mothers.
MATCH does more than help with visits. We offer parenting classes, emotional support, and help with travel costs so families can get to Raleigh. We also host special events that give mothers and children positive experiences together. Everything we do is based on the belief that a strong relationship between a mother and child is essential to a child’s emotional health and development.
The Merger
In January 2025, the Boards of Directors for Arise Collective and MATCH (Mothers and Their Children) unanimously approved a merger in which MATCH will join Arise Collective. This partnership brings together the strengths of both organizations to expand services and better support incarcerated and formerly incarcerated mothers, their children, and justice‑impacted families.
The decision followed an in‑depth strategic alignment process and several months of careful due diligence and planning. Together, the two organizations bring more than 75 years of combined experience focused on strengthening the bonds between mothers and their children during and after incarceration. The merger also aims to address the broader impact of parental incarceration on caregivers and the communities that surround them.
Programs
The Impact
Research shows that children with incarcerated mothers are among the highest‑risk youth in the nation, facing emotional trauma, developmental disruption, and social stigma at levels far above their peers. (mdpi.com)
But research also shows that maintaining connection, providing stable caregiving, and offering trauma‑informed support can dramatically improve outcomes.
Through MATCH, children receive a powerful message: their mother loves them, they are not forgotten, and they deserve stability, hope, and a future filled with possibility.