Extended Family organizes to offer support to families of prisoners
Comet staff report

Marilyn Keeler of Camden is leading the new Logansport Branch of Extended Family, a support system for families of prisoners. The group will have its first meeting on April 2 at 7 p.m. in the clubhouse at Logansport Senior Citizen Village, 2626 George Street, and will meet at the same time and place thereafter on the first Wednesday of each month.

Extended Family focuses on providing a safe place for people with a family member in prison to talk about their experiences and support each other through encouraging words and experience. It is a community-based organization, and is not tied to any one church or religion. Members are welcome from all faiths or no faith.

As Branch Leader, Keeler will lead the Logansport Branch meetings. "Our monthly Extended Family meeting includes member discussions, a question and answer period, or a presentation on services available in our community that would be helpful to family members of prisoners. We will have presentations on stress reduction, anger management, and learn about programs in our community that are helpful to many of us during this season of our lives. Just being able to hear someone else say 'I understand,' and know that they really do, is worth so much."

The nationwide organization was started in November 2003 by Laure Clemons of Centre, Ala. After repeatedly asking what is out there for families of prisoners and being told over and over again, nothing, Clemons decided to start Extended Family.

To learn more about Extended Family, call the home office at 256-927-7997, email extendedfamily@tds .net, or visit Extended Family Web site at www.extendedfamilysupport. org.