Since its incorporation in 2001, Breaking the Chain Foundation has directed its volunteer efforts toward assessing the kinds of services available to children of incarcerated parents in the DC metropolitan area. While services do exist, most families of prisoners or felons re-entering the community find it very difficult to obtain information about these resources or secure access to services. Because of this service gap, and the multiple service needs that children and families of incarcerated parents typically have, communication and coordination among individuals and organizations providing existing support services to this target population is essential. 

The BTC Referral Network consists of a complementary group of public and private support services that already exist for children of the incarcerated and their families. Youth that may not meet the initial criteria for participation in the mentoring program, or youth that may need more intensive services and have academic, familial, or health issues that need special attention, can avail themselves of the services the referral network provides. 

The BTC Referral Network is comprised of a multidisciplinary group of local volunteer professionals who have chosen to donate their time to provide psychological and spiritual counseling, nutritional and tutorial services to the youth in the program.  Referrals are made on a case-by-case basis so that they best target the needs of the children and their families.

Several social service programs administered by the DC Department of Human Services that may be useful to children of the incarcerated and their families are:

• The Youth Services Administration: Provides security, supervision, residential and community support services for clients in the juvenile justice system. Educational, therapeutic, recreational, and cultural enrichment programs are also provided by YSA.

• The Family Service Administration: Provides case assessment, social services, case management, and crisis intervention services to family members residing in DC.

• The Office of Early Childhood Development: Collaborates with other public and private child and family advocacy organizations to provide a range of services to eligible DC children aged five and younger. The OECD also promotes access to before and after-school activities for eligible children up to age 13 and manages a comprehensive, subsidized childcare program for eligible children and families. The OECD oversees the Early Intervention Program. The Early Prevention Program promotes the identification and screening of infants and toddlers up to three years of age for developmental delays.

• The Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Administration: Provides services to DC residents with mental retardation and/or other developmental disabilities, including vocational training, employment and training in practical living skills.

• The Income Maintenance Administration: Implements federal income support programs, including child welfare or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), food stamps, employment assistance and medical assistance for vulnerable children and adults.

• The Rehabilitation Services Administration: Provides a variety of services for disabled persons (including employment, vocational programs, and housing), and administers income maintenance programs intended specifically for this population, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Several health service programs administered by the DC Department of Health that may be useful to children of the incarcerated and their families are:

• The Health Care Safety Net Administration: This program aims to provide uninsured, eligible DC residents access to medical services.

• The Maternal and Child Health Administration: Promotes and coordinates comprehensive health services for women and their families in DC.

• The Addiction Prevention and Recovery Administration: Provides DC residents with a variety of accredited substance abuse services including residential, outpatient, methadone, 24-hour detoxification and aftercare programs. It also collaborates with community-based organizations, schools and religious institutions to provide assistance.

• The Nutrition Programs Administration: Coordinates and promotes nutrition programs for DC residents in need, such as the Senior Farmer's market Nutrition Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).