Bridging the Gap: Supporting Healthy Lifestyles for Low-Income Families
Put Me In! dismantles opportunity barriers in youth sports for children of incarcerated parents. In this post, we share some of the systemic obstacles that families in our program face.
Accessing youth sports in America increasingly depends on privilege. For single-parent households, especially those facing economic hardship, the barriers are steep. And when a parent is behind bars, those barriers become even more formidable.
The latest U.S. Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth underscores a reality we already know too well: physical activity is not equitably accessible. Families in low-income communities face a layered challenge: working multiple jobs, managing instability, and still trying to give their children a chance to thrive. For many caregivers in the Put Me In! program, this means choosing between rent and registration fees. New cleats or a new winter coat. A ride to practice or a night shift that pays the heating bill.
The consequences go beyond missed seasons.
Children of incarcerated parents (CIPs) are far more likely to experience what public health calls Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). These include trauma from separation, household instability, and long-term financial insecurity. Without supportive environments, these stressors accumulate, contributing to academic struggles, mental health challenges, and social withdrawal. In many cases, organized sports become an unaffordable luxury.
But this isn’t inevitable.
At Put Me In!, we work to shift the odds. Our model provides $1,000 in recurring financial support so kids can play sports consistently from elementary school through graduation. Just as importantly, we support caregivers, many of whom are navigating this journey alone. One mother told us, “Before Put Me In!, sports weren’t even an option. Now my son’s out there every week, and I see the joy coming back into his eyes.”
Family Systems Theory tells us that consistent support, encouragement, reinforcement, and reliable routines make a difference in youth outcomes. But for a single parent juggling multiple jobs, consistency is a privilege they rarely have. That’s where community steps in.
Systemic inequities, spanning race, income, geography, and policy, create real disparities in youth sports participation. Black and Latinx children are disproportionately impacted by parental incarceration and are also significantly less likely to meet recommended physical activity levels. Add to that limited school funding, neighborhood safety concerns, and lack of transportation, and it’s clear: we’re not just talking about sports. We’re talking about opportunity.
At Put Me In!, we believe physical activity shouldn’t be a privilege. It’s a right. One that builds confidence, connection, and structure for kids navigating profound adversity.
We’re doing our part. If you believe every child should have the chance to play, we invite you to join us.