"There is not a doubt in my mind that every person in prison needs to read this book. I was hardly able to put it down to eat or sleep. I found myself all through it." —Inmate, N.C.C.I., Marion, OH

"I have never read a book so instrumental for positive change. So many experts have said what's wrong, but not so competently created a guide on how to change. It brings so much hope." —Marcelino DeLeon, LICMHC Psychotherapist, Suffolk County House of Corrections Boston, MA

"You helped me reach pain that you seemed to know was there better than myself, and no one has ever shown me how to work with that pain as deftly as you did. Thank you for your courageous and groundbreaking book." —J.H., London Correctional Institution London, OH

– Bringing a powerful and effective emotional literacy rehabilitation curriculum to prisoners and prison staff across the country

The National Emotional Literacy Project for Prisoners

• Provides professional training for corrections staff

• Offers public education

The National Emotional Literacy Project for Prisoners (NELPP) brings to prisoners across the U.S. and beyond the tools and the inspiration for positive change. It also provides correctional counselors, clergy, and prison volunteers with resources for promoting emotional (re)habilitation in the inmate population.

At the core of the project is the free distribution of the book Houses of Healing: A Prisoner’s Guide to Inner Power and Freedom to prison libraries and prison programs nationwide. Houses of Healing combines essential tools for change with a deep awareness of the emotional challenges facing incarcerated men and women. It is a habilitative tool that many prisoners are embracing with overwhelming enthusiasm.

The primary goal of the National Emotional Literacy Project for Prisoners has been the free distribution of multiple copies of Houses of Healing: A Prisoner’s Guide to Inner Power and Freedom to the libraries of every state and federal prison and larger county jail in the country.

Since 1995, The Lionheart Foundation, sponsor of The National Emotional Literacy Project for Prisoners, has distributed over 50,000 copies of Houses of Healing (in both English and Spanish) free to most every state and federal prison and larger county jail in the U.S., initiating a wave of change in prisoners’ and prison counselors’ approaches to rehabilitation. In total, about 75,000 copies of
Houses of Healing
are currently in circulation.

The program presented in the book is being used by thousands of prisoners in self- and group study and by many counselors and chaplains in refining and redefining treatment programs. Prisoners and prison staff write daily to praise the transformative power of Houses of Healing.

The Houses of Healing Training Manual, a guide to facilitating 12-session courses based on the book Houses of Healing, and The Houses of Healing Educational and Training Video Series augment the teachings in the book. All materials are available for purchase through the Lionheart Foundation. (see Ordering Books & Videos) Funds generated by sales are channeled back into the project to help pay for free book distribution, and in-prison teaching.

Although prisoners may purchase Houses of Healing at a reduced price, many prisoners who would like to have their own copies are unable to afford the reduced rate. As funding is available (see Please Join Us), we do provide a free personal copy of the book to any prisoner who requests one. We receive requests from prison staff and clergy as well for additional books for use in chaplaincy libraries and psychological treatment and substance abuse programs. We are pleased that, to date, Lionheart has been able to fulfill all requests.


Professional Training

Lionheart’s director, Robin Casarjian, offers a one-day Emotional Literacy Training Program for Corrections Professionals for front-line rehabilitation staff around the country. She also offers a half-day Emotional Literacy Training Program for Correctional Officers.


Current Activities of NELPP

• Free distribution of the book Houses of Healing: A Prisoner’s Guide to Inner Power and Freedom to prison libraries nationwide

• Free distribution of Houses of Healing to prison staff, chaplains, and volunteers to start up Houses of Healing programs or to augment existing programs such as life skills, anger management, violence prevention, and substance abuse treatment (when funds to purchase books are not available).

• Free distribution of Houses of Healing to prisoners who request a personal copy of the book and cannot afford to pay the reduced prisoner rate

• Facilitation of the Emotional Literacy Training Program for Corrections Professionals

• Sale/distribution of the book Houses of Healing, as well as the Houses of Healing Training Manual and the Houses of Healing Educational and Training Video Series

• The Vipassana Meditation Project and the making of a feature documentary film, "Freedom Behind Bars."

• Outreach to (1) inform the public about the current state of corrections in the U.S.; (2) encourage a more rational and productive approach to violence prevention, sentencing, and incarceration; and (3) educate the public about the need to transform prisons into places for people to heal.