This session explores how T.O.N.I.E.S uses Tonieboxes to help incarcerated parents stay connected with their children. It covers the program’s origin, partnerships, operation, and plans for future expansion.
About This Session
Description
This session introduces the creation and evolution of T.O.N.I.E.S, a program designed to help incarcerated parents maintain meaningful bonds with their children through recorded stories and personal messages using Tonieboxes and Creative Tonies.
Attendees will learn how the idea emerged, how partnerships across corrections, education, and community organizations shaped the program, and how families benefit from receiving parent recorded audio that children can revisit anytime they need comfort or connection.
The session also highlights lessons learned during implementation and shares the vision for expanding T.O.N.I.E.S to reach more facilities, more families, and more community partners who believe in the power of storytelling to support resilience and belonging.
What we'll cover:
This session provides a deeper look into the development, implementation, and future direction of the T.O.N.I.E.S program, an initiative that strengthens family bonds by helping incarcerated parents record stories and personal messages for their children through Tonieboxes. Participants will explore the project’s origin, the collaborative partnerships that made it possible, and the practical steps required to operate the program within correctional settings. The session highlights lessons learned, early outcomes, and the expanding vision for community connection, literacy support, and emotional well-being.
Objectives:
- Understand the core purpose and structure of the T.O.N.I.E.S program.
- Identify the community and institutional partnerships involved and how they were developed.
- Describe the workflow for creating, reviewing, and distributing parent recorded Tonies.
- Recognize the benefits for children, caregivers, and incarcerated parents.
- Apply lessons learned to consider how similar programs might be adapted in their own communities.
- Explore strategies for scaling or sustaining family connectivity initiatives.
Intended Audience
This session is designed for educators, correctional staff, social workers, librarians, community program directors, nonprofit partners, early childhood specialists, and anyone interested in literacy, family engagement, restorative practices, or reentry support.
Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how storytelling technology can support family connection across barriers, along with actionable ideas for integrating similar models into their own organizations or communities.
Topics & Focus
Primary Topic Area
Session will also cover:
Assigned by TCALL
Pending
Audience
Level
Case study?
Promotion?
A note from the presenter:
Drew Vernon, Director of tonies® Education, will be available during the session to answer questions and provide support, and will also have a table in the exhibitor area.
This session will also include a drawing for door prizes. Attendees could win their own Toniebox and Tonies.
Handouts & Materials
No handouts or materials available at this time.
“Name of Session” – session presentation slides (PDF)
Name of Document – lesson sample (PDF)
Name of Document (PDF)
Name of Document – infographic (JPG)
Presenter
Dr. Kyle Roberson
Assistant Professor, Family and Consumer Sciences Education
Texas Tech University
Dr. Kyle Roberson has over 24 years of teaching and training experience. He served more than 21 years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves, including ten years as a Drill Sergeant training new soldiers. He also spent 20 years with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. As supervisor of education, he oversaw all inmate academic, vocational, recreational, and continuing education programs. He expanded college participation by collaborating with a contracted institution to introduce transcripted undergraduate certificates. He improved GED pass rates by using reciprocal teaching strategies, structured incentives, and increased testing opportunities. He also added new vocational programs to support reentry success.
Dr. Roberson is currently an assistant professor in the Family and Consumer Sciences Education program at Texas Tech University, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses. He is a past president of Phi Upsilon Omicron and continues to serve as a chapter advisor. He holds a South Dakota teaching license with multiple endorsements. His research focuses on inmate programming, reentry, families of the incarcerated, FCS teacher recruitment, and family literacy. He has 22 peer-reviewed publications in academic journals and has authored a children’s book about making friends.
Breakout26 – ROBERSON
Page checked or updated: 6/10/2026
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