A Family Perspective: Caregiving and Family Contexts of Children with an Incarcerated Parent

Arditti, Joyce A.; McGregor, Casey M.

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-16707-3_9

Cited by 14 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…It is possible that the co-parents—all women and mostly the primary caregivers of their children—were less confident in their parenting skills, in need of more intensive and longer-term support, and more susceptible to parenting stress and strain than the fathers (many of whom did not live with their children). Parenting distress among co-parents who are in relationships with incarcerated parents is common; yet, high-quality parenting can mediate the negative effects of a parent's incarceration on children 45. These findings raise the question of whether there might be benefits to serving fathers and co-parents for different periods of time and in different settings in order to better tailor programming content to their varied needs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Parenting distress among co-parents who are in relationships with incarcerated parents is common; yet, high-quality parenting can mediate the negative effects of a parent's incarceration on children. 45 These findings raise the question of whether there might be benefits to serving fathers and co-parents for different periods of time and in different settings in order to better tailor programming content to their varied needs.…”

Section: Perceived Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of Feasibility and Acceptability of the Pathways for Parents After Incarceration Program

Charles,

Muentner,

Grade

et al. 2023

Family &Amp; Community Health

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Most incarcerated fathers have connections to their families, and the quality of their family relationships is important not only to their reentry success but also to shaping positive child and family outcomes. However, there is a lack of rigorous evidence about interventions designed to strengthen parent-child and other family relationships among formerly incarcerated parents. The purpose of this study was to develop and assess for feasibility and acceptability an intervention for formerly incarcerated fathers, co-parents, and their children. We created and implemented the Pathways for Parents after Incarceration Program (P4P), a multilevel intervention that focuses on strengthening positive parenting skills, building constructive co-parenting strategies, providing social support, and connecting families to needed specialized services. We delivered P4P virtually to 3 groups of participants, collecting data at several points. Results suggest that while the program was well liked and appreciated by participants and parent coaches and had a positive effect on parenting skills and attitudes, recruitment and retention were challenging. Findings suggest that P4P has the potential to support child and family well-being when fathers reenter by bolstering protective factors, and supporting access to necessary supports associated with improved reentry outcomes. Additional research is needed to address feasibility concerns and establish program efficacy.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Perceived Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Feasibility and Acceptability of the Pathways for Parents After Incarceration Program

Charles,

Muentner,

Grade

et al. 2023

Family &Amp; Community Health

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“…Allowing children to interact with parents and do normal things, such as play, talk, and eat meals can help alleviate feelings of anxiety and/or abandonment (Hairston, 2007). As such, extended contact visits can help buffer against some of the emotional and behavioral consequences of parental incarceration and disrupted attachment relationships (Arditti, 2008; Charles et al, 2021; Poehlmann‐Tynan & Pritzl, 2019; Poehlmann‐Tynan et al, 2015). Noncontact visits (i.e., those conducted through video platforms or plastic barriers) have been found to result in negative experiences for parents and children, and to lead parents to perceive lower parent–child closeness and more child behavioral challenges during visits (Beckmeyer & Arditti, 2014; Pritzl et al, 2022).…”

Section: The Role Of Policy In Shaping Mass (Parental) Incarceration ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Policy in Shaping and Addressing the Consequences of Parental Incarceration for Child Development in the United States

Mihalec-Adkins¹,

Shlafer

2022

Social Policy Report

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The U.S. has seen a more than five-fold increase in the number of children who experience the incarceration of a parent, such that now 7% of all U.S. children have been impacted. Parental incarceration has been linked to an array of consequences for children's development and well-being, spanning most developmental domains and all developmental stages. The overarching goal of this report is to briefly summarize the associations between parental incarceration and adverse outcomes across various aspects of child well-being and development (Section I), and to discuss the role of policy (Section II) in both contributing to mass parental incarceration in the U.S. (Section II.A.) and addressing the many impacts of parental incarceration in the U.S. on child well-being and development (Section II.B.). Throughout this report, we acknowledge impacts and additional considerations related to families of color, who are disproportionately affected by incarceration and associated policies.

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“…For instance, fathers who are incarcerated may experience elevated rates of trauma and PTSD symptoms, unmet mental health needs, weakened physical health, strained family ties, and depleted economic resources (Geller et al, 2011; Milavetz et al, 2021; Semenza & Grosholz, 2019). When fathers go to prison, mothers take on added responsibilities or step into caregiving roles in new ways, thus increasing mental health strain, parenting stress, social stigma, and financial instability (Arditti & McGregor, 2019; Nesmith & Ruhland, 2011). Evident here is how, across the board, paternal incarceration can have a destabilizing effect for both fathers and caregivers—the consequences of which also extend to children.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Family reunification after fathers are released from prison: Perspectives on children's adjustment

Muentner

Charles

2022

Family Relations

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Objective: This qualitative study examined adult perspectives on the adjustments children face through the process of paternal incarceration and eventual release. Background: While the United States leads the world in incarceration, 95% of imprisoned individuals return to community life. Despite poor outcomes for children with incarcerated fathers, less is known as to how they fair after fathers' release. Conceptualizing paternal incarceration and reentry as linked rather than disparate events, this study examines perspectives on family separation, reunification, and children's adjustment when fathers return from prison. Method: The sample consisted of 38 participants (19 previously incarcerated fathers, nine coparenting mothers, and 10 relatives) who shared perspectives on 63 children's adjustments. The semistructured interviews were analyzed via thematic analysis. Results: Two main themes were evident: (a) Paternal incarceration has a lasting toll on children that complicates reunification processes, introduces hurdles to maintaining togetherness, and is tied to changes in children's behaviors; and (b) reentry renews opportunity for father involvement that bolsters resilience despite ongoing systemic vulnerabilities. Conclusion: Postrelease family reunification may present challenges for children's adjustment, though supported transitions may curb some concerns. The findings call for strengths-oriented, needs-focused, and evidence-based reentry strategies that support entire family systems.

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A Family Perspective: Caregiving and Family Contexts of Children with an Incarcerated Parent

Cited by 14 publications

References 71 publications

Assessment of Feasibility and Acceptability of the Pathways for Parents After Incarceration Program

Assessment of Feasibility and Acceptability of the Pathways for Parents After Incarceration Program

The Role of Policy in Shaping and Addressing the Consequences of Parental Incarceration for Child Development in the United States

Family reunification after fathers are released from prison: Perspectives on children's adjustment

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