Multisite randomized efficacy trial of educational materials for young children with incarcerated parents

Abstract

Although children with incarcerated parents exhibit more behavior problems, health concerns, and academic difficulties than their peers, few interventions or resources are available to support affected children. This randomized, controlled, multisite efficacy trial evaluated Sesame Street’s "Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration" initiative with children aged 3 to 8 years with a jailed father. Seventy-one diverse children and their caregivers were randomized to an educational outreach group (n = 32) or wait list control group (n = 39). Researchers observed children during jail visits and interviewed caregivers by phone 2 and 4 weeks later. The effects of the intervention on children’s behavior and emotions occurring during a jail visit depended on what children had been told about the father’s incarceration. Children who were told honest, developmentally appropriate explanations showed less negative affect at entry, an increase in negative affect when the intervention was administered, and a decrease in negative affect during the visit. Intervention group children who were told distortions, nothing, or explanations that were not developmentally appropriate showed more negative affect initially, and their negative affect remained relatively stable during their time in the jail. In addition, children who were told the simple, honest truth about the parent’s incarceration (a recommendation in the educational materials) exhibited more positive affect during the visit, with a medium effect size. Caregivers in the educational outreach group reported more positive change in how they talked to children about the incarceration over time compared to the control group.

The Health and Development of Young Children Who Witnessed Their Parent’s Arrest Prior to Parental Jail Incarceration

“…The sample included data from 228 individuals nested within 76 triads of children (aged 3–8 years, M = 5.5, SD = 1.8), their at-home caregivers, and their jailed parents who had lived with the child or had been engaged in their care prior to the incarceration. The participants were part of a larger multisite longitudinal intervention study focusing on incarcerated parents and their children [ 39 ]. In this analytic sample, there were nine incarcerated mothers and 67 incarcerated fathers, and 76 focal children, 53% of whom were boys.…”

“…Children in the control group watched a general Sesame Street episode on numbers and math, and families were given access to materials after completion of the study. The original study showed promise of these materials, such that the intervention group had more positive visiting in experiences and caregivers also reported positive changes in how they talk to children about the incarceration [ 39 ]. Across the waves of data collection, participants also shared information on basic demographics and incarceration-related experiences (such as whether the child witnessed their parents’ crime, arrest, or sentencing).…”

“…For example, Haskins [ 38 ] found that paternal incarceration was associated with lower attention scores in boys and lower math problem solving scores in girls as compared to their same gender peers. Other studies have found elevated internalizing symptoms and emotional concerns among CIP as well, depending in part on the age of the child [ 39 ]. Despite parents perceiving their incarceration negatively influencing their children’s health [ 40 ], this consequence of parental imprisonment tends to receive less attention despite some health effects being documented in young children (e.g., [ 41 , 42 ].…”

“…Only a few population-based studies in the existing CIP literature have explored possible mediators or moderators of the relation between parental incarceration and child physical health, mental health, behavior problems, or educational outcomes [ 39 ]). Within-group studies with targeted sampling can help fill this gap by examining heterogeneity in child development, health, and family processes, with the results possibly indicating the need for further study of factors rarely included in population-based parental incarceration studies (e.g., witnessing parental arrest or the child’s reaction to the parent leaving for incarceration; incarceration-related details).…”

COVID-19 Inspired Relational Telemental Health Services for Incarcerated Individuals and Their Families

“…Prisons and jails vary widely in their implementation of family-oriented programs, in contrast to individually oriented programs and services. For example, there are a growing number of parenting programs available in correctional facilities (Charles et al, 2020 ; McKay et al, 2019 ; Poehlmann-Tynan et al, 2020 ), and when integrated approaches are used, these programs could enhance the provision of mental health services. Family conflict is another barrier to implementation of relational TMH.…”