Services for Children of Incarcerated Parents

Abstract

Services for Children of Incarcerated Parents" provides an overview of the history, design and outcomes of human service programs provided for children of prisoners in the United States. The article examines services based in correctional settings and services sited in the community, using examples from the core programs and projects conducted by the Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents from 1990 through 2010. An analysis of the utility of specific services to children and families, and the effectiveness of those services in improving child outcomes is provided.

‘It was just like we were a family again’: play as a means to maintain family ties for children visiting an imprisoned parent

“…A greater focus on quantitative outcomes as a result of play visits, including impact on reoffending rates and children's well-being is also clearly needed. This may, however, require a quasiexperimental design (Johnston, 2012) which may be challenging in this context. Few studies have gathered the views of prison staff on their perception of play in the prison, although tentative findings from elsewhere suggest that their perceptions are positive of such a service (Tamminen, 1999).…”

“…Prison facilities are not geared toward the needs of children, rather prisons have to place to the fore concerns with public safety and thus with prison security (Johnston, 2012;Woodall, Dixey, & South, 2013). Children can find the process of visiting a prison to see their parent traumatic and daunting and children often experience a range of emotions, including anger, shame, guilt and fear (Hart & Clutterbrook, 2008).…”

Family Connections: The Importance of Prison Reading Programs for Incarcerated Parents and Their Children

“…Community-based services for the children of incarcerated parents provide one strategy to reduce the overwhelmingly negative impact of parental incarceration (Block & Potthast, 1998;Johnston, 2012). These programs vary depending on the age of the child and can continue through adolescence and into young adulthood.…”

“…These programs vary depending on the age of the child and can continue through adolescence and into young adulthood. Johnston (2012) discusses many of the programs including support groups, after-school programs, mentoring, summer camps and recreational programs, teen leadership programs, and job skills training. The effectiveness of these programs varies greatly, and many have not been empirically validated ( Johnston, 2012).…”

“…Johnston (2012) discusses many of the programs including support groups, after-school programs, mentoring, summer camps and recreational programs, teen leadership programs, and job skills training. The effectiveness of these programs varies greatly, and many have not been empirically validated ( Johnston, 2012). Measurement of parental skills and attachment levels are also lacking, particularly when these skills are not practiced when a parent is incarcerated or in the case of non-custodial parents postrelease.…”