Working with Incarcerated Parents and Their Children Sponsored by the CYFERnet Parent/Family Editorial Board Tammy Gillespie, Program Director, University of Missouri Extension 4-H LIFE Program Additional funding from the USDA Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) SCP InitiativeUniversity of Missouri Extension 4-H LIFE ProgramUSDA Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) SCP Initiative

Overview 1.Why should we care about the effects of parental incarceration? 2.How is a child affected when the parent is incarcerated? 3.How can the harm be reduced?

Why should we care about the effects of parental incarceration? Children of offenders are six times more likely to go to prison. The female offender population rate is increasing at a faster rate than that of male offenders. Children with incarcerated mothers are at the greatest risk for future involvement with the criminal justice system. Parents of minor children held in the nation’s prisons increased by 79% between 1991 and midyear 2007.

Pencil sketch done by H. Martin, former offender at the Women’s Eastern Correctional Center (Vandalia, MO)

How is a child affected when the parent is incarcerated? This varies widely according to: 1)whether the parent lived with the child prior to arrest and incarceration 2)family living arrangements during the parents’ incarceration 3)Other factors, including: a.Gender of the incarcerated parent b.Developmental stage of child c.Family and coping resources

How is a child affected when the parent is incarcerated? Direct effects on children: Traumatic separation (caregivers, too) Problems in school Developmental Regressions Depression and Anxiety (and caregivers, too) Indirect effects on the family before/during parental incarceration include: Poverty Unstable or shifting care arrangements

How can the harmful effects on the child be reduced? Children seem best able to resolve losses more effectively when: 1. The child has a reasonably secure relationship with the incarcerated parent. 2. The child is given prompt, age-appropriate information. They are allowed to ask questions. Adults answer these questions as honestly as possible, even if they do not know the answer. 3. The child is allowed to participate in the family grieving. 4. The child has easy access to a trusted parent or other adult (e.g., Big Brothers, Big Sisters Mentor) for comfort and an ongoing relationship.

Children of female offenders participating in a 4-H LIFE Program Club Meeting (9/25/8)

Reducing Harmful Effects Visitation can potentially benefit the incarcerated parent and provide emotional and psychological continuity for family members. Many incarcerated parents feel that in person visits with their children are worthwhile and serve to strengthen family bonds. Ann Adalist-Estrin states that, while every family is different, there are many families and children that can benefit from maintaining family ties throughout the parent’s incarceration. This can be done through letters, phone calls and in person visits (Source: Family and Corrections Network (FCN) fact sheet Why Maintain Relationships?, CPL 102).Family and Corrections Network (FCN)

Reducing Harmful Effects Adalist-Estrin states that visits to the correctional center provide relief for some children since the visiting room may not be as frightening as the child’s imaginary and frightening mental images. Since 2000, the Missouri 4-H LIFE Program has worked to help children of offenders, their incarcerated parents and the caregivers maintain their existing relationships through “enhanced” prison visits and 4-H activities for the whole family.

4-H LIFE Components 1.Weekly parent education classes with eligible offenders 2.Monthly Planning meetings with those same offenders: –Parents identify needs of their children, according to stage of development and situation –Parents build their own planning, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. –Parents reflect on the previous month’s visit and discuss what activities were effective, why, why not, what could be changed, and how the experience can apply to their current situation in prison as well as when they get out of prison. 3.Monthly Enhanced visitation (aka “4-H Family Meeting”) –The entire family participates in experiential activities targeting specific life skills –Youth are given an opportunity to serve as a 4-H leader (e.g., Club president or song leader) during the 4-H family meeting. –Incarcerated parents lead family activities and have defined responsibilities, allowing the caregiver a brief respite from a primary parenting role.

Impact of 4-H LIFE Original Pilot Program Quantitative data and qualitative data showed improved: parent-child relationships and communication. Incarcerated fathers and correctional center staff report fathers had gains in leadership, empathy, and self-control. Replication Sites Evaluation methodology developed under the direction of Dr. Joyce Arditti, Virginia Tech Researcher and Editor of the Journal of Family Relations. A multi-method data collection process is currently underway with correctional center staff, extension faculty and with intervention and control group subjects (i.e., caregivers and offenders).

Bibliography Adalist-Estrin, A. (2003). Why Maintain Relationships? Adapted from “How Can I Help?” Children of Prisoners Library, Facts and Issues: CPL 102. Arditti, J.A., & Few, A. (2006). Mothers’ reentry into family life after incarceration. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 17(1), Arditti, J. A., Lambert-Shute, J., & Joest, K. (2003). Saturday morning at the jail: Implications of incarceration for families and children. Family Relations, 52, 195. Arditti, J. A., Smock, S. A., & Parkman, T. S. (2005). "It's been hard to be a father": A qualitative exploration of incarcerated fatherhood. Fathering: A Journal of Theory, Research, & Practice about Men as Fathers, 3, Glaze, L.E., & Maruschak, L.M. (Aug 2008). Parents in Prison and Their Minor Children, US Dept of Justice Statistics Special Report. US Dept of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, NCJ Jarratt, C. (1994). Helping children cope with separation and loss. Boston: The Harvard Common Press. Parke, R. & Clark-Stewart, A. (Dec 2001). Effects of parental incarceration on young children. Paper presented at the National Policy Conference, :”From Prison to Home: The Effect of Incarceration and Reentry on Children, Families, and Communities.” Sponsored by the US Department of Health and Human Services, and The Urban Institute. Poehlman, J. (2005). Representations of Attachment Relationships in Children of Incarcerated Mothers. Child Development, 76, Senate Report (Sept 2000). Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 2001, US Senate, page 56. Young, V. & Reviere, R. (2006). Women behind bars. Riennar: Boulder, CO.