Supporting the Bonds between incarcerated PARENTS and their young CHILDREN

Sandy Beaudry Kristina Toth Child and Family Services & Kristina Toth Family Connections Center of the NH Department of Corrections Sandy introduce

Incarcerated Parents What words do you think of when you hear “Inmate”, does it change when you hear “incarcerated father”? What about when you hear “incarcerated mother”?

Facts It is estimated that around 2,000,000 children have an incarcerated parent at any given time 22% of the children with incarcerated parents are under the age of 5 -Rosenberg, J. (2009). Children Need Dads Too: Children with Fathers in Prison (Human Rights and Refugees Publications, QUNO) Another way of looking at it…in 2007, 1 in 43 (2.3%) of American children had a parent in State or Federal Prison. Does not account for jails

Facts 92% of incarcerated parents are fathers 46% of all incarcerated parents lived with at least one of their minor children, prior to entry 95-97% of inmates in NH prisons will be released

NH Statistics As of March 18, 2013, NH Department of Corrections has 2,606 inmates ~1,510 incarcerated fathers ~ 105 incarcerated mothers

Hearing from a child

Effects of incarceration on children Without intervention, children’s reactions to the separation from their incarcerated parent can result in:  Increased aggression  Increased fear and sadness  Regressive behavior (bed-wetting)  Substance abuse  Sexual experimentation  Incarceration -Nesmith & Ruhland (2008) Children of Incarcerated Parents: Challenges and Resiliency, in their own words. kerry

Effects of Incarceration on Children Protective Factors

Family Connections Center Created in 1998 to help children while the parent was incarcerated To educate and support parents while they are incarcerated To increase protective factors so that children do not follow in their incarcerated parent’s footsteps To prepare incarcerated parents for reuniting with family Play 5 minute video of JaQuila age 10 from documentary LIFE WITHOUT Youth With Incarcerated Parents Tell Their Own Stories

Programs: Step 1 18-hour Parenting Education Class Step 2 Weekly Parenting Support Groups Step 3 Remain on good behavior in order to receive additional services

Increasing knowledge Educational Seminars by professionals in the community Monthly newsletters for parents & families Crafts and cards made by parents are sent home

Increasing Parent-Child Interactions – Recording Books on CD’s that are sent home to each child with 2 new books. New fathers are encouraged to sing and read to their children prenatally Internet Video Visits –Visits up to every other week with every child

FCC DATA- 98% fathers report that FCC improved their knowledge of positive parenting practices 77% fathers reported improved father-child relationship 80% reported that the parenting class helped strengthen their relationship with their children’s caregivers 63% of caregivers reported improved parenting skills and that their relationship with their child improved through the video visits FCC and CFS collaboration on the Fatherhood Project

Incarcerated Father

“What the child imagines about the incarcerated parent’s condition and circumstances may be far worse and more frightening than the reality” -Children of Prisoner’s Library, “Why Maintain Relationships?” Sandy asks the question Should children visit/have contact with incarcerated parents?

In New Hampshire PRISONS JAILS 3 prisons, Berlin, Concord and Goffstown Generally contact visits 10 jails, one in every county Generally non-contact visits

How you can support these kids Sandy lead discussion

Children of Incarcerated Parents Bill of Rights 1. I have the right to be kept safe and informed at the time of my parent’s arrest. 2. I have the right to be heard when decisions are made about me. 3. I have the right to be considered when decisions are made about my parent. 4. I have the right to be well cared for in my parent’s absence. 5. I have the right to speak with, see and touch my parent. 6. I have the right to support as I struggle with my parent’s incarceration. 7. I have the right not to be judged, blamed or labeled because of my parent’s incarceration. 8. I have the right to a lifelong relationship with my parent. -San Francisco Partnership for Incarcerated Parents www.sfcipp.org