Working in Partnership Brighter Futures and the Jacaranda Mothers’ and Children’s Program

A Work in Progress….. 1.Incarcerated mothers – research shapes an idea 2.Mothers’ and Children’s Program – brief history and overview 3.Brighter Futures – Program overview and core components 4.A Partnership is formed – the vision and the challenges 5.Welcome to the Jacaranda Playgroup 6.Jesica’s story 7.Where to from here?

Research Children with incarcerated parents identified as most ‘at-risk’ population in US studies Resultant generational attachment difficulties and the externalisation of negative behaviours Frequent changes of caregivers within the Out of Home Care system (Smyth 2011) Only about one third (37%) had secure attachments (Poehlman 2003) compared to 60-70% in general population

Background Closure of the Mulawa Mothers and Children’s Unit in 1981 The NSW Department of Corrective Services ‘Women’s Action Plan’ 1994 Jacaranda Cottages opened in 1995 ‘Corrective Services recognises that offending and/or imprisonment are not evidence of a mother’s lack of desire, or ability to perform her parental duties. Corrective services recognises that continuity in the relationship between child and mother is critical to the child’s emotional, intellectual and social development.’

The Mothers and Children’s Program Full-time Residential Program Occasional Residency Program Classified Category 1 or 2 Assessment Process

Brighter Futures Families identify with one or more of the five parental vulnerabilities Children 0 – 8 12 – 18 months program duration Core components : Casework Parenting Programs (group based) Structured Home Visiting Early Childhood Education and Care Use of Structured Decision Making Tools

Who are we? Bonny Cotter, Brighter Futures Nepean Program Manager, Belinda McInnes, Mothers’ and Children’s Program Co-ordinator, Deb Ennis, Brighter Futures Early Childhood Facilitator Caseworker Marian Allen and Deb Ennis

A Partnership

The Supported Playgroup Facilitators Program – play, music, parenting Informal learning An outing Mothers and babies one-on-one time Skillbuilding Parents as Teachers Trust enables casework relationship

Jessica’s Story

Bibliography and Resources Loy, M. “A Study of the Mothers and Children’s Program in the NSW Department of Corrective Services” (Paper presented at the Women in Corrections: Staff and Clients Conference 2000) Stanley, E. and Byrne, S. “Mothers in Prison: Coping with Separation from Children” (Paper presented at the Women in Corrections: Staff and Clients Conference 2000) Smyth, J. “Dual Punishment: Incarcerated Mothers and their Children” Columbia Social Work Review, Volume III 2011:33 Poehlmann, J. ‘New Study shows children of incarcerated mothers experience multiple challenges’ Family Matters” A Family Impact seminar Newsletter for Wisconsin Policymakers (2003, October). “Parenting in Prison” by Joanna Tovia in MiNDFOOD December 2012 ( “Women in Prison NSW ” (A Statistical and Policy Account) UNSW Comparative Youth Penalty Project 2010 (