1. Supporting the Bonds between incarcerated PARENTS
and their
young CHILDREN

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

3. 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”?

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. Hearing from a child

8. 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

9. Effects of Incarceration on Children
Protective Factors

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Incarcerated Father

16. “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?

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

19. How you can support these kids
Sandy lead discussion

20. 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