1. Jasmine Hedge

2.  Why do we need research with children of incarcerated parents? What makes this study important?  What is the study methodology and what are the research questions?  What are the common themes from kids so far? How do these compare to the literature?  What does this mean? What is next?

3. Importance of Study  Large Population 2 million children in US - 2007 Growing by 6.5% each year  Parental incarceration is a risk factor Mental health problems, social and behavioral problems, poor school outcomes, future incarceration as an adult Research unclear about underlying mechanisms of this relationship  The CRC and Contact and Visitation “States Parties shall respect the right of the child who is separated from one or both parents to maintain personal relations and direct contact with both parents on a regular basis, except if it is contrary to the child's best interests.” Current Research unclear about the effect of contact and visitation on child well-being Yet many children do not have contact or only have infrequent contact,- parents and caregivers report many barriers to regular contact

4. Research Questions 1. What are the perspectives of children of incarcerated parents regarding contact and visitation? a. Do children want contact and visitation? Do they want a relationship? b. What kinds of experiences and emotions do these children encounter before, during, and after contact and visitation? c. Do children perceive barriers to contact and visitation and (if so) what are these barriers? d. Do children believe contact and visitation is a right? Do these children believe they should be involved in decision-making about contact and visitation and do they want to be involved? 2. To what extent do type and frequency of contact and visitation affect internalizing and externalizing behaviors in children of incarcerated parents? 3. To what extent do the parent-child relationship and the caregiver-child relationship mediate the relationship between frequency of contact and visitation and internalizing and externalizing behaviors in children of incarcerated parents? 4. To what extent do children’s views of contact and visitation affect type of contact and visitation, frequency of contact and visitation, and internalizing and externalizing behaviors?

5. The Sample  Children Ages 9-18 24 girls, 15 boys  Incarcerated Parents Majority Dads (29) Involved in care of child before Incarceration ○ Daily (19), Weekly (3), Few Times a Year (5), Not at all (12)  Caregivers Age Range = 22-78 Relation to Child = Moms (25 of 39)

6. Do children want contact and visitation?  Current Frequency of Contact and Visitation Mail – Half receive a few times a year Calls – 15 receive weekly, 12 never Visits – Half never visit  How often do you want to contact and visit? No contact or visitation = 3 children Same as now = 1 child More than now = 35

7. What is contact and visitation like for children?  Overarching themes Happy Let’s them know their parent is okay  Mail Drawings Takes too long  Phone Hear Voice Too short  Visits See Face Too Short

8. What kinds of barriers do children perceive?  Mail Rules  Can’t call parent  Costs Money  Prison is too far away  Guards Rude Inconsistent Being watched is uncomfortable

9. Do children believe contact and visitation is a right?  Yes (35), Sometimes (4)  It is my parent!  I did not do anything wrong.

10. So What?  Education for families and support organizations  Reform policies and practices