Source: Institute for Research on Poverty
Below are documents designed to provide guidance for families and caregivers of children with incarcerated parents :
Supporting Relationships Between Children and Their Incarcerated Parents
This document was prepared by the National Child Abuse and Neglect Technical Assistance and Strategic Dissemination Center (CANTASD) under Contract No. HHSP233201400025C with the Children’s Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The information shared in this document does not represent the official views of, or endorsement by, the Children’s Bureau, ACYF, ACF, HHS.
Downloaded 7-23-21
This brief is for the caseworkers and caregivers who support these children. The focus is on maintaining the parent child bond in the face of a parent’s absence due to incarceration. This crucial task is often complicated by the challenges posed by the criminal justice system and the stress that criminal justice involvement can cause for families.
Toolkit for Developing Family-Focused Jail Programs
Children of Incarcerated Parents Project
The Urban Institute
Bryce Peterson, Lindsey Cramer, Emma Kurs, and Jocelyn Fontaine
June 2015
To aid in the field’s understanding of the potential for policy and practice to mitigate this trauma and to improve parent–child relationships, the Urban Institute has collaborated with the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) to identify promising practices across the country and to highlight a few of those in three practitioner toolkits and a framework document. This toolkit and the strategies and experiences described herein are intended for people who are interested in developing family-focused jail programs in their own jurisdictions, such as jail practitioners and community-based organizations working with jail administrators and jail detainees.
Supporting Communication for Families Impacted by Incarceration
This document was prepared by the National Child Abuse and Neglect Technical Assistance and Strategic Dissemination Center (CANTASD) under Contract No. HHSP233201400025C with the Children’s Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The information shared in this document does not represent the official views of, or endorsement by, the Children’s Bureau, ACYF, ACF, HHS.
Downloaded 7-23-21
This brief is for the caseworkers and caregivers who support children who have parents incarcerated. It provides concrete tips for supporting effective visits and communication between an incarcerated parent and their child.
Toolkit for Developing Family Impact Statements
Children of Incarcerated Parents Project
The Urban Institute
Lindsey Cramer, Bryce Peterson, Emma Kurs, and Jocelyn Fontaine
June 2015
As detailed in this toolkit, family impact statements add opportunities throughout the justice process for decisionmakers to weigh the effect of incarceration or supervision on parents and their families. A family impact statement is a set of questions incorporated into presentence investigation reports to solicit information regarding the defendant’s children and family members, as well as his or her roles in and responsibilities to the family. The family impact statements help judges and probation officers develop tailored approaches to sentencing or to supervising parents so all are aware of the effects that parental justice involvement can have on children.
Questions Children Ask
Children of Incarcerated Parents Library at Rutgers University-Camden
By Ann Adalist-Estrin
Guide to help answer questions asked by children of incarcerated parents.
Visiting Mom or Dad: The Child’s Perspective
Children of Incarcerated Parents Library at Rutgers University-Camden
By Ann Adalist-Estrin
Recommendations to help prepare children to visit an incarcerated parent in prison.
How To Explain A Parent’s Arrest To A Child
Strategies for Youths (strategiesforyouth,org)
These four pocket-sized cards are wonderful tools to remind law enforcement staff about the impacts on a child whose parents are being arrested or incarcerated. Sections of each card explain: child's perception of arrest; what to say; how children might act and how you should respond; and when arrest is a raid or domestic violence (DV) response. There is one card each for: Toddler—Ages 1 to 4; Preschool—Ages 4 to 5; School Age—Ages 6 to 12; and Adolescence—Ages 13 to 18.
Stronger Together
Volume I : The Experiences of Children of Incarcerated Parents
Volume II: Maintaining and Strengthening Family Ties for Children of Incarcerated Parents
Volume III: Information for Non-Parent Caregivers of Children with Incarcerated Parents
The Osborne Association
2013
This collection of handbooks is an excellent resource for anyone who cares for or works with children who have incarcerated parents. These “handbooks include information, tools, and resources, as well as vignettes and quotes to illustrate real-life examples. They are written for a diverse and broad audience who significantly touch and influence children’s lives, including caregivers of all kinds, professionals, volunteers, family members, and other caring adults. While the handbooks focus on children and the criminal justice system in New York State, they are designed to be helpful for those in other states as well.” “Volume I: The Experiences of Children of Incarcerated Parents” by Margaret Brooks, Elizabeth Gaynes, Tanya Krupat, Dana Lemaster-Schipani, and John Hunt covers what is known about these youth, their common feelings and emotions, criminal justice system stress points, individual experiences, diverse responses, and what you can do. “Volume II: Maintaining and Strengthening Family Ties for Children of Incarcerated Parents” by Elizabeth Gaynes, Tanya Krupat, Dana Lemaster-Schipani, and John Hunt discusses why relationships between children and their incarcerated parents need to be maintained, supporting positive visiting experiences for these children, the power of conversation, and facilitating communication between children and their incarcerated parents. “Volume III: Information for Non-Parent Caregivers of Children with Incarcerated Parents” by Gerald Wallace, Rachel Glaser, Michelle Rafael, Lynn Baniak, Tanya Krupat, Dana Lemaster-Schipani, and Elizabeth Gaynes provides background information about non-parent caregivers, and explains how kin become caregivers, custodial arrangements—a caregiver’s options, visiting and co-parenting, financial assistance, and health care, educational assistance, child care, and other services.
Communicating with Families and Children in Correctional Facilities [Webinar]
Family Connections Project
Cuthrell, Hilary, Adalist-Estrin, Ann, Martinez, Sofi
April 16, 2020
This webinar was created for the Family Connections Project. On April 16, 2020, the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) presented a 1.5-hour training webinar on strategies for staff to communicate with families and children in correctional facilities. This webinar covered four major topics:
• Communication 101: Basic Types and Everyday Challenges
• Points of Contact and Communication with Families in Correctional Facilities
• Best Practices on Communication and Active Listening
• Tips for Staff on Interacting with Families and Children in Correctional Facilities
Communicating with Families and Children in Correctional Facilities - Part 2 [Webinar]
Family Connections Project
Cuthrell, Hilary, Adalist-Estrin, Ann, Martinez, Sofi, Hughes, Joseph, Aubrey, Lavonnia, Lewis, Sam
June 25, 2020
This webinar is part of a series created for the Family Connections Project, the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) invites you to attend a 1.5-hour training on how to communicate with families and children in correctional facilities. Installment two of the series will provide relevant information and strategies for staff. This webinar will cover three major topics:
• Communication 101: Basic Types and Everyday Challenges
• Workplace Culture and Practices: Interacting with Families and Children in Correctional Facilities
• Applicable Practices for Staff: Interacting with Families and Children in Correctional Facilities