Kids with Incarcerated Parents

1
Kids with Incarcerated Parents

• Understanding their risks and needs

2
When parents go to prison, their children suffer.

• Trauma and disruption exacerbate the existing
  stress of poverty, poor schools and violent
  neighborhoods

3
Every circumstance is different, but common
themes exist.

• Loss of
• A parent that cared for them
• The possibility of a nurturing parent

• Loss may be accompanied by
• Relief that a parent is no longer able to hurt
  them
• Satisfaction that the parent will be punished

4
When children are present at the arrest

• Powerlessness
• Violence
• Police indifference and brutality

5
Psychological impacts

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• (with or without hyperactivity)
• Attachment Disorders

6

• Most children are cared for by family members

• Some are placed in foster care

• Stable environment or new community and school
• Also possible
• Deeper poverty
• Continued
• substance
• abuse

• Multiple placements
• Increased risk for physical and sexual abuse

7
Other risks

• Children may
• feel stigmatized even in communities where
  incarceration is common
• experience academic and social failure

8
These children need

• Consistent caring adults
• People who will not condemn their
• parents
• People who will understand feelings
• of anger, sadness, confusion, worry
• A chance to express feelings
• A chance to learn and practice skills
• Faith or affiliation with a community that can
  provide meaning beyond the crisis
• Help to maintain contact with the incarcerated
  parent