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The National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated

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The National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated

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This website provides resources (support groups, fact sheets, etc) to help families cope with incarceration. This can help teachers gain perspective, or can be given to a parent/caregiver who is struggling. Additionally, this web page can be used to help with student research (higher level elementary school)

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On any given day, an estimated 2.7 million children in America have at least one parent in prison or jail.

NRCCFI is the oldest and largest organization in the U.S. focused on children and families of the incarcerated and programs that serve them.

Disseminating accurate and relevant information

Guiding the development of family strengthening policy and practice

Training, preparing, and inspiring those working in the field

Including the families in defining the issues and designing solutions

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The National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated

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On any given day, an estimated 2.7 million children in America have at least one parent in prison or jail. NRCCFI is the oldest and largest organization in the U.S. focused on children and families of the incarcerated and programs that serve them.

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"Children of Incarcerated Parents" (Online Resource for Parents/Caregivers)

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"Children of Incarcerated Parents" (Online Resource for Parents/Caregivers)

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What I love about this website is that it breaks down the effects of incarceration on children, as well as provides resources for a number of people. There are subtopic included that provide advice and additional resources to parents/caregivers, law enforcement, teachers and social workers.

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On June 28-29, HHS, DOJ, and the FIRC Subgroup on Children of Incarcerated Parents hosted a listening session with 19 young people who have or have had an incarcerated parent. Participants' ideas and feedback from the session were used to inform two tip sheets and a video.

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"The Night Dad Went to Jail" (Print Resource, Picture Book)

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"The Night Dad Went to Jail" (Print Resource, Picture Book)

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This book shows the story of a young boy whose father is arrested and put in jail. It describes what to expect, and helps children to prepare themselves for the road ahead.

ACTIVITY
While children often have many uncertainties about incarceration, their families and caregivers are experiencing similar things. After gaining permission from the family, set up a journal with the student. The student can write entries about their feelings, fears, etc. At night the student will bring it home and their family members can write back to them; answering questions or sharing their own emotions.
Hopefully, this will help the child to feel more at peace and bond the family members together in this hard time.

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The Night Dad Went to Jail: What to Expect When Someone You Love Goes to Jail

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When someone you love goes to jail, you might feel lost, scared, and even mad. What do you do? No matter who your loved one is, this story can help you through the...

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A great idea to help a child struggling with incarceration could be setting up a countdown jar in the classroom. Fill a mason jar full of candy for child. The amount of candy should be equal to the number of days until either the parent is released, or the next visiting day (up the the digression of the teacher and/or family involved). Each day the child removes a candy and enjoys it. Not only will this take away the stigma of that child's family, but will reward the child's patience/keep them excited to see their parent(s).

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"Please Don't Take My Daddy!" (Print Source, Picture Book)

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"Please Don't Take My Daddy!" (Print Source, Picture Book)

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This is a picture book that depicts young children who have experienced a parent being arrested and put in jail. In this day and age there are a lot of issues with law enforcement, and if a parent is arrested a child can think negatively of law officials. If these views do not change kids could be hesitant to reach out when they need help, or be afraid of those who help our society.

ACTIVITY:
After reading this novel, the teacher should led the students in a discussion about law enforcement and how they help our community. Students can use an online program such as Glogster to create a presentation about the benefits of law enforcement. Teachers should encourage students to use the picture book in their presentation. They should address why some children may be afraid if their parents are taken, and include a section about helping those kids to not be afraid

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"Every day a child is exposed to law enforcement coming into the home and handcuffing their dad and taking him away. Can you imagine what is going on in the...

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This video does a great job of illustrating the great lengths families must go through in order to visit an incarcerated parent. The animation shows the journey to the prison, how scary a prison can be, the struggle of only being able to communicate through glass, and how sad it is to not have a parent at home.

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Sesame Street: Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration - Animation: Visiting Dad in Prison

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"Visiting Day" (Print Source, Picture Book)

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"Visiting Day" (Print Source, Picture Book)

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With jail associated with negativity, many forget that visiting days can bring joy to inmates as well as their family and friends. Just because someone makes a mistake and has been incarcerated, it does not mean that the joy of being reconnected with a loved one should not be looked down upon. This book really expresses the emotions of a family experiencing incarceration and showed me another side of incarceration that I had not previously thought of.

ACTIVITY:
Ask children to create a book about their visits with a parent(s) in prison. Encourage them to write as many positive thoughts and words as possible. The teacher should have the students include what they are looking forward to, a countdown to the next time they will get to visit their parent(s), and pictures of their favorite memories. Teachers should make copies of these books so the child can bring them on the next visiting day.

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In this moving picture book from multi-award winning author Jacqueline Woodson, a young girl and her grandmother prepare for a very special day--the one day a month&...

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"Growing Up With an Incarcerated Parent" (Video Resource for Teachers and Parents/Caregivers)

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"Growing Up With an Incarcerated Parent" (Video Resource for Teachers and Parents/Caregivers)

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This short documentary discussed the struggles faced when children have parents who are in jail, specifically mothers. There are real interviews with inmates and video footage of the joy and sadness that comes with visiting days. This video can really help teachers to understand how hard (on both children and parents) incarceration is, as well as open the eyes of all those who interact with a child dealing with incarceration.

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Works Cited Arditti, J. A. (2003). Locked doors and glass walls: Family visiting at a local jail. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 8, 115-138. (Cited: 9) Eddy, J. M., & Reid, J. B. (2002). The antisocial behavior of the adolescent children of incarcerated parents: A developmental perspective. US.

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This guidebook, provided by Sesame Street, includes a story about a young girl whose dad is in jail, so her uncle takes her to an open house night.  She is upset when her peers call her uncle her daddy, and misses her father dearly.

Discussion Questions:
a. How would you feel if everyone else got to see their parent(s) each day and you did not?
b. How do you think Jada feels about bringing her uncle to her classroom?
c. How does her uncle make her feel better?
d. How can you help a classmate who has an incarcerated parent(s)?

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If there is a student who has a parent(s) in jail, the teacher can set up a letter writing campaign to help involve that child's family into the classroom. After being given permission from the family (as well as the parent in prison), children in the class can all write letters about their classroom, the parent's child, or positive notes of encouragement. Not only will this help the parent, but it will help destigmatize that child's world, and help them to feel included.

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"Tip Sheet for Teachers" (Online Resource)

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"Tip Sheet for Teachers" (Online Resource)

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This is another great website that outlines specifically what teachers can do to help students with an incarcerated parent

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School staff make a difference in the lives of all children, including children of incarcerated parents. For the child with a parent in prison, a safe and supportive school can provide a caring, stable setting offering opportunities for educational, social, and emotional development. The bonds and relationships fostered at school with peers and trusted adults play a vital role in the child's short and long term learning and maturation.

Five Things to Know About Children Who Have an Incarcerated Parent

1. Children with an incarcerated parents may be in your classroom. 2.7 million (or 1 in 28) children currently have an incarcerated parent. More than 10 million children have experienced parental incarceration at some point in their childhoods. Given these numbers, there may be a child in your classroom or school who has an incarcerated parent. Women are a fast growing part of the correctional population (the number of incarcerated women increased at nearly 1.5 times the rate of men between 1980 and 2010). If your student's mother has been incarcerated, there is an increased likelihood of instability in that student's home and an increased chance that student may enter foster care or have to move to another caregiver's home (such as a grandparent).

2. Having an incarcerated parent is recognized as an "adverse childhood experience" (ACE). Exposure to multiple ACEs significantly increases the likelihood of long-term negative behavioral and physical health outcomes. Adding to the trauma, many of these children have witnessed their parent's arrest. One study of parents arrested indicated that 67% were handcuffed in front of their children, 27% reported weapons drawn in front of their children, and 4.3% reported a physical struggle. Although it is not always the case, trauma often affects a child's physiological and emotional responses; ability to think, learn, and concentrate; impulse control; self-image; and relationships with others.

3. Children with a parent in prison may be subject to stereotypes and subconscious negative assumptions. People sometimes assume children with an incarcerated parent will engage in criminal or negative activity like their parent. Be careful about making assumptions about behavior, motivation, academic ability, and potential. Research indicates that these assumptions, even when done subconsciously, can have detrimental impacts on educational outcomes. Children who have an incarcerated parent, like any students, have great potential to learn and succeed in school when teachers support them and establish high expectations for them.

4. Be sensitive to certain trigger issues. When having conversations about current events, crime, criminals, or the police, be mindful of how children with a parent who has been arrested or incarcerated may feel. Children love their parents, even if a parent did something illegal. Be careful about making statements about parental involvement because Dad may not be there to sign permission slips, or Mom may not be there to help with homework. Across all school settings, pay particular attention to children of incarcerated parents being bullied by peers, and help ensure that they are not subjected to biases or stereotypes.

5. Be aware of what researchers call the "conspiracy of silence." This conspiracy refers to the fact that many caregivers intentionally do not tell children that their parent is incarcerated, deciding instead to explain the absence by saying the parent is sick, away at work or college, or serving time in the military. For children who know their parent is incarcerated, their caregiver may have instructed them to not discuss the situation with anyone, for fear of the stigma and shame associated with incarceration. The child, too, may worry about people judging their parent. However, not understanding the situation or not being able to talk about it can also be a source of stress for children. Sometimes the silence around the situation can become an inadvertent cause of shame. It is important for teachers to understand this dynamic. If a teacher knows that a child has an incarcerated parent, the teacher should be careful not to discuss that information with the child unless confident the child has already been informed. If it appears the child understands the situation and would like to confide in someone, it is important for teachers to signal that they can be trusted, will not judge the parent or the child for loving their parent, and will keep the information the child chooses to disclose confidential.

How Can Teachers Contribute to Positive Outcomes for Children Who Have an Incarcerated Parent?

Teachers can collaborate with the child's other parent, family member, or caregiver to create a positive school setting for children of incarcerated parents. Collaboration may include:

Sharing relevant information with caregivers concerning successes and struggles, as well as emotional and behavioral concerns; and

Becoming aware of community organizations and services available to meet the specialized needs of children with a parent in prison, especially mental health resources.

Teachers can assist children who have an incarcerated parent in reaching their potential and achieving academic and social success by:

Implementing behavioral and academic supports that enhance the teaching-learning process;

Engaging in classroom methods and approaches that help students with an incarcerated parent increase their capacities to self-regulate behaviors and develop their academic promise;

Challenging students with a parent in prison to do their very best academically by providing support and establishing and promoting high expectations for them; and

Identifying areas of vulnerability and understanding that negative behaviors and absenteeism may be masking anxiety and depression, which can result from childhood trauma.

Teachers can advocate for children with an incarcerated parent and educate their colleagues on ways to address the specific needs of students who have an incarcerated parent by :

Establishing themselves as trusted and caring adults, serving as role models and challenging the stigma and shame that can be associated with parental incarceration;

Working with other support/ancillary staff (i.e., art teacher, classroom aide, reading specialist, administrators) to provide one-on-one opportunities for students with a parent in prison to express feelings openly and freely through art, writing, or any other form of free expression. For example, the children could write a letter, draw a picture, or write a poem to share with their parent;

Collaborating with school-based mental health professionals (i.e., school psychologists, counselors, or social workers) who understand the developmentally-sensitive implications of parental incarceration and family stress on child well-being; and

Asking librarians to offer books/pamphlets about parental incarceration and encourage ALL students to read them, rather than singling out students with an incarcerated parent.

Related Resources for Further Reading

Focus on the Children of Incarcerated Parents: An Overview of the Research Literature. Annie E. Casey Foundation. 2007.
http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/aecf-FocusonChildrenwith_ncarceratedParentsOverviewofLiterature-2007.pdf (PDF, 44 pages)

Helping Traumatized Children Learn: Creating and Advocating for Trauma-Sensitive Schools. Massachusetts Advocates for Children and Harvard Law School, Vol. 1 and 2, 2013.
http://traumasensitiveschools.org/

Parents Behind Bars: Children of Incarcerated Family Members: An Educator and Caregiver's Toolkit to Idaho's Criminal Justice System.
https://www.idoc.idaho.gov/webfm_send/2303 (PDF, 42 pages)

Promoting Social and Emotional Well-being for Children of Incarcerated Parents: A Product of the Federal Interagency Working Group for Children of Incarcerated Parents. June 2013.
http://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Promoting-Social-and-Emotional-Well-Being-for-Children-of-Incarcerated-Parents.pdf (PDF, 8 pages)

Supporting Students with Incarcerated Parents. Rossen, Eric. Child Trauma Toolkit for Educators. National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (Also available in Spanish.)
http://www.nctsnet.org/resources/audiences/schoolpersonnel/ trauma-toolkit

Teachers Experiences with and Expectations of Children of Incarcerated Parents. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. Vol. 31, Issue 4, pp 281-290. 2010.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0193397310000389

The Children of Incarcerated Parents Bill of Rights. The San Francisco Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership. 2005.
http://www.sfcipp.org/

Top 10 Things Every Teacher Should Know About Children of Incarcerated Parents. Project AVARY (Alternative Ventures for At Risk Youth).
http://www.projectavary.org/resources/

What Educators and Schools Need to Know When Working with Children with Incarcerated Parents.
http://www.spac.k12.pa.us/2010conference...20when.pdf (PDF, 8 pages)

References

The Pew Charitable Trusts. (2010). Collateral Costs: Incarceration's Effect on Economic Mobility. Washington, DC: The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Guerino, P., Harrison, P. M., & Sabol, W. (2011). Prisoners in 2010. Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Glaze, L., & Maruschak, L. (2008). Parents in prison and their minor children. Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Felitti, V. J., et al. (1998). Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4) , pp 245-258.
Phillips, S. D. (1998). Programming for children of female offenders. Proceedings from 4th National Head Start Research Conference. Washington, DC. Criminology and Public Policy, 5, 677-702.
Dallaire, D. H. (2010). Teachers' experiences with and expectations of children with incarcerated parents. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 31(4) , pp 281-290.
Hinnant, J. B., O'Brien, M., & Ghazarian, S. R. (2009). The longitudinal relations of teacher expectations to achievement in the early school years. Journal of Educational Psychology, 101(3), pp 662-670.
Jose-Kampfner, C. (1995). Post-traumatic stress reactions in children of imprisoned mothers. In K. Gabel, & D. Johnston (Eds.) Children of Incarcerated Parents (pp 89-100). New York, NY: Lexington Books.
Hairston, C.F. (2007). Focus on the children with incarcerated parents: A overview of the research literature. Annie E. Casey Foundation.

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Tip Sheet for Teachers (Pre-K through 12): Supporting Children Who Have an Incarcerated Parent

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School staff make a difference in the lives of all children, including children of incarcerated parents. For the child with a parent in prison, a safe and supportive school can provide a caring, stable setting offering opportunities for educational, social, and emotional development.

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This Sesame Street video does a great job at explaining what incarceration is in a kid-friendly way. It focuses on how children can be positive about their situations, and deal with them in a healthy way.

ACTIVITY:
Have the students write letters to their parent(s) who is incarcerated. Encourage them to include positive thoughts and words to help them deal with their emotions. Have the students tell their parents how much they love them and how important they are to them. If this is done with a whole class, have students write a letter to a family member who needs some extra support or love.

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Sesame Street: Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration - What is Incarceration?

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"The Prison Alphabet" (Print Source, Coloring Book)

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"The Prison Alphabet" (Print Source, Coloring Book)

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This book, that is conveniently able to be colored, helps children explore the vocabulary related to incarceration. It teaches children new important words (such as "b" for bars) and helps them to stay up to date with what is happening to their parents. What I especially loved about this coloring book is that all types of people (gender, race, etc) are represented and no stereotypes are encouraged!

ACTIVITY:
Now that the children have learned the ABCs of incarceration, the teacher should help children to create their own ABC book about themselves and what they have been up to. One of the main issues with incarceration is that parents and children are worried the other will miss big moments in their lives. By creating this book, incarcerated parents can keep up with their child's life, and the children can feel satisfied that their parents are staying involved in their own, unique way.

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The Prison Alphabet: An Educational Coloring Book for Children of Incarcerated Parents

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More than 2.7 million children in America have a parent in prison. When a parent is incarcerated it can be very difficult to explain that to a child. This...

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"My Daddy is in Jail: Story, Discussion Guide, and Small Group Activities for Grades K-5" (Print Source)

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"My Daddy is in Jail: Story, Discussion Guide, and Small Group Activities for Grades K-5" (Print Source)

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While this is not a traditional picture book, I found this discussion guide and loved what it provides! While it is aimed for teachers, it includes a book for read aloud, discussion topics, advice for those who are caretakers for a child affected, and counseling related activities.

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My Daddy Is in Jail: Story, Discussion Guide, and Small Group Activities for Grades K-5

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My Daddy Is in Jail: Story, Discussion Guide, and Small Group Activities for Grades K-5
Product by YouthLight ~ Janet M. Bender (author) More about this product

Price: | $14.95

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A wonderful way to incorporate community into a classroom discussion on incarceration could be by asking your local police station to send an officer to your school to discuss the issue. These officers have direct experience with arrests and young children dealing with divorce. They can offer new perspectives to faculty and students alike, as well as offer some comfort to the students who are struggling!

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"An Inmate's Daughter" (Print Source, Chapter Book)

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"An Inmate's Daughter" (Print Source, Chapter Book)

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This book discusses a young girl who is forbidden by her mother to tell anyone else that her father has been thrown in jail. Jenna travels to visit her father often, and performs a heroic deed that is run in the newspaper; revealing her secret. Jenna is constantly ashamed and frightened of the secret, and is forced to fight for her family's pride.

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Jenna's mother forbids her to tell her friends that her dad is in prison. Prison reflects on wives and children. Keeping the fact of prison secret becomes more...