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Home > Case Support > Incarcerated Parents Project > Private: Resources for Everyone > Parents, Caregivers, Friends and Family > Supporting Meaningful Parent-Child Connections
Supporting Meaningful Parent-Child Connections

VOICES OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN IMPACTED BY INCARCERATION

This mother and daughter share their perspectives recounting a time when they were separated after Carmen’s arrest.  Produced by Story Corps; originally aired 10/28/2016 on NPR’s Morning Edition. 

This radio podcast is part of a special series “Been There: Lessons form a Shared Experience.”  Aired on 1/16/2018 on NPR’s “All Things Considered.”   Article by Jessica Cheung. 

 

WASHINGTON-SPECIFIC COMMUNITY SUPPORTS FOR CHILDREN, PARENTS, & FAMILIES AFFECTED BY PARENTAL INCARCERATION

This is the link to resources for travelling to in person visits at WA State prisons.

WA Department of Corrections program (check with Family Services Division about availability and access to program) focuses on parenting and relationship skills, and Fathers as Readers has dads’ tape recording stories to send home for their children to hear. 

This external link to a Partnerships  for Action, Voices for Empowerment (PAVE) webpage

This external link to a DSHS webpage for Children with an Incarcerated Parent.  

This external link to a Washington’s Mental Health Referral Service for Children and Teens connects patients and families with evidence-supported outpatient mental health services in their community. This free, telephone-based referral service is funded by Washington Healthcare Authority and operated by Seattle Children’s.

This external link is to the WA Department of Corrections guidebook for loved ones.  

This external link to a Girl Scouts of Western Washington webpage connects children with support program from this organization.

 

TIPS & ACTIVITIES FOR PARENTS & CHILDREN

This online website from Sesame Street includes an “app” downloadable to one’s smart phone and other downloadable activities to do with children during visitation and practical tips on how to talk to children about separation and incarceration.

One page sheet with helpful hints on answering difficult questions and connecting through visits.  Author: Sesame Street.

This on-line resource from The Osborne Association (NY) provides video and other resources on supporting children of incarcerated parents. 

This 5-page publication supports communication between incarcerated parents, their children, and their families by recognizing:  “Without communication, their adjustment and long term well being may be compromised.”  practical considerations and suggestions for prevention are included.

  • Resources for Parent-Child Video Chats

Top 5 Tips for video chat with young children (external link)

Tips for Video Chatting with Young Children (external link)

A publication on pregnancy and parenting in juvenile detention, providing answers to questions about options, rights, and what to expect while in juvenile detention in WA. Published by Washington Appleseed (2014).

 

COMMUNITY SUPPORTS FOR CAREGIVERS*, FAMILY, & FRIENDS WHO SUPPORT CHILDREN BEFORE & AFTER VISITS

This guide is one of many resources published by the The National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated.  The document inculcates tips for preparing children, parents, and caregivers for visiting in jail or prison.  Or find more information on the impact of parental incarceration on children from their Children of Incarcerated Parents Library.

This online website from Sesame Street includes an “app” downloadable to one’s smart phone and other downloadable activities to do with children during visitation and practical tips on how to talk to children about separation and incarceration. 

The brief guide was created for those fostering children whose parents are incarcerated.  It focuses on tips for supporting a child before and after visits, preparing for the child-parent visits, and preparing as caregivers for changes in child behavior before and after visits. 

*Caregivers of children with non-citizen parents may find other resources here.

Prison Fellowship program supporting children during holidays while their parents are incarcerated.  

Storybook project is a program of Aid to Inmate Mothers (AIM) that provides comfort to children each month by offering them a tape recording of their mothers reading books.