Children of Prisoners Library

 www.fcnetwork.org        For Health Care Providers: CPL 306  

   

   Tips for For Fostering Trust and Safety

 

  

By Ann Adalist-Estrin

PDF version

 

·           Know your biases.

 

·           Listen with empathy and without judgment.

 

·           Balance understanding and compassion with advice and information.

 

·           Share information about how the parents’ circumstances may be affecting the child without criticizing the parent.

 

·           Practice framing observations and opinions in ways that parents can hear without becoming defensive.

 

·           Recognize that children and families of prisoners often take bad news, hear advice, and follow through with suggestions best when the giver of information is:

à            Most like them

à            Speaks the same language

à            Indicates awareness and acceptance of the realities of their lives

à            Does not judge or condemn them or their incarcerated family member.
 

·      Place information about parental incarceration (and resources for addictions treatment, shelters, and counseling for victims of violence) in exam rooms and bathroom stalls. This will let patients take pamphlets and tear-off phone numbers anonymously.

 

About the Children of Prisoners Library (CPL)
Pamphlets may be downloaded without charge from the Family and Corrections Network (FCN) web site, www.fcnetwork.org. Duplication is permitted and encouraged, so long as the materials are not altered or sold. Sorry, FCN is not budgeted to mail free copies. Send comments to The Children of Prisoners Library at FCN, 32 Oak Grove Road, Palmyra, VA 22963, 434/589-3036, 434/589-6520 Fax, fcn@fcnetwork.org. Copyright Family and Corrections Network, 2003.

In Appreciation
The Children of Prisoners Library is supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnston Foundation with additional support from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the Jack DeLoss Taylor Charitable Trust and the Heidtke Foundation. We are also grateful to our sponsoring organizations: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.-Southern Region, Children and Family Networks, Hour Children, The National  Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families and The Osborne Association. Special thanks to the Osborne Association for permission to revise and publish material from the three volume set of pamphlets, How Can I Help?

The Children of Prisoners Library was written by Ann Adalist-Estrin, who adapted material from How Can I Help and authored other materials in the Children of Prisoners Library.  It was edited and published by Jim Mustin.