Children of Prisoners Library

More than one in forty children in the United States has a parent in prison. The loss of a parent to incarceration means a crisis for that child. Concerned people in all settings are dealing with children of prisoners and their caregivers daily, but in most cases without benefit of training or specific information.

To help meet this need, Family and Corrections Network has created a new resource—the Children of Prisoners Library (CPL), an Internet based resource at www.fcnetwork.org. CPL provides free information sheets designed for people serving children of prisoners and their caregivers.

Library materials can be accessed through links to the left of this page or through the pamphlet list below. The Facts and Issues section has pamphlets for all readers. Currently there are specialized pamphlets for Caregivers of children of prisoners and for Health Care Providers. We plan to add more specialized sections for Communities of Faith, Educators, Legal Service Providers, Social Services Providers, and Mental Health Service Providers. The Resource section provides a list of selected Agencies, a children's Book List, a Glossary of key terms, Links to additional material on line, a list of Reading and Reference materials, and selected Videos. We also offer Training.

The Children of Prisoners Library (CPL) was written by Ann Adalist-Estrin. Some CPL material was adapted material from the three part series, How Can I Help?, published by the Osborne Association, Long Island, New York. 

About Formats
Children of Prisoners Library pamphlets are available in both HTML and PDF formats. When you select a topic, the HTML file will open. This file has a link to the PDF version. 

Which format is best? HTML files load quickly but the print quality is not as nice as PDF. PDF documents make better master copies, but downloads take longer. To read PDF you need the Adobe Acrobat Reader software on your computer. You can get this free software from Adobe Acrobat.
 

In Appreciation

The Children of Prisoners Library is supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with additional support from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the Jack DeLoss Taylor Charitable Trust and the Heidtke Foundation.

 

CPL thanks our sponsors:

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (Southern Region)

Children & Family Networks

Hour Children

National  Practitioners Network for Fathers & Families

The Osborne Association

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. To become a sponsor, see our application form.

Special thanks to the Osborne Association for permission to revise and publish material from the three volume set of pamphlets, How Can I Help?

About the Library
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.

CPL Pamphlet List

Facts and Issues
 101: Introduction to Children of Prisoners
 102: Why Maintain Relationships?
 103: Conversations - Questions Children Ask
 104: Risk and Protection
 105: Visiting Mom or Dad
 106: Jail and Prison Procedures
 107: Communication Tips for Families

Materials For Caregivers
 201: Caring for Children of Prisoners
 202: Questions from Caregivers
 203: What Do Children of Prisoners Need?
 204: Tips from Caregivers for Caregivers

Materials for Health Care Providers
 301: Impact of Parental Incarceration
 302: Challenges for Health Care Providers
 303: Common Stress Points
 304: Different Children/ Different Behaviors
 305: Strategies for Intervention
 306: Tips for Fostering Trust & Safety
 307: The Caregiver’s Situation

Resource Section
 901: Resources: Agencies, Book List, Glossary, Incarcerated Fathers Library, Links, Reading & References, Videos