Parent-Child Relationships for Children of Incarcerated Parents: Making, Mending, Maintaining and Managing

Save the Date: Bill of Rights # 8: June 26, 2008.
2-4 PM Eastern Time
"I have the right to a lifelong relationship with my parent."
Next training by Telephone: Thursday June 26, 2008 2PM EST

Facilitator- Gail T. Smith, Executive Director-CLAIM Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers

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Children of Incarcerated Parents are beginning to be seen as a group of children with varied and diverse needs and a shared experience. Nationally, programs, policies and practices are being examined for relevance to this population of children and their families. The Bill of Rights for Children of Incarcerated Parents provides an effective framework for those advocacy initiatives.

This, the last of the 8 rights, focuses on the most important and the least “studied” of all of the rights. Gail Smith is an Attorney with many years of experience with incarcerated parents and the legal, programmatic and policy issues that are raised by their needs. Gail will address these issues; highlighting both concerns and strategies including public policy implications for this right. She will also interview a panel of guests that will include children of incarcerated parents, currently or formerly incarcerated parents, caregivers and program/ research and advocacy professionals.

How does incarceration impact the relationship between children and their incarcerated mother or father?

How can programs, practices and policies help when:

Ø The parent child relationship needs to be developed -when it was non existent before incarceration?
Ø Children and parents need to heal and mend their relationships during the incarceration of the parent?
Ø Families are struggling to maintain and strengthen connections during separation by incarceration?
Ø Children of incarcerated parents are attempting to manage and cope when the relationship is not available to them?

These questions as well as issues related termination of parental rights, Adoption and Safe Families Act, the caregiver’s role and implications for Departments of Corrections and Community Programs will be discussed.

MORE FOR YOUR MONEY- THIS TRAINING BY TELEPHONE SESSION WILL BE 2 HOURS LONG FOR THE SAME PRICE!
STAY TUNED-PANELISTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY MAY 1ST

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Special announcement:
The National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated (NRCCFI) is a new program at FCN built on the work of the former CWLA Federal Resource Center for Children of Prisoners.  NRCCFI will gather and disseminate information and link people with others that are living with or working on the impact of incarceration on children and families [learn more...]

What's New

The administrative office of FCN has  moved to 93 Old York Road Suite 1#510, Jenkintown, PA 19046. You can reach us by phone at 215 576-1110 or by fax to 215 576-1815.
Children's Bill of Rights see their website 

Storybook Projects provide children of incarcerated parents the gift of a book and the voices of their parents on tape reading the book.

Women's Poetry Collected by Sue Stauffacher, author of the new novel, Harry Sue (Random House). Sue's writing workshops with women who have been separated from their children due to imprisonment or neglect as a result of their drug use, have resulted in heartbreaking poems and letters.
TRAINING  - Working with children of prisoners and their families

Mentoring Children of Prisoners - Resources

Children of Prisoners Library 19 free pamphlets for people serving children of prisoners and their caregivers. Download master copies and duplicate as many as you want.

Responding to Children and Families of Prisoners: A Community Guide. A great start-up book and training resource.

Family and Corrections Network (FCN) is an organization for and about families of prisoners. We offer information, training and technical assistance on children of prisoners, parenting programs for prisoners, prison visiting, incarcerated fathers and mothers, hospitality programs, keeping in touch, returning to the community, the impact of the justice system on families, and prison marriage. With over 150,000 visitors a year, this site is the gateway to practice, policy and research on families of prisoners.

Family and Corrections Network (FCN) publishes FCN REPORT, the only national publication devoted to families of prisoners.

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