Ages and Stages: topics in working with children of prisoners and their families

This training is divided into three parts based on the developmental and familial issues that are typical for children of prisoners at different ages.

Each session gives an overview of child development for the age group; includes a discussion of the impact of parental incarceration on the developmental stage and reviews typical symptoms of stress, behaviors that communicate feelings and age-related coping strategies.

Practical ideas for responding to the needs of children of prisoners in a variety of settings such as home, childcare programs school and in the community will be shared.

Interactive activities and discussion will include: what to tell children about the incarceration, preparing for visits, dealing with the child’s feelings after visits, loyalty conflicts and managing challenging behaviors. By focusing on a specific age group, the training will help parents and caregivers as well as professionals working with children of prisoners. Additional topics such as confidentiality, advocacy, and community collaborations will be geared toward agency staff working with children of prisoners and will include the perspective of parents and caregivers.

Presenter:  Ann Adalist-Estrin, M.S. is an Author, Speaker and Consultant to a wide variety of agencies serving children and families in the United States and Canada.  Her seminar topics span a wide range of interests and ages and are popular with parents and professionals alike.  She is the author of the Children of Prisoners Library and co-author of Responding to Children and Families of Prisoners: A Community Guide.

Training-by-telephone format:  Ages and Stages is part of FCN's series of training-by-telephone conference calls. No travel required. This event is as close as your telephone.  Handouts are made available prior to the call by web site link. Presentations include lively discussion and interaction with participants. For those who cannot be on the call, CD recordings can be ordered. CDs come with a computer file of handouts.

·    July 13, 2005 - Ages and Stages – Session 1. Pre-schoolers: Responding to the needs of infants, toddlers and preschoolers with an incarcerated parent.  

·    August 31, 2005 - Ages and Stages – Session 2. School-aged: pre-teen children of incarcerated parents, themes and variations

·    November 9, 2005 - Ages and Stages – Session 3. Teens with incarcerated parents: issues concerns and strategies