Family & Corrections Network

     

Children of Prisoners Training

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Re-entry: From Prison to Home

 When a parent is released from jail or prison, what happens to children and their families?

 

Key factors include

  • the quality of the attachment to that parent before and during incarceration

  • the extent of the trauma created by the parent’s offence, arrest and imprisonment

  • whether the relationship was maintained during the incarceration

  • the presence and quality of protective factors and support.

Other important considerations are

  • The child’s age and developmental patterns

  • The family’s coping styles

  • Stages of re-entry adaptation

  • Typical feelings experiences by family members

Case examples and participants experiences will be used to look at:

  • Assessing Risks and Protective factors

  • Exploring the role of community programs

The impact of various systems that effect children and families of prisoners in the

re-entry period will also be explored as well as strategies for advocacy and  program development.

 

RE-ENTRY STORY 

Danella’s dad was incarcerated for 3 years. She had visited often and the entire family welcomed Dad home with open arms. For several weeks, things went smoothly. Danella (age 7) wanted to make her father happy. She was cooperative and helpful.

 

She also woke up every night and insisted on being allowed into her parents’ bed.

 

She wasn’t prepared for the resentment she felt toward her Dad now that she and her Mom were no longer “a team.” This created tension and disagreements between Mom and Dad. Dad also wanted to discipline Danella.

 

Mom resented Dad’s interference with the child rearing tasks that had been her responsibility for 3 years.

 

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FEATURED PRESENTER: Ann Adalist-Estrin, M.S. is the author of the Children of Prisoners Library and co-author of Responding to Children and Families of Prisoners: A Community Guide. She is a Child and Family Therapist and Director of BRIDGES: Parent-Child Counseling and Consultation Services in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. She 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.

Ann Adalist-Estrin was Founder and Director of the Parent Resource Center in Wyncote, Pennsylvania and Director of Incarcerated Parents and Their Children – Consulting Services. She is a trainer for the Healthy Steps For Young Children Project at Boston University School of Medicine. She is an Affiliated Consultant with Family and Corrections Network. She regularly teaches a seminar for childcare directors at Holy Family College, Philadelphia and "Those Left Behind" a graduate course for teachers addressing the needs of children of incarcerated parents at Gratz College in Philadelphia.
 

This one-hour audio-conference is hosted by Family and Corrections Network, publisher of the Children of Prisoners Library.

 

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