Alleviating Risks of Parental Incarceration through Mentorship

Alleviating Risks of Parental Incarceration through Mentorship by Sonia L. Murrey MS, Wilmington University, 2011 BS, University of Delaware, 2010 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Human Services Administration Walden University October 2015 Abstract The focus of the present study was on the lack of positive socialization of children affected by parental incarceration. Researchers have indicated the need to broaden the examination of the effects of parental incarceration on children. Mentorship has demonstrated a positive influence for youth who display at-risk behaviors. However, there is little research regarding the effectiveness of mentorship programs for youth who have experienced the negative effects of parental incarceration. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of youth who have completed an individualized mentorship program following parental imprisonment. Flyers were distributed to case managers and program managers of mentorship programs in New Castle County in order to recruit participants ages 18 -24 years who had a parent incarcerated and who had completed a mentorship program. Through individual interviews, 5 participants provided a retrospective account of antisocial behaviors exhibited as the result of parental incarceration, isolation, physical and emotional abuse faced in their youth, and the ways in which mentorship impacted their lives. Interview data were coded based on words that expressed emotion (emotion coding), words that expressed action (action coding), and words that described circumstances (circumstantial coding). This study revealed that, for these 5 participants, mentorship did have a positive impact. Findings further suggested that mentoring be recognized as a more focal strategy to assist youth, researchers, and practitioners in (a) identifying triggers that may lead to adverse responses to parental incarceration and (b) helping youth improve their overall quality of life when exposed to such circumstances.The focus of the present study was on the lack of positive socialization of children affected by parental incarceration. Researchers have indicated the need to broaden the examination of the effects of parental incarceration on children. Mentorship has demonstrated a positive influence for youth who display at-risk behaviors. However, there is little research regarding the effectiveness of mentorship programs for youth who have experienced the negative effects of parental incarceration. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of youth who have completed an individualized mentorship program following parental imprisonment. Flyers were distributed to case managers and program managers of mentorship programs in New Castle County in order to recruit participants ages 18 -24 years who had a parent incarcerated and who had completed a mentorship program. Through individual interviews, 5 participants provided a retrospective account of antisocial behaviors exhibited as the result of parental incarceration, isolation, physical and emotional abuse faced in their youth, and the ways in which mentorship impacted their lives. Interview data were coded based on words that expressed emotion (emotion coding), words that expressed action (action coding), and words that described circumstances (circumstantial coding). This study revealed that, for these 5 participants, mentorship did have a positive impact. Findings further suggested that mentoring be recognized as a more focal strategy to assist youth, researchers, and practitioners in (a) identifying triggers that may lead to adverse responses to parental incarceration and (b) helping youth improve their overall quality of life when exposed to such circumstances. Alleviating Risks of Parental Incarceration through Mentorship by Sonia L. Murrey MS, Wilmington University, 2011 BS, University of Delaware, 2010 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Human Services Administration Walden University October 2015 Dedication I dedicate this dissertation to all of the mentors who continue to provide mentees with hope and empowerment, and to those who have been mentored and have chosen to carry the torch to help someone else through mentorship. “If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say ‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll help you. ” – Proverbs 3:28 NLT Acknowledgments I would like to thank God, first and foremost, for guiding me and providing me with the courage, knowledge, and wisdom to embark upon and to complete this most rewarding journey. Second I wish to thank my parents, Calvin and Sonia Murrey, Sr. for their love, support, and reassurance through all of my tears and triumphs. I also thank my sisters, Virginia and Johnna Murrey for their words of encouragement throughout this process. To my doctoral chairperson, Dr. Eric Youn, thank you for sharing with me your expertise as you have helped me reach one of my most cherished life goals. Your support and belief in me will always be remembered. I also wish to acknowledge my committee member, Dr. Marlene Coach, my URR, Dr. James Castleberry, and Dr. William Barkley for their attention to detail, their feedback, and their commitment to overseeing the development and completion of this project. I am eternally grateful for my family, my friends, and colleagues.