## Other Youth Topics

## Breadcrumb

            -  Youth Topics 
            -  Children of Incarcerated Parents 
            -           Services and Supports for Children and Families      

# Services and Supports for Children and Families

## Video and Guide: Creating Conditions that Promote Safety, Healing, and Growth in Child-Parent Visits

## YPAR Research: Nothing about Us without Us

Nothing about Us without Us: Amplifying the Perspectives of Youth with Experiences of Parental Incarceration through Youth Participatory Action Research

## YPAR Research: Raising Voices

Raising Voices: Youth Participatory Action Research to Explore Experiences and Strategies for Improving the Well-Being of Youth with Incarcerated Parents

PreviousPauseNext

                              - 0
                              - 1
                              - 2

To counteract potential negative outcomes as a result of the experience of children of incarcerated parents,1 it is important that communities create a coordinated system of supports for children of prisoners and their incarcerated parents.

In addition to the targeted supports related to traumatic experiences; exposure to violence, drugs, and alcohol; and involvement in the child welfare system, children with incarcerated parents should be given opportunities to talk about their feelings, ask questions about the legal process their parent is going through, and be included in planning reentry activities so that they can have some control over the way the parent will be reintroduced into the family.

Children can also benefit from having a mentor while their parent is incarcerated. In these situations, it is essential that the mentor receive specialized training for working with children of incarcerated parents and that the parent understand the role of the mentor and how the relationship might continue with the child once the parent is released. Listen as Chardae describes the important role her mentor played in her life and learn more about mentoring by viewing the mentoring youth topic.

Services provided to parents while in prison, such as parenting programs, family-strengthening activities during which children visit with their incarcerated parents, and transportation to help children see their parents while in prison, can help children remain connected with their parents and provide parents with the opportunity to interact positively with their children in a structured and supported environment.

## Resources

**The Antisocial Behavior of the Adolescent Children of Incarcerated Parents: A Developmental Perspective***The Antisocial Behavior of the Adolescent Children of Incarcerated Parents: A Developmental Perspective*, discusses the link between parent incarceration and antisocial behavior in adolescents, how it develops overtime, why this issue is important to address, and how to address it.

**Effects of Parental Incarceration on Young Children***Effects of Parental Incarceration on Young Children,*** addresses the reactions of children with incarcerated parents, as well as: ways of modifying those effects, programs that can help both the parent and the child, how to adopt a whole family approach and why this discussion should inform research and policy issues.

**National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated**This website provides a range of information and resources to assist children and families of the incarcerated, including:
                      - research publications,
                      - training materials,
                      - fact sheets,
                      - frequently asked questions documents,
                      - and more.

**Resilience Booster: Parent Tip Tool**This tool was developed to help parents develop resilience in their children, which can prepare them to face and overcome negative experiences throughout life. The tool provides information for fostering resilience in the home, the neighborhood and community, the child care environment, and at school. The tool can be viewed on the American Psychological Association website or downloaded as a PDF (PDF, 4 pages).

**A Toolkit for Working With Children of Incarcerated Parents**This web-based training toolkit from the Children’s Bureau provides practitioners with the skills required to respond to the needs of children whose parents are in prison or have a history of incarceration.
                      - Helpful Hints for Practitioners
                      - The Children and Families of Incarcerated Parents Initiative in Washington State: Central Points
                      - Free Online Training Video for Social Service Practitioners: Summary
                      - Handouts for Practitioners, Families, and Caregivers
                      - Reading Lists and Videos for Children, Caregivers, and Providers
                      - Research and Information for Providers
                      - Children of Incarcerated Parents: Bill of Rights
                      - Beyond the Walls: A Guide to Services for Families Affected by Incarceration
                      - Visitation Procedures and Inmate Locators for Prisons and Jails

**When a Parent Is Incarcerated**Developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and featured on the Children's Bureau's website, this guide provides information to public child welfare agencies and caseworkers on working with incarcerated parents and their children. Goals of the primer include familiarizing child welfare professionals with the impact of incarceration and providing information to child welfare and correctional systems to help improve permanency outcomes for children.

1 La Vigne et al., 2008; GAO, 2011; CDC, 2013; Phillips & Gleeson, 2007

***» Learn more about Children of Incarcerated Parents at youth.gov/COIP.***

***» Join the Children of Incarcerated Parents listserv.***

How Individualized Education Program (IEP) Transition Planning Makes a Difference for Youth with Disabilities
Youth who receive special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) and especially young adults of transition age, should be involved in planning for life after high school as early as possible and no later than age 16. Transition services should stem from the individual youth’s needs and strengths, ensuring that planning takes into account his or her interests, preferences, and desires for the future.

Youth Transitioning to Adulthood: How Holding Early Leadership Positions Can Make a Difference
Research links early leadership with increased self-efficacy and suggests that leadership can help youth to develop decision making and interpersonal skills that support successes in the workforce and adulthood. In addition, young leaders tend to be more involved in their communities, and have lower dropout rates than their peers. Youth leaders also show considerable benefits for their communities, providing valuable insight into the needs and interests of young people

How Trained Service Professionals and Self-Advocacy Makes a Difference for Youth with Mental Health, Substance Abuse, or Co-occurring Issues
Statistics reflecting the number of youth suffering from mental health, substance abuse, and co-occurring disorders highlight the necessity for schools, families, support staff, and communities to work together to develop targeted, coordinated, and comprehensive transition plans for young people with a history of mental health needs and/or substance abuse.

Young Adults Formerly in Foster Care: Challenges and Solutions
Nearly 30,000 youth aged out of foster care in Fiscal Year 2009, which represents nine percent of the young people involved in the foster care system that year. This transition can be challenging for youth, especially youth who have grown up in the child welfare system.

Coordinating Systems to Support Transition Age Youth with Mental Health Needs
Research has demonstrated that as many as one in five children/youth have a diagnosable mental health disorder. Read about how coordination between public service agencies can improve treatment for these youth.

Civic Engagement Strategies for Transition Age Youth
Civic engagement has the potential to empower young adults, increase their self-determination, and give them the skills and self-confidence they need to enter the workforce. Read about one youth’s experience in AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC).

## Main navigation

- Children of Incarcerated Parents
- Trauma
- Exposure to Violence
- Exposure to Drugs or Alcohol Abuse
- Child Welfare
- Services & Supports
- Questions about Child Support
- Presentations
- Youth Perspectives
- Tools, Guides, & Resources
- References