Families seeking to reunify when a parent has been released face many challenges. Men and women leaving prison are often homeless, poor, and struggling to stay substance-free. There are few supportive services available to help them reestablish their lives so they can begin to parent and provide homes for their children. Even under the best of circumstances, it's difficult for the parent, child and caregiver to reestablish and redefine relationships. Throughout the process .
Children experience difficult emotions . . .
When parents first go to prison, children feel a lot of fear and anxiety. They worry that they've been abandoned or that they'll never see their parent again. They worry that their caregiver will also disappear. They have vivid imaginations and they worry that something terrible will happen to their parent in prison. Children may also feel sad and alone.