Children With Incarcerated Parents
The following resources address the impact of incarceration on families and children.
Featured Publications

When a Parent Is Incarcerated: A Primer for Social Workers
2011
The goal of this publication is to provide relevant and practical information for public child welfare agencies and social workers when working with incarcerated parents and their children, including a chapter on immigration. This primer also outlines the many compelling reasons why child welfare agencies should develop programs and policies specifically to address the needs of this subset of children in the child welfare system.
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When a Parent Is Incarcerated: A Primer for Social Workers
2011
The goal of this publication is to provide relevant and practical information for public child welfare agencies and social workers when working with incarcerated parents and their children, including a chapter on immigration. This primer also outlines the many compelling reasons why child welfare agencies should develop programs and policies specifically to address the needs of this subset of children in the child welfare system.
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Kinship Care When Parents Are Incarcerated: What We Know, What We Can Do
2009
This paper explores the role of kinship care for children of parents currently incarcerated; examining the involvement of the child welfare system, and describing what can be done to develop more compassionate social policies and programs geared toward this population.
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Children With Incarcerated Parents: A List of Selected Resources
2008
This resource guide, last updated in June 2008, lists selected citations of documents and resources in four categories: general, research, program and practice, and policy and state/local level activity. While the guide is not meant to be inclusive of all relevant information available on children with incarcerated parents, it represents informative work in the topic areas addressed.
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Children of Incarcerated Parents Fact Sheet
2008
This fact sheet includes data on incarceration of adults, its affects on children and families left behind, and how it affects children and youth with respect to foster care. The fact sheet was produced by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Casey Family Programs, and Marguerite Casey Foundation.
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Understanding the Experiences and Needs of Children of Incarcerated Parents: Views from Mentors
2008
To better understand the experiences and needs of children with incarcerated parents, Urban Institute researchers collaborated with mentors from Big Brothers, Big Sisters organizations in Baltimore, Maryland; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Washington, D.C. Researchers were able to gather qualitative data through the use of focus groups with the mentors of children whose parents are incarcerated. The group discussions focused on the children’s living situations, relationships with their parents, and emotional and behavioral outcomes. Findings from the discussions indicate considerable variation between children with incarcerated mothers and those with incarcerated fathers.
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