Kinship Care When Parents are Incarcerated

Summary

1.7 million children have a parent who is incarcerated and many of them are being cared for by relatives.  Yet our understanding of these arrangements is limited.  This report provides an overview of the issue, including what the current research tells us, what we need to know, and what we can do to develop more effective and compassionate social policies and programs for these children.

Table of Contents

• Table of Contents
• Introduction

Key Takeaway

Parental incarceration has multiple consequences for children that can be mitigated by the relative caregiving role.

Our understanding of the care arrangements for children whose parents are incarcerated and living with kin are limited. Similarly, the process of co-parenting is a complex one for relative caregivers and parents.