Introduction
Despite representing a large portion of the U.S. population, children of incarcerated parents are often overlooked in the general community’s understanding of their needs. While the incarceration effects on these children are not universal, many of them would benefit from proper community support (Austin, 2013). The sources of their hardships extend to social, economic, and emotional levels, and it is up to the community to recognize that and affect change by advocating for appropriate programs, policies, and practices.
Main body
To support the children of incarcerated parents on a social level, people need to advocate raising standards in the criminal justice system. Police conduct and arrest protocols need to account for the psychological trauma experienced by a child witnessing their parent’s arrest (Austin, 2013). Moreover, a proper caregiving arrangement for a child needs to be implemented in the event of incarceration. It is equally important to provide parents with in-prison vocational and educational programs and substance abuse treatments to ensure their rehabilitation. One such program, Parenting from Prison, emphasizes reuniting with children after incarceration and aims to strengthen family relationships, ensuring children’s mental well-being (Turney & Goodsell, 2018).
Protecting the children from the financial instability resulting from the loss of an incarcerated parent’s income requires compensation for their caregivers and raising awareness about the public services available. Options such as TANF, food stamps, and Medicaid can significantly contribute to the children’s sense of economic security (Austin, 2013). Another option is Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which is reported to positively affect a child’s education and sense of stability (Turney & Goodsell, 2018).
Finally, it is essential to support the children of prisoners on an emotional level. The general community needs to understand that parental incarceration has a traumatic effect on children, resulting in mental health problems and antisocial behavior (Austin, 2013). Removing the stigma associated with children of prisoners is possible through the community’s awareness of the child’s undermined sense of stability and sympathy for their adverse experience. Resources such as the Children of Incarcerated Parents Program can help school counselors tackle the stigmatization and bullying of children with incarcerated parents (Warren et al., 2019).
Conclusion
In conclusion, raising the standards for children of incarcerated parents includes work on social, economic, and emotional levels. In addition to raising awareness about the adverse experiences of children that experience parental incarceration, communities need to advocate for proper programs, policies, and practices to ensure children’s sense of safety on all levels.
References
Austin, Michael J. (2013). Social Justice and Social Work: Rediscovering a Core Value of the Profession. SAGE Publications.
Turney, K., & Goodsell, R. (2018). Parental Incarceration and Children’s Wellbeing. The Future of Children, 28(1), 147-164.
Warren, J. M., Coker, G. L., & Collins, M. L. (2019). Children of Incarcerated Parents: Considerations for Professional School Counselors. The Professional Counselor, 9(3), 185-199.