Presentation Transcript

1. FAMILY MATTERS: Incarcerated Parents and their Families

   PRESENTATION BY: Yali Lincroft, MBA, Policy Consultant, yali@childpublicpolicy.com Carol Burton, LMSW, Executive Director, Centerforce, cburton@centerforce.org Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)
2. About the Presenters: Yali Lincroft, MBA, has over 15 years experience in policy and program planning at a local, state, and federal level.  In 2006-2009, she was funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation to provide consultation to the San Francisco Children of Incarcerated Parents' initiative to improve child welfare services for incarcerated parents and is currently a consultant to Centerforce and the Osborne Association's New York Initiative for Children of Incarcerated Parents. Since 2010, Ms. Lincroft has been a policy consultant to First Focus, a Washington DC based children’s advocacy organization and is developing federal legislation focused on immigrant children and children in foster care. She has also written articles and toolkits for social workers, published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the American Humane Association. Carol Burton, LCSW, is the executive director of Centerforce, a nonprofit organizing in Northern and Central California which provides in-prison and community-based family and reentry services programs. Prior to joining Centerforce, she was the Associate Executive Director of Osborne Association and supervised programs in 17 prisons throughout New York, including developing the first marriage education program for couples at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. Ms. Burton also spent 13 years at the Mott Children’s Health Center in Flint, Michigan where she implemented a delinquency prevention program for children of incarcerated adults and ran health programs for teens. She also served as the co-Investigator for a longitudinal study for children of incarcerated parents.Ms. Burton has authored numerous articles on children of the incarcerated and produced training curriculums for mentors of children of incarcerated parents. Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)
3. Incarceration Facts and Figures 1 in 100 adults in America is in jail or prison. US has 5% of the world’s population but confines 23% of the world’s prisoners.(Pew Charitable Trust, 2008) 1 in 31 adults in America are in jail, prison or on probation. That totals about 7.3 million people, more than the combined population of Chicago, Philadelphia, San Diego and Dallas. (Pew Charitable Trust, 2009) 1 in 15 general fund dollars was spent on corrections. In the past two decades, state general fund spending on corrections increased by more than 300%. In contract, higher education only rose by 125%. Only Medicaid spending has grown faster. (Pew Charitable Trust 2009) Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)
4. Growth in Prison Population Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics Correctional Surveys Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)
5. Men vs. Women Men are incarcerated at a rate 5x that of women (1 in 18 men vs. 1 in 89 women) (Pew Charitable Trust 2009) There was a 80% increase in the # men in state and federal prison (from 1990 to 2001) (California Research Bureau 2003) 114% increase in the # women in state and federal prison (from 1990 to 2001) (California Research Bureau 2003) Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)
6. Children with mothers and fathers in prison Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics (1991 – 2007) Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)
7. About Children of Incarcerated Parents During incarceration, parents primarily rely on their families for the care of their children. (Creasie Finney Hairston, Annie E. Casey Foundation (May 2009) Kinship Care When Parents are Incarcerated) 90% of children with an incarcerated father live with their mothers. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2000) 50% of children with an incarcerated mother live with their grandmother. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2000) San Francisco Department of Human Services estimates 15% of the children in their caseload has a parent incarcerated. (Presentation by SFHSA, Sept 2010) Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)
8. Special Populations – Child Welfare Children of Incarcerated Mothers (Vera Institute 2004) More likely to age out of the foster care system Less likely to reunify, enter into subsidized guardianship, get adopted or leave foster care through other means Reunification rate is 21% vs. 40% for all children California Legislation AB 1942 (Nava); Chapter 729 (2006 - Section 833.2 is added to the Penal Code) encourage law enforcement and county child welfare agencies to develop protocols at the arrest of a caretaker parent or guardian AB2070 (Bass -2009) ASFA extension for parents who are incarcerated, institutionalized, or in residential substance abuse treatment SB118 (Liu - 2010) require that the child welfare case plan include data on incarceration Senate Committee Resolution 20 (Liu - 2010) - Children of Incarcerated Parents Bill of Rights. Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)
9. About Children of Incarcerated Parents There are great parental racial incarceration disparities: 1 in 15 black children have a parent in prison 1 in 41 Hispanic children have a parent in prison 1 in 110 white children have a parent in prison (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2008) 55% of parents in state correctional facility and 45% of parents in federal correctional facility reported never having had a personal visit from their child(ren). (Mumola, C., Department of Justice 2000)
10. Ethnicity of Incarcerated Parents in California Prison by Gender (1997), as Compared to California General Population (2000) Source: Anne Powell, Clare Nolan, California State Prisoners with Children: Findings from the 1997 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities, California Research Bureau, 2003, and California Department of Finance. Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)
11. Reduction in Prison Population and Budgets In states like California, Oklahoma, and Colorado, efforts to cut costs and ease prison overcrowding has lead to changes in legislation making sentencing less harsh for nonviolent criminals, more inmates eligible for parole. (Newsweek, June 30, 2010, “How the Recession Hurts Private Prisons”) From 2000-2007, Florida increased its incarceration rate by 16% whereas New York decreased its incarceration rate by 16%. Despite this contrast, NY drop in crime rate the same period was double Florida’s decrease in crime. (Pew Center on the States, 2010). Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)
12. The National Summit on Justice Reinvestment and Public Safety - Addressing Recidivism, Crime and Corrections Spending by Justice Center/Council of State Government (Jan 2011) People who commit a crime and are convicted, incarcerated and placed on supervision tend to reside in a particular neighborhood. Programs provided in jail- and prison-based settings can reduce recidivism, but their impact is modest compared with community-based services after release, particularly while the person is under supervision in the community. The greatest reductions in recidivism often occur in programs that are based in the community, not programs based in institutions. Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)
13. Family Changes/Family Reunification Road back to parenthood difficult with their children, particularly adolescents, challenges as authority figure Shame and guilt of parents after separation may lead to overcompensation and reluctance to set boundaries There are often unrealistic expectations from both the child and the parent. Sometimes parents may not be positive influences for their children and sometimes families are not always positive influences for the incarcerated parent My son’s father is never going to be the man he needs to be and if he decides he doesn’t like parole and goes back, then what? So do I protect my son or should I be honest? You don’t want to hurt the kid (From Council on Children and Families, Sept 2010, “Children with Incarcerated Parents: A Journey of Children, Caregivers and Parents in New York State.”) Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)
14. Family Changes/Family Reunification Family members who witnessed multiple incarceration due to drugs are reluctant to be part of revolving door scenario and may have conditions for their connection based on receipt of services Family members assume new roles & responsibilities, previously held by the incarcerated parents and may not be willing to reestablish a relationship due to the chaos and hardship they experienced prior to the incarceration My husband expected to step back into the life he left. No way could that happen. I’d tell him when we visited but he couldn’t understand till he was home. (From Council on Children and Families, Sept 2010, “Children with Incarcerated Parents: A Journey of Children, Caregivers and Parents in New York State.”) Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)
15. The National Summit on Justice Reinvestment and Public Safety - Addressing Recidivism, Crime and Corrections Spending by Justice Center/Council of State Government (Jan 2011) Studies have found that increased contact with family during incarceration can reduce the likelihood of recidivism. Family members can provide motivation, help individuals address addiction, and encourage loved ones to find and keep jobs. People who work in the justice field understand this but rarely know how to tap families as a resource. Faith-based and community organizations can provide critical services to people released from prison and jails. They have established ties with individuals and families in their community and these relationships are strong motivating factors for people seeking ongoing support. Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)
16. Challenges to Maintaining Family Ties Costs of telephone calls, expense and logistical challenges of face-to-face meetings (appreciation for free transportation programs) Difficulties related to transfers such as cost of sending packages which are then returned to the family, incurring additional charges Inconsistent and difficult visiting practices and procedures Settings that discourage positive interactions with family and parents Lack of sensitivity and awareness of staff working with children and families (i.e. arresting officers, judges, social workers, teachers, correctional officers) Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)
17. What Works … Program which offer a variety of services offered simultaneously and works with the parent, the caregiver and the child at the same time Programs which offer technical support like legal services, child support, benefits programs, housing, etc. Programs which include clients as staff and advisory members (i.e. formerly incarcerated or children of incarcerated parents). Programs which are non-judgmental, offers a holistic viewpoint regarding the parent/child/caregiver relationship and focuss on the child in the context of the family. Programs would doesn’t try to implement a “one size fits all” response Programs which uses the “crisis opportunity” for quality parent/child interaction and wrapping services both inside/outside the corrections setting and partnering with multi-disciplinary partners like school, mental health, and others. FOR CHILD WELFARE CASES: Specialized social workers focused on maintaining contacts and visits, potential relative placement, as well as subcontract with agencies who are familiar with corrections. Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)
18. What Works … CORRECTIONS : Child and family friendly visiting areas, transportation assistance, resource information readily available, collecting child information at intake TRAINING: Provide training (in-person and online) to police, sheriff, probation, child welfare, schools, mental health providers, and social service agencies COURT: Diversion and alternative sentencing programs for pregnant women, parental status a factor in sentencing (“family impact statement”), integrated family court model, CASA Training, re-entry services beginning the moment of entry (i.e. inside/outside programming) Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)
19. What Doesn’t Works … Stigma, Judgment, and Social Isolation Impossible hurdles (child support, ban on public housing and social services, etc) Distinguishing between the children and the parents in policy and practice Demonizing the parent and pretending that the kids do not need their justice involved parent Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)
20. Arrest Jail Sentencing Prison Release Probation Court ordered drug treatment Reviewing the Corrections Systems from the Lens of a Child – A Bill of Rights for Children of Incarcerated Parents
21. Five Policy Recommendations for Local Jurisdictions 1-County Board of Supervisor can adopt the Children of Incarcerated Parent’s Bill of Rights. 2-Police and probation department can review their time of arrest protocols for child sensitivity/reduction of trauma/alternative use of child welfare involvement when possible. 3-Sheriff department should review their policies on supporting relationships for incarcerated parents and their families (i.e. hours of visiting, face-to-face visitation, transportation, telephone, etc.) 4-Nonprofit agencies/social services should review their programs specifically to address needs of parents, children, and kinship care providers (i.e. support groups, legal services, child support, etc.) 5-Child welfare agency should collect information about incarcerated parents in their case files. Social workers must follow due diligence with incarcerated parents in terms of notification, visitation and reunification services, and relative placements. Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo (March 28, 2011)