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Has served nearly 500 mothers & babies

Residential Parenting Program at Washington Corrections Center for Women Photographs by Cheryl Hanna-Truscott & Early Head Start Staff.

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Has served nearly 500 mothers & babies

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  1. Residential Parenting Programat Washington Corrections Center for Women Photographs by Cheryl Hanna-Truscott & Early Head Start Staff

  2. Research shows time and again that babies who receive affection and nurturing from their parents have the best chance of developing into children, teens, and adults who are happy, healthy, and competent. Research also shows that a relationship with a consistent, caring adult in the early years is associated in later life with better academic grades, healthier behaviors, more positive peer interactions, and an increased ability to cope with stress. ("Nurturing and Attachment." Promoting Healthy Families in Your Community. HHS/Children’s Bureau/OCAN. 2007)

  3. The Residential Parenting Program at the Washington Corrections Center for Women began in August of 1999 • Has served nearly 500 mothers & babies • Promotes healthy mother/child bonding and attachment by allowing mothers to care for their babies while incarcerated

  4. The Residential Parenting Program (RPP) • Is a collaborative effort between Puget Sound Educational Service District and the Washington State Department of Corrections • Can house up to twenty mothers and infants at a time in J Unit, a living unit in the Minimum Security Compound • Has the only on-site state licensed childcare center funded by Early Head Start in the country

  5. Some Additional Benefits of RPP • Reduced need for foster care through DCFS and other private agencies. • Reduced recidivism: The recidivism rate appears to be less than one third that of the general female offender population. • Reduced intergenerational incarceration: The program is designed to break the cycle of intergenerational link to corrections by providing opportunities to build trusting, supportive relationships.

  6. Unique Collaborations • Mary Bridge Children’s Health Services • Pediatrician • WIC • Consulting Nurse Hotline • Birth Attendants’ Prison Doula Project • Childbirth classes & planning • Labor & delivery support • Postpartum support

  7. Collaborations Continued • Answers: Infant Case Management • Advocacy & community linkage up to baby’s first birthday • Washington State Library: Baby Read • Weekly literacy program • MOPS • Peer support • Hands-on activities for young children • WCCW Staff & Volunteers • Play, sing, read with babies and toddlers on off-work time

  8. Eligibility • Must be pregnant before becoming incarcerated • Must be classified as minimum custody • Must be willing to meet program expectations • Must be eligible for release by the time the child reaches thirty months old • No violent criminal history • No crime against children

  9. “J Unit”The Living Unit • RPP mothers and babies reside together in a designated living unit • All offenders assigned to this unit have been screened • No violent or sexual offenders or those who have committed crimes against children • Other offenders can volunteer as caregivers for the children • Screened & trained as caregivers

  10. Annette, a caregiver, has three children. Each is living with a different family in relative foster placement. Kristina looks on as her daughter, Alyzae, laughs with the other Christina, her caregiver.

  11. Destiny is having a tepid bath to bring down her fever. Like other working mothers, Tami took a day off from work to care for her child.

  12. Community Visits Like all offenders, most of the RPP moms & babies are visited by family & friends on visiting days in the Visit Room. Some of the RPP babies & toddlers are able to visit with family and/or friends outside the institution. Typically these “community visits” last 2-3 days. Chantz gets ready to leave on a community visit for the weekend with family friends as he does every other weekend.

  13. Early Head Start • Facilitates mother-child interactions and the development of the mother-child attachment • Provides parenting and life skills support • Provides release transition support and links to community resources • Provides high-quality childcare while the mothers are working and/or attending school. • Educates mothers and caregivers about child development, health & nutrition. • Supports children’s individual development & learning for school readiness

  14. Home-Based Program • Enrolled prenatally with bi-weekly home visits • Weekly home visits when baby is born • New Moms Group (socialization group) meets twice monthly Center-Based Program • State-licensed childcare with WCCC childcare subsidy • 1 month & older when mother returns to “programming” • Monthly home visits

  15. Parent Leadership • All RPP participants are encouraged to attend Parent Meetings & Workshops - including caregivers and mothers not yet enrolled in Early Head Start. • Leadership roles such as Facilitator & Notetaker are rotated monthly amongst participants to provide opportunities for all to practice formal leadership skills. • Meeting agendas are set at the beginning of each meeting to encourage everyone’s participation. • In the fall of 2003, elected representatives from EHS at WCCW began attending Policy Council meetings. In 2008-09, one of our reps served on the Policy Council Executive Board. • Past & present RPP mothers have also participated in Self Assessment, have attended regional EHS conferences and have participated in presentations about the program to the community.

  16. Moms participating in a Parent Workshop & a New Moms Group. Hands-on activities help reinforce new ideas & concepts. Mackenzie facilitates a monthly Parent Meeting.

  17. Cognitive Development: Peek-A-Boo!

  18. Art

  19. Sensory Experiences

  20. Science: Light, Shadow & Reflection

  21. Math & Problem Solving

  22. Literacy

  23. Music & Movement

  24. Field Trips Field trips are designed to give the older infants & toddlers (especially those who don’t go on community visits) everyday experiences they might not otherwise have while living with their mothers at WCCW.

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