Children of Incarcerated Parents

1. Children of Incarcerated Parents Susan F. Sharp. Ph.D. University of Oklahoma

2. The Problem • Oklahoma currently ranks #1 in female incarceration per capita in the US. • Oklahoma currently ranks #4 in male incarceration per capita in the US. • On any given day ,approximately 3.3% of Oklahoma children have a parent in prison. • Due to new receptions to prison, this percentage would be significantly higher when including all children who had a parent incarcerated during the year

3. Estimated Number of Children • Minor children with incarcerated mother: 4,624 • Minor children living with mother prior to incarceration: 2,430 • Minor children with incarcerated father: 21,482 • Minor children living with father prior to incarceration: 10,204 Total estimated number of children with incarcerated parent: 26,106 This is a snapshot in time and does not include those in county jail or federal facilities – true number of children affected in any year is much higher

4. Placement of children living with father at time of incarceration • 63% with children’s mother • 28.3% with prisoner’s parents • 2.3% with prisoner’s other family members • 9.0% children’s maternal family • 1.0% with friends of prisoner • 1.3% in foster care • 1.7% placed with agency

5. Placement of children living with mother at time of incarceration • 31% with children’s father • 28.3% with prisoner’s mother • 21.4% with prisoner’s grandmother • 9.1% children’s paternal family • 1.1% with friends of prisoner • 5.9% in foster care • 3.2% placed with agency

6. Gender differences in effects • When the father is incarcerated, children far more likely to still be with their mother and siblings • When mother is incarcerated, majority of children have no parent in home and many are separated from their siblings • When father is incarcerated, children and family may lose primary breadwinner • When mother is incarcerated, children may be separated from each other, have to move, etc.

7. Traumas experienced • Trauma in home prior to incarceration • Substance abuse • Violence • Instability • Trauma at time of arrest • Trauma related to incarceration • Missing the parent • Missing siblings • Having to move • Changing schools

8. ACE Study • Study of the impact of childhood adverse experiences on adult health and mental health problems • Neglect – Physical and emotional • Abuse – Physical, sexual and emotional • Dysfunctional households • Member with alcohol or drug issues • Member with mental health issues • Absent parent • Family member incarcerated • Mother battered

9. High incidence of ACEs linked to negative outcomes • ACEs tend to occur in clusters • Children of incarcerated parents experience all or most of them, putting them at high risk for addiction and mental health problems as they grow up

10. ACE Score (emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, someone in H/H with alcohol or drug problem, someone in H/H with mental illness, someone in household went to prison; one biological parent absent, growing up with mother treated violently) • Relationship of ACE scores to incarcerated women • In middle-class population only one in 14 (7.1%) people had score of 4 or higher • In sample of incarcerated women, 49.5% had score of 4 or higher

11. Contact between prisoners and children they were living with at time of incarceration • 43.8% received visits once a year or less • 28.5% spoke on telephone once a year or less • 27% received mail once a year or less

12. Problems experienced by children (reported by mothers, n=137)

13. In particular, incarcerated mothers report concerns about children’s education, relationships with caregivers and depression.

14. Caregivers’ Concerns • Backgrounds of mothers and children • Mental illness of prisoners • Substance abuse of prisoners • Unstable backgrounds of children • Some reported mothers were present and caring

15. In the words of caregivers: • Trauma at time of arrest “And they didn’t tell me, they didn’t tell [child], they didn’t tell nobody, right out of the front yard, and I was disgusted with that, ‘cause you know, hey at least tell her son or tell somebody what’s going on, you know? ‘Cause he was a minor at the time…”

16. Importance of quick permanent placement when possible “I’m fighting with DHS to get custody of my own child…I’m fighting with DHS. CASA is involved because of the court situation. The Cherokee Nation is involved because he’s half Cherokee. Uh, DHS is involved, and the baby has a court appointed lawyer. There’s lots of people involved. He has foster care, so they’re involved.” “At first…they pretty much warned me a baby that’s been separated through foster care from birth and all that - for 4-1/2 to 5 weeks, it was nurses; pretty much who was on duty. He was standoffish”

17. “I think they need to streamline the process…you can run a criminal background check in no time, just like that…Do that and take those kids to their family…Don’t make them go to foster care while DHS goes through all their paperwork “ “Three months, it was, I mean we had a hard time getting ‘emoutta that shelter even though we were family…they lost our paper work three times…We didn’t get to see the kids, we didn’t have contact with the kids, nothing. “

18. Missing the mother • “The worst problem that [child] has…is probably missing his mother and not having his mother to talk to • “Mentally it has affected them…like they’re mad or angry and stuff” • “They’ll say, ‘when mom gets out’” • “What we finally came to the conclusion was with him is that he had separation anxiety…and that’s why we had trouble with school and everything else is because he was afraid”

19. Reactions of others • “They get teased because their mom is in prison” • “The real problem was…when they first were incarcerated and they first get around people and…try to decide to tell people that their mother of their father is in prison…I noticed there was one girl who they got o church with that found…I can tell that there is a little bit of uneasiness” • “When something like that happens, you fell like the police automatically associate the family, anybody that’s involved, related to those people, they are automatically guilty as well”

20. Children using drugs or alcohol “Well, I woke up and come in here and there’s 25 guys in here all drunk” “I was reading these text message in regard to obtaining liquor” • Gangs “He is just running the streets now.”

21. Difficulty getting counseling • Cost • Finding provider who would take SoonerCare • Small communities • Lack of caregiver knowledge about resources

22. Child abandoned by caregiver “ Well, the next day I got off from work and she was at my house. She said she can’t no longer taker care of [Child] because, uh, she was pregnant and she had one child already. And, uh. She couldn’t take care of him and she just dropped him off at my house….”

23. Maintaining Contact • Telephone calls • Expense prohibitive • GlobalTel must buy in $25 increments • Requires credit or debit card, fee charged for each purchase • Cell phones • Visitation problematic • Distance • Costs • Getting all approved to visit

24. Caregiver Problems • Economic strain • Too old • Lack of time for self • Difficulties getting children places • Time constraints • Lack of transportation

25. Economic Stress “Well, like I said $171 is hard to buy for two kids. I mean I’ve got to get them shoes, you know. Everything, you know, that a kid needs. Supposed to have. Clothes. And they are hard on shoes and they are hard on clothes.” “…and sometimes I have to go to the food bank to get food, because we don’t have enough to last the whole month…Neighbor for Neighbor said they were paying utilities…I got a letter today saying they couldn’t help me…I got to figure out a way to get my utilities paid before my stuff get cut off.”

26. Age of Caregiver “And I’m just tired. That’s all there is to it.” “For me, it’s my age and disability. I can’t go and do the things always that I should be doing for her as a child.”

27. Lack of Time “Never getting a break…never getting a break. And then when I have problems I have nobody to talk to about ‘em. ” “I have very little time for myself.” “You know, I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world, but sometimes I just want them to leave me alone.”

28. Difficulties getting children places “I don’t have no vehicle. That’s one problem.” “The most problems that I had was the scheduling of when…Like DHS wanted me to do things”

29. Parents concerns about children’s placements “My mother [son’s guardian] is an alcoholic. My son has gotten into a lot of trouble. It seems to be a cycle w/her (sic) & children around her (myself & son). He gets no emotional support and little affection.” “My 14 year old daughter is being physically & verbally abused by my mother…She has been coached & trained on a daily basis what to say to child welfare if they are called. She has threatened to kill my daughter & repeatedly tells her she hates her. She also calls her very, very vulgar names. She also bites her, pulls her hair and just so much more. Then after the abuse she is made to feel sorry for my mother.”

30. In one family, the prisoner’s sister had the child because the prisoner would be eventually paroling to her own mother’s home. This mother could not have contact with the child because a former boyfriend had molested the child when she was about 5. This caregiver, however, did not feel that the child needed counseling for her abuse, because “she was so little when it happened and there’s a lot she doesn’t remember.” Yet, the caregiver went on to say the child was a problem, running away and using drugs.

31. “Youngest is with father that is never home. She is 6 yrs old & left with grandfather who is constantly drunk.” • “I am only concerned because they are with their father who in the past couldn’t care for himself let alone his children. His illness has been an issue we have been working on since our second son was born.”

32. Final notes on caregivers • Caregivers criminal histories and substance abuse issues • Children being bounced around • More than one child on streets prior to age 18

33. Important Things to Remember • Be aware that familial caregivers may often be overburdened both emotionally and financially and this may impact the children • More than 20% of children in home where mother was sexually abused and more than 1/3 in home where mother was physically abused • Be aware that children may be suffering from separation not only from mother but also from siblings • Be aware these children have experienced a lot of instability and possibly witnessed mother being battered, drug use, etc. • Younger children tend to be scared and depressed, oklder children tend to be angry • Be aware that drug-abusing parents may make great parents if they receive appropriate help

34. Policies Recommended by CIP Task Force • Support activities to maintain contact between an incarcerated parent and a minor child when it is in the best interest of the child. • Facilitate regular contact with an incarcerated parent: visitation, telephone other technology • Facilitate regular in-person visits, especially with infants and toddlers • Ensure criminal justice facilities have child-friendly visitation policies and procedures • Develop workshops for caregivers and adults who work with children on how to give age appropriate information to a child regarding an incarcerated parent.

35. Expand the use of community-based sentencing options utilizing evidence based intervention programs and services targeted to reduce criminal risk factors • Prior to imposition of a sentence on a custodial parent, the court should inquire about the status of minor children and determine how the children will be cared for • Support expanded treatment programs for custodial parents that allow for minor children to remain with the custodial parent if doing so will not adversely impact the minor child. • Incorporate techniques to safely address trauma-related issues.

36. Eliminate any barriers preventing children of incarcerated parents from accessing quality health care. • Support the activities of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to ensure that children of incarcerated parents have access to SoonerCare or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). • Educate caregivers about services available for important health checks and age appropriate medication