Incarcerated Parents

By: Shelby Pendleton-Weathers

Course: Positive Classroom Management
What does it mean?

o Webster's
dictionary defines
incarceration as
to put in prison or
to subject to
confinement
Prevalence

o 2.7 million children had an Ages of Children With Parent Incarcerated

incarcerated parent
o 92% of incarcerated parents
are fathers
o In Wisconsin 88,000 children
have been separated from
parents due to incarceration
o One in 28 children have at 15-17 years old 10-14 yr old 5-9 yr old
1-4 yr old less than 1 yr old
least one parent behind bars
Impact on Child

Twice as likely to have learning disabilities

Higher rates of depression
Bullies themselves (or be bullied)
Antisocial
Regression
Academic skills
Behaviors
Developmental milestones
Support

http://youth.gov/youth-topics/children-of-incarcerated-parents

http://www.sesamestreet.org/toolkits/incarceration#
Useful Strategies

Be aware of stereotyping
Tendencies to assume thoughts about behavior, motivation, and academic abilities
Be sensitive to triggers
Children may be more sensitive to current events or the police
Be aware of asking for parents permission on activities
Talk to the children about their feelings
Communicate with the caregiver
Books in the classroom on the topic
A non-threatening way to let children know they are not along
Sources

o https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incarcerate
o http://www.fatherhood.org/fatherhood/fathers-behind-bars-the-problem-and-solution-for-americas-children-infographichttp://www.wccf.o
rg/pressroom/5328-2
/
o http://
host.madison.com/ct/report-nearly-wisconsin-kids-have-had-a-parent-behind-bars/article_cf059ac2-f7a4-596f-9853-9e67e5f60cd6.html
o https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/10/27/report-one-14-children-have-had-incarcerated-parent/74663774/
o http://youth.gov/sites/default/files/COIPInfographic_508.pdf
o http://youth.gov/sites/default/files/COIP_TipSheet-Teachers_508.pdf
o https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/hdfs/fii/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/s_mifis05c03.pdf
o http://
www.spac.k12.pa.us/2010conference/2010%20spac%20conference%20workshop%20handouts/6%20Mona%20Fleeger%20STARS/5%20what%20edu
cators%20and%20schools%20need%20to%20know%20when.pdf
o http://www.projectavary.org/top-ten/
o http
://www.sesamestreetincommunities.org/topics/incarceration/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=incarceratedparentsstatisti
cs&utm_content=IncarcerationStatistics&utm_campaign=SSIC2017
o http://youth.gov/youth-topics/children-of-incarcerated-parents
o http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/06/21/sesame-street-reaches-out-to-2-7-million-american-children-with-an-incarcerated-paren
t/