In Intr troducti oductions ons Christina Cummings, Executive - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

• Christina Cummings, Executive Director
• Toria Peterson, Family Support Manager
• Hope Rosenlund, Director of Programs

In Intr troducti

• ductions
• ns

• Better understand how the trauma of parental

incarceration affects children

• Understand why Kidz2Leaders’ program

model is effectively ending generational incarceration

• Understand how practitioners can better

serve children and families of inmates

Ob Object jectives ives

Poll Poll of

• f th

the R e Roo

• om

• Georgia is number one in the U.S. for

persons under Correction’s Supervision

• 60 percent of Georgia’s inmates are

parents, leaving nearly 200,000 children behind

• Nationwide, 2.7 million children are

experiencing parental incarceration (one in 28)

• Up to 70 percent of these children may
• ne day become incarcerated

In Incar carcer ceration: ation: Num umber bers

• Georgia’s prison expenditures total

more than $1 billion annually

• $21,000 per inmate per year

In Incar carcer ceration: ation: Num umber bers

Parent Parental al In Incar carcer ceration ation & & Trauma/A auma/ACEs CEs

• This is a trauma of the same magnitude as

abuse, domestic violence, and divorce (Annie

• E. Casey Foundation)
• Children of incarcerated parents are exposed

to nearly five times as many ACEs as their counterparts without incarcerated parents. (Natl Survey of Children’s Health)

Pare Parent ntal al In Inca carcer ceration ation as as an an ACE CE

• Witnessing arrest/knowledge of illegal activity

leading to arrest

• Lack of understanding by the child
• Self-blame for the incarceration/arrest
• Social stigma/shame
• Financial stress (loss of income, legal fees,

bail/bond, cost of visitation/calls)

Why Why is is Parent rental al In Incar carcer ceration ation Traumatic? aumatic?

• Additional stress on remaining caregiver can lead to

higher likelihood of abuse or neglect in the home

• Loss of relationship/grief (with incarcerated parent)
• Emotional stress stemming from loving a parent

who made poor choices – Illegal activity & poor choices are normalized – Moral ambiguity that results

• Loss of trust, potentially in all relationships, as a

result

Why Why is is Parent rental al In Incar carcer ceration ation Traumati aumatic? c?

• Less likely to graduate high school
• Less likely to go to or graduate from college
• Disrupted social development
• Less access to normal childhood activities
• Living in homes with substance abuse
• Living in homes with violence
• Frequent mental illness
• Typically live in less supportive

neighborhoods/communities

Ot Othe her r Ch Chal allen lenges ges for

• r CO

COI

K2L exists to break the cycle of incarceration by providing stability,

• pportunity, and Christian

community for children of inmates.

Wh Who

• We Ar

e Are

• Founded in 1999 by a pastor as Camp Hope
• Today -- decade-long continuum of year-

round Christian programming

• Age eight through young adulthood
• Serve more than 350 children of inmates

and their families annually

• Long-term commitment

Wh What at W We D e Do

The Entry-Point: Stability & Community: Camp Hope

• An annual, week-long overnight camp spanning eight summers

throughout a child’s life

• One-to-one one camper/volunteer ratio
• Goals:
• Create a community where love, forgiveness, trust, joy are taught

and modeled

• Create a leadership pipeline for former campers to serve as

counselors

• Build social and emotional competence through healthy group

living – Create a safe, stable environment where healthy, trust-based relationships can form and grow

• Modify behaviors with empathy

Wh What at We Do e Do

Phase Two: Opportunity: Interns4Tomorrow

• Two-year job training program for students ages 16-18 who

have completed Camp Hope

• Training sessions throughout the winter and spring to learn

all aspects of work readiness

• Placed in paid, summer internships with local businesses
• Travel & networking opportunities; scholarships
• Goal:

– Teach the value of work & empower young adults with the life/business skills required to make well-informed choices

Wh What at We Do e Do

Phase Three: Alumni Support Stability, Community, Opportunity

Reunions, Individual Support, Emergency Financial Support, Leadership & service opportunities

Goal: Foster a family-style community of young adults who are:

1. Living free from incarceration 2. Contributing to their families, communities, and the workforce 3. Continue to practice and value love, forgiveness, trust, joy, and servant leadership.

Wh What at We e Do Do

Ongoing Family Support

• Creating safer, more stable families
• Wrap-around services to all participants in all phases

– Meet basic physical needs so that we can then address higher level needs

• Ongoing, accessible, safe, fun events
• Family retreats, case management, concrete support (financial,

referrals, partnerships)

Goals:

– Provide safety, respite, encouragement, and fun – Create a space to teach caregivers K2L values and equip them to reinforce these within their families – Generate trust within the K2L community

Ou Our Im r Impact act: : 20 Y 20 Year ears

 94 percent of Camp Hope campers report making new friends and building stronger relationships at camp (COMMUNITY)  86 percent of Interns4Tomorrow graduates are working (OPPORTUNITY)  61 percent of our alumni have at least some college or technical school experience, with 18 percent graduating (OPPORTUNITY)  99 percent of program graduates are living free from state and federal incarceration (STABILITY)

Wh What at Wor

• rks?

ks?

• STABILITY
• Consistency in program rhythms, themes,

structure

• Filling holes to reduce parental stress and

provide a more stable home environment

• Prevent evictions
• Prevent food insecurity
• Providing clothing & supplies
• Referrals and partnerships

Wh What at Wor

• rks?

ks?

• OPPORTUNITY
• Job Training
• Scholarships for higher education
• Service & leadership opportunities
• Life skills for parents –parenting, budgeting
• COMMUNITY
• Long-term healthy, supportive relationships
• Ongoing events to increase connectivity

between peers and families

Wh What at Wor

• rks?

ks?

• Accessibility (cost,

transportation, child care)

• Safety (physically,

emotionally)

Keep in mind…

• Every family is different- avoid assumptions.
• There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding a person’s

incarceration.

• The relationship between the incarcerated person and their

family members varies widely.

• Maintaining relationship between the incarcerated parent

and child, when safe, has proven to be beneficial.

• Forever Family, HeartBound Ministries
• Dynamics within the non-incarcerated family unit may be

evolving.

• The release of the incarcerated family member can be as

traumatic as the initial incarceration.

Wh What at can can you you do?

• ?
• Stay informed, as information leads to compassion,

empathy, and awareness.

• Be on the look out.
• Recognize the likelihood of multiple ACEs and

increased risk factors in families of the incarcerated.

• Build your resources for COI:
• Prison Fellowship/Angel Tree
• Forever Family
• Heartbound Ministries
• Georgia Justice Project
• Build your resource network.

Ref efer errals t als to K2

• K2L
• Ch

Chil ildren dren ag ages es ei eigh ght t to to 10 wh who hav ave e one ne or mo r more re in incarcerat arcerated ed pa pare rent nts

• www

www.kidz .kidz2l 2leaders.org eaders.org

Ref efle lect ction ion

What’s one thing you learned today that will help you in your practice area?

Q&A Q&A