In Intr troducti oductions ons • Christina Cummings, Executive Director • Toria Peterson, Family Support Manager • Hope Rosenlund, Director of Programs
Ob Object jectives ives • 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
Poll Poll of of th the R e Roo oom
Incar In carcer ceration: ation: Num umber bers • 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 one 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
Parent Parental al In Incar carcer ceration ation & & Trauma/A auma/ACEs CEs
Parent Pare ntal al In Inca carcer ceration ation as as an an ACE CE • 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)
Why is Why is Parent rental al In Incar carcer ceration ation Traumatic? aumatic? • 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 is Why is Parent rental al In Incar carcer ceration ation Traumati aumatic? c? • 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
Ot Othe her r Ch Chal allen lenges ges for or CO COI • 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
K2L exists to break the cycle of incarceration by providing stability, opportunity, and Christian community for children of inmates .
Wh Who o 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: o Create a community where love, forgiveness, trust, joy are taught and modeled o Create a leadership pipeline for former campers to serve as counselors o Build social and emotional competence through healthy group living – Create a safe, stable environment where healthy, trust-based relationships can form and grow o 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 orks? 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 orks? 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 orks? 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? o? • 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 o 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?
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