The Impact on Children of a Parent’s Incarceration

More American children than ever are experiencing life with at least one parent behind bars, with estimates ranging from 1.7 to 2.7 million children affected on any given day.^[i],^[ii] The Pew Charitable Trusts reported in 2010 that one in every 28 children in the U.S. has a parent behind bars, up from one in 125 just 25 years earlier.^[iii] That’s an average of about one child in every classroom across the country.

The U.S. has the unseemly distinction of being the world’s leader in locking up its own residents, currently holding more than 2.3 million people in jail or prison.^[iv]  These record incarceration rates affect growing numbers of parents and children. Between 1991 and midyear 2007, the number of parents held in state and federal prisons increased by 79%, and children of incarcerated parents increased by 80%.^[v]

“We are living in a world where growing up with a parent in jail or prison is becoming a normal fact of life for too many children,” says Janelle Prueter, head of corrections reentry services for Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC), an Illinois nonprofit that provides statewide reentry case management and alternatives to incarceration.

As the numbers of parents and children affected by incarceration have increased, so too have the studies on the consequences of this phenomenon. In its March 2012 Psychological Bulletin, the American Psychological Association reported that, based on 40 studies on the impact of incarceration on children, antisocial behavior is the most pronounced risk for these children. “The most rigorous studies showed that parental incarceration is associated with higher risk for children’s antisocial behavior,” write Murray et al., “but not for mental health problems, drug use, or poor educational performance.”^[vi]

In the April 2012 issue of the Journal of Marriage and Family, Johnson and Easterling concur that the unique impact of a parent’s incarceration is, as yet, undetermined. They note that it is difficult to single out the effects of incarceration as distinct from the other adversities these children face.^[vii] For instance, people affected by incarceration also face disproportionate levels of poverty and addiction, as compared to the general population.

“In Illinois, thousands of children who have incarcerated parents are dealing with a parent’s addiction as well,” says Prueter, who oversees services for more than 6,000 substance-involved people each year who are in prison and on parole in Illinois.

Indeed, substance use disorders fuel the incarceration epidemic. According to the latest Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring data collected in 10 sites across the U.S., more than 60 percent of people arrested in 2011 tested positive for at least one illicit substance, with rates in Chicago and Sacramento topping 80 percent.^[viii] Two thirds of incarcerated individuals meet the clinical criteria for substance addiction, but only 11 percent receive any kind of treatment.^[ix]

“Having an incarcerated parent is an adverse childhood experience, and so is having an addicted parent,” says Peter Palanca, executive vice president of TASC and vice chair of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA). “We need to pay attention to what’s happening to these children. They need intervention and resources not only to help them get through their current circumstances in a pro-social way, but also to prevent them from experiencing poorer health and social problems later in their lives.”

The Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) study is an ongoing research effort of Kaiser Permanente and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Based on more than 17,000 health screenings of adults, it reveals “staggering proof of the health, social, and economic risks that result from childhood trauma.”^[x]  The imprisonment of a parent is one of the childhood adversities measured in the 10-question survey. The higher a person’s ACE score, the stronger the likelihood that he or she will experience troubles such as alcoholism, illicit drug use, smoking, lung disease, liver disease, sexually transmitted diseases, and other negative health outcomes.

Stigma is a key factor associated with these adverse experiences, says Palanca. “As with children of alcoholics, children of incarcerated parents face a great deal of shame, guilt, and confusion. They need to have a voice, a safe way of expressing their thoughts and feelings about what’s happening.”

With more than 2,200 state and federal correctional facilities across the U.S., there are scant resources for the children of parents housed in these institutions. One program in Illinois is the Moms & Babies program at the Decatur Correctional Center, where mothers of newborns receive counseling and resources to help them learn healthy parenting skills. Focusing on incarcerated fathers, the National Fatherhood Initiative has developed the faith-based InsideOut Dadprogram, an evidence-based reentry model currently used in about two dozen correctional facilities across the country.

Once released from prison, people on parole need strong support in establishing new and positive connections with their communities and families. In Illinois–where 49,000 people are in state prisons and another 25,000 are on parole–Summits of Hope resource fairs provide information for men and women who have been released from state correctional facilities. Supported by the Illinois Department of Corrections and organized locally by community groups, service agencies, and government, these events offer individually-tailored guidance through information on parenting training, drug treatment, health screening, interviewing skills, and more.

Although resources for incarcerated parents and their children are scant compared to the need, these programs represent some of the trends toward acknowledging the scope and importance of the matter. The issue has garnered international awareness as well. In March 2012, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution in support of children’s rights, with sections devoted to the issue of parental incarceration. ^[xi] The concept was originated in the U.S. by the San Francisco Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership, who defined this Bill of Rights for children of incarcerated parents:^[xii]

1. I have the right to be kept safe and informed at the time of my parent’s arrest.

2. I have the right to be heard when decisions are made about me.

3. I have the right to be considered when decisions are made about my parent.

4. I have the right to be well-cared for in my parent’s absence.

5. I have the right to speak with, see, and touch my parent.
6. I have the right to support as I face my parent’s incarceration.

7. I have the right not to be judged, blamed, or labeled because of my parent’s incarceration.

8. I have the right to a lifelong relationship with my parent.

The short-term and long-term consequences of a parent’s incarceration are still being studied, and will vary from child to child. What is becoming more recognized, however, is the fact that record numbers of children are being affected. 

“There’s so much more we all can do,” says Palanca. “A good place to start is understanding that children of incarcerated parents have a right to be heard and recognized. Teachers, counselors, youth workers, and faith leaders are uniquely positioned to notice what’s happening and provide extra support. We also need to better connect incarcerated parents with their children in a healthy ways. Every child in the world has a right to feel safe and loved.”

——

The bill of rights for children of incarcerated parents can be found at www.sfcipp.org

For information on the impact of addiction on children and families, visit www.nacoa.org

For further information on TASC’s reentry services in Illinois, visit www.tasc.org.

---

^[i] National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated. (2009). Children and families of the incarcerated fact sheet.  Retrieved 22 May 2012 from http://fcnetwork.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/fact-sheet.pdf

^[ii] The Pew Charitable Trusts, (2010). Collateral Costs: Incarceration’s Effect on Economic Mobility. Washington, DC: The Pew Charitable Trusts.

^[iii] ibid.

^[iv] Human Rights Watch. (2012.) World Report 2012: United States.  Retrieved 19 October 2012 from  http://www.hrw.org/world-report-2012/world-report-2012-united-states

^[v] Glaze, L. E. & Maruschak, L. M. (2008, August). Parents in prison and their minor children. U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Special Report. NCJ 222984.

^[vi] Murray, J., Farrington, D. P. & Sekol, I. (2012, March). Children’s antisocial behavior, mental health, drug use, and educational performance after parental incarceration: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, Vol. 138(2), 175-210.

^[vii] Johnson, E. & Easterling, B. (2012, April). Understanding unique effects of parental incarceration on children: Challenges, progress, and recommendations. Journal of Marriage and Family. Vol. 74(2), 342-356.

^[viii] Office of National Drug Control Policy. (2012, May 17). New survey results show majority of adult males arrested in 10 U.S. cities test positive for illegal drugs at time of arrest. (Press release). Retrieved 24 May 2012 from http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/news-releases-remarks/new-survey-results-show-majority-of-adult-males-arrested-in-ten-us-cities-test-positive-for-illegal

^[ix] The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. (2010, February 26). New CASA report finds 65 percent of all U.S. inmates meet medical criteria for substance abuse addiction, only 11 percent receive any treatment. (Press release). Retrieved 22 May 2012 from http://www.casacolumbia.org/templates/PressReleases.aspx?articleid=592&zoneid=79

^[x] The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. Retrieved 24 May 2012 from http://www.acestudy.org/home

^[xi] Sentencing Project. (2012, March 27). Bill of rights for children of incarcerated parents. Retrieved 24 May 2012 from http://www.sentencingproject.org/detail/news.cfm?news_id=1280&id=143

^[xii]San Francisco Children of Incarcerated Parents. Retrieved 24 May 2012 from http://www.sfcipp.org/

- Contributed by Daphne Baille, director of communications for TASC

Children of Alcoholics Week 2011; “Under the Influence” Program on Nickelodeon

February 13–19, 2011 is Children of Alcoholics Week.  This week is designated to raise awareness of the adverse effects of parental alcoholism and drug addiction on children, to celebrate the recovery of those who have overcome childhood pains and losses due to a parent’s addiction, and to offer hope to those still affected.

According to the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA), an estimated 17 million children in the U.S. are affected by parents with alcohol or drug use disorders.

In a Nickelodeon program that premiered in November, five children affected by parental alcoholism share their stories. To watch this special “Nick News with Linda Ellerbe,” please click here. 

For additonal information and resources, please visit the National Association for Children of Alcoholics.

TASC Awarded Maximum CARF Accreditation; Independent Survey Commends TASC for Service Quality

TASC, Inc. of Illinois has been awarded a fourth consecutive three-year term of accreditation by CARF International, an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services.

TASC’s survey accreditation stands out from previous surveys in the number and scope of organizational strengths identified by the surveyors, who gathered input from TASC clients, funders, referral sources, and clinical partners across Illinois.

TASC was commended for stakeholder satisfaction, outreach in rural areas, collaboration, use of technology, and more. For example, the third-party, independent survey found that:

• “The persons served express a high level of satisfaction with the services they have received.” 
• “The board of directors and leadership team are strongly focused on the organization’s mission and values guiding the services it provides to the persons served and other stakeholders. This constant focus results in specific and high quality services.”
• “Funding and referral sources identified a demonstrated willingness of TASC leadership and staff members to be flexible and creative in the design of services and highly responsive to the needs of the persons and communities served.”
• “The organization has developed a system of care that uniquely includes service coordination and collaboration with other local providers to serve some of the most traumatized children and adolescents.”
• “TASC serves several rural communities where there are often limited resources available to the persons served. The organization and its staff provide outreach services to these persons served in their homes, work locations, or other locations where the person may receive services in their communities. This results in a more accessible service to the persons served and promotes a more integrated service delivery system…”

Joel Warmolts, TASC’s director of Quality Improvement and Compliance, notes that these accolades reflect years of commitment to service quality and productive partnerships with stakeholders. “TASC’s success begins with the dedication of staff who work to make a difference every day. It’s made possible by our many referral sources and service partners throughout Illinois who share our commitment to health and public safety. And finally, our success is revealed in hard work of our clients themselves, who willingly take on the day-to-day challenges of creating better lives for themselves and their families.”

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) is a nonprofit accreditor founded in 1966 that touches close to 6 million individuals served in a wide range of human service organizations. To receive CARF accreditation, organizations voluntarily go through a rigorous peer review and survey process that measure commitment to CARF’s accreditation standards and focus on quality programs and services.

TASC has provided advocacy and case management service in Illinois since 1976.

For more information about the accreditation process, please visit the CARF website at www.carf.org.

How Parents’ Alcoholism Affects Children: Nickelodeon TV Special Premieres Nov. 14

On Sunday, November 14, “Nick News with Linda Ellerbee” will air a special program about the children of parents with alcoholism. There are approximately 11 million affected children in the United States alone.

“Under the Influence:  Kids of Alcoholics” will be shown at 9 p.m. Eastern and Pacific times, 8 PM Central.  Please check local cable TV listings for air times in your community.

To learn more about eliminating the adverse impact of alcohol and drug use on children and families, please visit the National Association for Children of Alcoholics at www.nacoa.org.

Children & Parents Lose TASC Services; Dozens of TASC Staff Furloughed and Laid Off; Still No State Budget Resolution in Sight for Quinn, Cullerton, Madigan, Cross, Radogno

(Chicago) — Multiple news reports have implied that June 30 is the deadline for Governor Pat Quinn, Senate President John Cullerton, House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, House Minority Leader Tom Cross and the remainder of the General Assembly to straighten out the state’s budget.

In fact, the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and Department of Corrections (DOC) sent out notification last week of the massive budget cuts to human services, and many agencies, including TASC, already have been forced to slash workforces and terminate services to clients.

For the first time in TASC’s 33-year history, staff furlough notices went out today. Some 140 staff across Illinois will be without work and without pay for two weeks beginning July 1, and an additional 51 are being laid off.

Cuts Tragic to Parents and Children

Hardest hit at TASC so far have been the agency’s child welfare services, which are eliminated. Nearly 500 parents and youth under the care and supervision of the DCFS-funded Recovery Coach and System of Care programs are being notified this week that they will no longer receive critical housing stabilization and family reunification services.

All 51 TASC child welfare program staff in Cook County and in Southern Illinois are jobless as of July 1. Among them are single parents, individuals with health issues, grandparents who are caretakers of young children, and many others for whom the loss of employment creates untold hardship – not to mention the hardship confronting clients for whom TASC’s services are life-changing. (Without TASC, parents like Janice and Kim will likely lose permanent custody of their children.)

The Recovery Coach program is a highly successful program of intensive outreach to parents who have lost custody of their children due to the parent’s addiction. TASC Recovery Coaches work very closely with parents to ensure that they receive necessary treatment services, counseling, and skills training to become healthy and responsible parents.

Without TASC’s intensive outreach, clinical services, and advocacy, most are likely to lose their children for good. Their children will remain in foster care – or receive little to no care at all – at a greater financial cost to the state and a catastrophic human toll to children and their families.

In-depth research on the Recovery Coach program shows that parents in the program are more likely than others involved in DCFS to enter substance abuse treatment, complete treatment, and achieve family reunification.

The System of Care program works with young children and teenagers who have had particularly difficult placements in foster care due to the youth’s mental health issues, past physical and sexual abuse, and other circumstances that make life especially challenging for them and their foster parents. In this program, TASC provides an array of outreach and clinical services to ensure that young people are stabilized in safe and permanent living situations rather than being bounced from foster home to foster home or group homes.

Both programs are gone. It will take intervention and action at the highest levels of Illinois government for services to return.

Program Cuts Cost the State Millions in Federal Aid

Marc Smith, Child Welfare Advocate

What is most difficult to understand about these budget cuts, for many, is that they are inexplicable from both a human standpoint and a financial standpoint. “TASC’s Recovery Coach program has proven to be the most successful family reunification program in Illinois,” according to Marc Smith, who oversees TASC’s child welfare services. “And most bewildering is that the program does not cost the state a penny. Any money that the state puts into it comes back directly from the federal government. It is free to the state.”

In fact, the program saved the state more than $5 million in its first five years, and has remained a cost saver.

“What’s most heartbreaking is to see parents who are on their way to recovery, and on their way to getting their kids back, and they’re being cut off so abruptly” says Mr. Smith. “Nobody cares for them the way our Recovery Coaches care for them. They (the parents) can’t believe that the only people who’ve ever given them hope will be leaving their lives in six days.”

Says TASC Executive Vice President Pam Rodriguez, “Many have suggested that the Governor’s budget is a ploy, a tactic to raise alarm. This is no false alarm — it is real. Real people are being furloughed or laid off. Real clients will not get services and be in jail or prison or face termination of parental rights. We are not playing a game — we are fighting to provide services, to save lives.” 

Though severe damage to children and families is already being inflicted, these catastrophic cuts can be reversed. The General Assembly has not completed its work on the FY10 budget.

Look up your Illinois state legislators here.

WBEZ Interviews TASC on Budget Cuts; Quinn, Cullerton, Madigan, Radogno and Cross Still Deadlocked

(Chicago, IL) –  “We have never been in this kind of situation before.”

That’s a big statement when it’s spoken by TASC President Melody Heaps, who has seen numerous state budget battles in her 33 years at the helm of TASC. 

TASC received budget cut letters this week from the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). The letters announced that TASC’s statewide services for criminal justice clients are cut 76%, and TASC’s child welfare services are zeroed out completely.

The back-breaking cuts to TASC, substance abuse treatment programs, and numerous other human service agencies are set to take effect July 1.

Rob Wildeboer, reporter for Chicago Public Radio (WBEZ, 91.5 FM) interviewed Ms. Heaps on Wednesday.* Given that this is not the first time that human services have faced potential budget cuts, Mr. Wildeboer asked if the current uproar is saber rattling.

“This is not saber rattling,” Ms. Heaps emphasized. “These are the facts.”

Ms. Heaps explained that because funding for TASC’s criminal justice and child welfare programs is severely curtailed or eliminated as of July 1, TASC has no choice but to halt intake and begin notifying clients that services are stopped. The statewide agency is currently in the process of terminating assessment, case management, and supervision of some 3,000 clients across Illinois, including nearly 1,200 court-mandated clients in Cook County.

Courts will become backlogged, addiction-driven crime will increase, and the costs of dealing with addiction will be shifted to county jails and hospitals.

In addition, parents who are working to overcome addiction and regain custody of their children will no longer have the services of TASC’s Recovery Coach program. Without treatment for parents, more children will remain wards of the state.

“These budget cuts undermine the very purpose of TASC, and they undo decades of work by the courts and treatment system in Illinois,” said TASC Executive Vice President Pam Rodriguez. “They are an affront to every judge who relies on community-based treatment as a sentencing option for nonviolent offenders, to every child advocate who helps to heal families affected by addiction, and to every taxpayer who believes in the efficient use of public dollars to maintain community safety.”

Governor Pat Quinn, Senate President John Cullerton, House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, and House Minority Leader Tom Cross met again on Wednesday, though state budget talks remain at an impasse.

The General Assembly will convene in a special legislative session in Springfield beginning next Tuesday, June 23.

* Note:  TASC does not provide drug treatment, as reported in the WBEZ story. TASC is an independent, nonprofit entity whose criminal justice programs link the criminal justice system to community-based drug treatment.  As the agency designated by the state pursuant to Chapter 20 ILCS 301/40, TASC provides clinical assessment, treatment placement, and ongoing case management and client supervision. 

TASC clients have significantly better outcomes, in terms of reduced crime and reduced drug use, than individuals who do not get TASC.