Children of incarcerated parents have to deal with life's many challenges without the presence of one or both of their parents. If that isn't difficult enough, a new study finds that these children tend to move more often and have a lower quality of life.
Charitable Organization Proposes Change
In a newly-released social report titled "A Shared Sentence: The Devastating Toll of Parental Incarceration on Kids, Families and Communities," the Annie E. Casey Foundation claimed that the incarceration of a parent has the same negative impact on kids as domestic violence. To help millions of kids cope with the situation, the Casey Foundation has offered some commonsense proposals.
The organization's recommendations include guaranteeing children are kept supported during and after their parent's jail term, ensuring that parents can find substantial employment once they return to the community and strengthening communities so they can foster family stability and opportunity.
"Our nation's overreliance on incarceration has left millions of children poorer, less stable and emotionally cut off from the most important relationship of their young lives," Casey Foundation CEO, Patrick McCarthy lamented. "We are calling on states and communities to act now, so that these kids—like all kids—have equal opportunity and a fair chance for the bright future they deserve."
If acted upon by the US government, the initiatives would greatly help over 5 million children in the US who had at least one of their parents in jail. In the case of Morgan Gliedman, her 3-year-old daughter sticks photos of her visits with her father on the wall by her bed.
Suitable Jobs For Parents To Uplift Children's Quality Of Life
Gliedman told The New York Times that visiting rooms at correctional facilities are usually not conducive for children. Six-hour visits are hostile and one wrong move by the parent or child can abruptly end the session. Some guards will allow children to sit on a parent's lap while some won't even tolerate the slightest of movements.
The Casey Foundation said education and training programs for incarcerated parents would significantly increase their chances of landing suitable jobs once they return to the community. This would prevent their children from suffering the unfavorable cycle of prison and poverty.
