Broken Bonds:
Understanding and Addressing the Needs of Children with Incarcerated Mothers
Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Register in advance to attend, or listen live to the audio webcast. Audio recordings of this event will be available a few days after the event.
Panelists:
- Sandra Barnhill, executive director and CEO, Foreverfamily
- Amy Dworsky, senior researcher, Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago
- Thomasina Hiers, director of programs and services, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
- Nancy La Vigne, senior research associate, Justice Policy Center at the Urban Institute
- Moderator: Laura Sullivan, correspondent, National Public Radio
As the population of incarcerated women grows, so does the number of children whose mothers are absent from their lives. Current estimates indicate that on any given day, more than 150,000 children have a mother in prison, yet far too little is known about these children and their needs and experiences. What are their home environments like before, during, and after incarceration? If they are in foster care, when did they enter the system, and what are their prospects for family stability? What are the barriers to healthy mother-child relationships? What emotional and behavioral challenges do these children face? What can charitable organizations, service providers, and policymakers do to address those challenges?
With these questions in mind, this panel seeks to cast a bright light on this often invisible population of children. The discussion will illustrate the scope of the problem; explore the challenges these children will likely encounter as they negotiate new living arrangements, family relationships, and financial circumstances; and highlight programs and policies that hold promise for better serving this vulnerable population.
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