Corrections_Today_March_April_2023_Vol.85_No.2

Treatment and policy recommendations Generally, while treating children of incarcerated parents, there appears to be a lack of guidance in what proves to be most effective. 42 There needs to be better supports for families experiencing incarceration. The effects of the disruption to the parent-child bond as a result of incarceration may be best explained by at tachment theory. Attachment theory, put forth by John Bowlby (1958), states that those with consistent care have stronger and healthier attachments, when compared to those with inconsistent attachments. 43 He finds chil dren with inconsistent care and support have less secure attachments. The strength of the child-parent attachment can play a large role in the development of a child’s relationship with others throughout their life span. Therapists have to work with clients to rebuild trusting relationships with others. Attachment-Based Therapy (ABT), based on Attachment Theory, works to repair family relationships (i.e.., the parent-child bond) and can work with the individual child, as well as the family unit. Utilizing cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to help children to develop coping strategies and to think more positively about themselves, despite their situation, could prove to be helpful. CBT appears to work well with children and adolescents with a variety of behavior and emotional problems. Since children of incarcerated parents can face stigmatization and would benefit from coping strategies, school-based interventions and men toring programs can provide tremendous support. 44 With or without therapeutic interventions, correc tional facilities can also aid in alleviating some of these problems. Since strong parent-child bonds can mitigate the mental health problems for children of incarcerated parents, correctional facilities can adopt policies that take children into account, allowing for more child friendly visiting areas, as well as parent-child physical contact. 45, 46 Training for correctional staff and subsidized or free transportation is also recommended. 47 Correctional-based visitation can be emotionally draining, so eliminating any barriers would be helpful. Parent management training is especially useful in helping incarcerated parents learn how to effectively talk to their children, manage behavioral issues (both while incarcerated and when they return home), as well as begin to attain healthier relationships with their children.

Carceral classes that target parenting skills, combined with research that evaluates its effects, is essential, especially in the correctional setting where program opportunities may be limited. 48 As an example, one nationally recognized program, Parenting Prison & Pups (PPP), an evidence-based parenting program integrated with animal assisted therapy (AAT), is a benign interven tion that can be easily implemented in any correctional setting with promising results. Since 2017, PPP has been providing classes to incarcerated mothers at the West chester County Department of Correction in New York. When differences were examined between mothers who completed a parenting course with AAT, compared with those who completed the same course without AAT, statistically significant lower rates of parental stress and anxiety, in addition to higher rates of self-esteem and parental knowledge among the AAT group were found. The presence of therapy dogs appeared to encourage communication, trust and connectedness between group members. 49 As a result of its success, the program was expanded to incarcerated fathers two years ago. Since strong parent-child bonds can mitigate the mental health problems for children of incarcerated parents, correctional facilities can adopt policies that take children into account, allowing for more child friendly visiting areas, as well as parent-child physical contact.

These findings demonstrate the importance of uti lizing non-traditional and innovative interventions for incarcerated parents to help develop healthy bonds with their children and mitigate the risk for intergenerational offending. →

Corrections Today March/April 2023— 39