4th Annual Children of Incarcerated Parents National Conference Virtual Program

Leading the future: Young people as partners for change

Centering Advocating

Connecting Understanding

Supporting

March 30, April 6th & 13th

2022

Virtual Conference Information

Advancing Child Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally.

Director’s Welcome Message Welcome to the 4th National Children of Incarcerated Parents Conference. Our planning committee chose this year’s conference theme, Leading the Future: Young People as Partners for Change, to elevate the voices of children, youth, and families whose lives have been impacted by incarceration.

Over the next three Wednesdays practitioners, advocates, researchers and those with lived experience will share best practices and evidence-based programs, the challenges and successes of policy reform, and strategies for advocacy and support. The goal is to share, dialogue and increase responsiveness to children and families. The conference Miguel Vieyra, MSW Interim Director, ASU Center for Child Well-Being coincides with child abuse prevention month, and it is our vision that the well-being of children, from before they are born through transition age youth, is considered in every aspect of parental incarceration, from pre-incarceration arrest through post incarceration re-entry.

We are extremely pleased to honor as this year’s Champions for Child Well-Being two individuals who have been with us since our first national conference, and who have supported the conference through their presentations and participation on the planning committee. They are Sandra Barnhill, Executive Director at Foreverfamily, and Ryan Young, President to Arizona’s Department of Child Safety Youth Empowerment Council. These are two amazing individuals who have each made and continue to make enormous positive impact. Please make sure to watch their award videos and congratulate them.

A huge welcome to all of our Plenary Session Speakers.

Peter Scharff Smith, Professor in the Sociology of Law, The Department of Criminology and Sociology of Law, Oslo University will be presenting the topic The Children and Families of Prisoners - from research to reform. Peter has studied history and social science, holds a PhD from the University of Copenhagen and has also done research at the University of Cambridge and at the Danish Institute of Human Rights. Peter has undertaken several studies on the families and children of prisoners and has published books and articles within this field.

Echoes of Incarceration, an award-winning documentary initiative produced by youth who are directly impacted by the criminal justice system will be sharing A Holistic Approach to Incorporating Youth Voice. Since 2008 Echoes has trained youth with incarcerated parents in filmmaking and advocacy and created documentaries and video journalism about the impact of mass incarceration on children.

Sarai Flores and Isabel Coronado will be presenting Intergenerational Trauma and Resiliency: A Mother and Daughter Journey In this presentation, a formerly incarcerated mother and her daughter discuss the intergenerational trauma and resiliency that has impacted their lives through witnessing and experiencing mass incarceration and how they use their advocacy to change the criminal legal system. Learn more about trauma-informed practices and current federal legislation impacting children of incarcerated parents.

Special thanks to Kelly Edmonson, Angela Ruffalo and Theresa Moore who handled the conference logistics on behalf of the Center for Child Well-Being. Thank you to our generous sponsors, including the ASU School of Social Work and our Community Advisory Board, for their support of this event.

Thank you for attending this year’s virtual conference. We hope that you will take time to enjoy the exhibits, expand your networks, and be better equipped for action. If there is any way we can make your experience better, don’t hesitate to let us know. We hope you will join us next year for our 5th National Children of Incarcerated Parents Conference.

Sincerely, Miguel Vieyra

The Center for Child Well-Being combines the knowledge, expertise and resources of a large public research university with the operational capacity of state and community agencies working to serve vulnerable families and to advance solutions that would otherwise be unattainable.

Drawing on the expertise of our staff and faculty from across Arizona State University’s research enterprise, we work to increase resilience among families and to build safer and more vibrant

The ASU School of Social Work Child Welfare Education Program The Child Welfare Education Program (CWEP) is a collaborative effort between the Arizona State University School of Social Work and the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS).

Child Welfare Education Program

The mission of the program is to prepare social work students to empower families and promote the safety, permanency, and wellbeing of the children involved in Arizona’s public child welfare system. The goals of the program are to 1) facilitate students’ development of culturally responsive and socially just critical decision-making capacities, 2) instill in students frameworks for viewing both problems and collaborative solution-seeking through traumainformed, relationally-based, and resiliency theories, and 3) teach engagement, assessment, and intervention skills specific to safety planning and case management with vulnerable children and families.

Students involved in the program receive financial assistance while pursuing their degrees in social work. In return, students contractually commit to work for DCS upon graduation.

More Information For more information including eligibility requirements, application materials, and deadlines please visit our website or contact us.

Website: socialwork.asu.edu/childwelfare Email: childwelfare@asu.edu

A Title IV-E program providing financial and educational support to social work students Mail Code: 3920 411 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004 Phone: 602-496-0800 socialwork.asu.edu/childwelfare

communities for young people. Faculty researchers and students support, sustain, and improve community-based public services to children and families.

The mission of ASU’s Center for Child Well-Being is to advance child and family well-being. We believe society can collectively overcome challenges and make a difference by ensuring the health and well-being of its children.

Join the conversation #CIP2022 @CIP_PHX childwellbeing

A Career in Child Welfare Social Work Child welfare social workers engage families who may be facing significant challenges including poverty, a history of trauma, substance abuse, familial violence, mental illness, and oppression. They assess child safety and they intervene to protect children. They also work with parents to promote family preservation and reunification and with extended families and care-givers to promote children’s permanency and well-being. Child welfare social workers must be able to empathetically engage children, parents, and caregivers, use motivational strategies to encourage clients to make changes, team with families, coordinate with service providers, write detailed assessments, and testify in legal proceedings.

The work is very challenging, yet rewarding. If you believe that you have the ability to make a difference for vulnerable families, a career in child welfare may be a good fit for you. The ASU School of Social Work Child Welfare Education Program (CWEP) can prepare you to engage with families in a meaningful and transformational way.

Degree Options The CWEP provides financial award packages to the following students: • Part-time or full-time BSW students during their Junior and Senior years • Full-time MSW students in the Advanced Standing (one-year) Program • Full-time MSW students in the Standard (two-year) Program • Part-time MSW students who also are DCS employees Award packages include the payment of in-state tuition and mandatory fees.

All packages require students to sign a contractual agreement committing to a post-graduation employment term with the AZ Department of Child Safety (DCS).

Specialized Curriculum CWEP students enroll in specialized child welfare courses that teach the competencies of child welfare social work. The courses are taught by instructors with real-world experience. Through class activities and assignments, students apply their learning to realistic case scenarios and to their work with clients at their field placements.

Specialized Internship CWEP students complete a specialized internship in a DCS office, working as a member of a team on actual DCS cases. Students complete benchmarks related to their demonstration of knowledge and skills; participate in trainings, workshops, consultation groups, and individual and group supervision; and receive coaching in their skill development. Students receive job training experience while developing their competencies in child welfare social work.

Employment In the semester prior to graduation, students work with DCS HR representatives to apply to DCS and receive a job placement. Upon graduation, students are hired directly into a DCS Specialist position and receive the same salary as other employees in their pay grade. They also receive the same benefits as other State of Arizona employees including health insurance, enrollment in the state retirement plan, paid holidays, and accrued sick and vacation time.

GRANTS AVAILABLE Grants are available to create a family library in your visitor’s centers. Gordon Philanthropies is asking correctional facilities in Southern California to submit a grant request to secure funds and create a beautiful and inviting library space for interested institutions. If your institution is interested in participating or finding out more, please contact Sylvia Beanes at Sbeanes@gordonphilanthropies.org.

Eligible Request Amount Applicant organizations can request up to $10,000 for a Family Library project grant.

Limited funds available for 2022-2023.

www.gordonphilanthropies.org

FUNDS TO CELEBRATE MOTHER’S DAY IN YOUR INSTITUTION 2023 – 2024 Deadline for Grant Application: July 20,2022 Fellow colleagues – Gordon Philanthropies is seeking women’s correctional facilities in Southern California interested in a special Mother’s Day event for incarcerated women for 2023–2024. Gordon Philanthropies will provide the funds to cover the audio recorders, children’s books, and volunteers to make this event successful.

If interested, please contact Sylvia Beanes at Sbeanes@gordonphilanthropies.org.

Because Everyone Deserves Dignity and Respect.

www.gordonphilanthropies.org

True leadership comes from uniting the community, and developing policy solutions based on our common ground interests.

The ASU Congressman Ed Pastor Center for Politics & Public Service helps students learn the skills for effective political engagement as exemplified by the legacy of Congressman Pastor.

Now more than ever, our students need support to become the public service leaders our country deserves.

Support the Pastor Center and help sustain the impact and legacy of this visionary leader. bit.ly/3o84Ewh

publicservice.asu.edu/pastor

Congratulations Sandra Barnhill Executive Director, Foreverfamily For over three decades, Sandra Kay Barnhill, an attorney, has been an activist and national advocate championing reentry services that provide comprehensive support to prisoners so that they can successfully reunite with their families and reintegrate back into the community. She is the founder and CEO of Foreverfamily, Inc., formerly Aid to Children of Imprisoned Mothers, Inc. (AIM), a national nonprofit headquartered in Atlanta. In its 35 years, Foreverfamily has provided services to over 40,000 children with a parent in prison.

Ms. Barnhill was selected as the 2022 Champion for Child Well-Being by Arizona State University.

She is a recipient of a 2021 Encore Public Voices Fellowship, a prestigious initiative designed to accelerate the ideas and impact of new and necessary thought leaders, all working at the intersection of intergenerational connection and social justice. Her op-eds have appeared in The Hill Reporter and Visible Magazine. Ms. Barnhill serves on the boards of College AIM and the Partnership for Southern Equity. She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law and her BA from Georgia State University.

Words Matter #WordsMatter

We are committed to a conference framework that truly supports children and families impacted by incarceration. We encourage presenters to include content that will combat stigma by using language that does not label children, stereotype families or demonize incarcerated parents. In addition, perspectives that highlight an intergenerational cycle of crime or incarceration should be carefully crafted to accurately support the underlying causes of parental incarceration such as poverty, trauma and racism.

Think of how a child might feel when their parent is called a “criminal.” To children they are moms and dads first and forever. #WordsMatter and can signal to a child struggling with their parent’s incarceration that you are a safe space.

Creating safe spaces for children of incarcerated parents can reduce stigma and negative effects of separation from a parent. Join us in using thoughtful language when speaking of and with people with criminal justice involvement and their families.

Together we can change the narrative.

three quick tips

1

Children are not targets.

Please refrain from using the word “target” when discussing an area of focus for Policy & Practice. Instead use “designed to support” or “will focus on the needs of.”

Thanks to The Osborne Association and The Opportunity Agenda for providing the main framework, verbiage, and content for this document.

2 3

When referring to Native Americans, please refer to that person as a Native Person, Indigenous, or use their tribal association. Please stay away from the phrase American Indian.

When discussing incarceration we can use justice involved, justice impacted, incarcerated people, people convicted of crimes to describe individuals experiencing incarceration.

Additional thanks to Ann Adalist-Estrin, Director, National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated at Rutgers University, Isabel Coronado, Next100, Alexandria Pech, University of Arizona, for their input and efforts.

Suggested phrasing surrounding justice related issues & the incarcerated Instead of...

Try...

Felons

People convicted of felonies

Criminals, Convicts

People convicted of crimes

Inmates

People in prison or jail

Prisoners

People who are currently incarcerated

Offenders

People who have committed offenses

Defendants

People accused of crimes

Illegal immigrants, Illegal aliens

People without documentation

Worst of the worst

People who have committed serious offenses

Violent offenders

People who have committed violent offenses

Non-violent offenders

People who have committed non-violent offenses

Ex-cons

People who have paid their debt to society

Parolees

People on parole

“Bad guys” or “crooks”

People charged with or accused of a crime

Sex offenders

People convicted of a sex crime

Juveniles

Youth or young people

Racial disparities, gaps

Obstacles to equal justice Discriminatory school justice Racial profiling Unconscious bias Resulting in unequal rates of arrest, incarceration, long sentences

Intergenerational cycle of incarceration

Intergenerational trauma or poverty, or systemic racism

Dangerous neighborhoods

Communities experiencing high levels of violence

Poor, at risk

Underserved, neglected

Minorities

BIPOC – Black, Indigenous People of Color

Homosexual, gay lifestyles

Gay, lesbian, LGBTQ people and their lives

Federal, state and local governments

Federal, state, tribal and local governments

Rape victim

Sexual assault survivor

Prostitute

Sex worker

Children at risk

Children of promise and resilience

Balancing safety and reform

Advancing safety and fairness

Victims versus offenders

Promoting healing for all who have been harmed

Punish crime

Prevent harm, promote community safety

Law and order

Accountability, rehabilitation, restoration, equal justice, due process

Tough on crime

Smart and appropriate responses

Congratulations Ryan Young President to the Arizona Department of Child Safety’s Youth Empowerment Council Ryan Young (He/Him/His), a child welfare advocate and onsultant with lived experiences from Arizona’s fostercare system and born from Ukraine. He has devoted himself to public service, advocacy and consultation into reforming the child welfare system within local, state and national efforts. Mr. Young is the current President to the Arizona Department of Child Safety’s Youth Empowerment Council, where he meets with DCS Leadership and young people with lived experiences to find solutions towards many needed changes in the state’s child welfare system. Mr. Young currently serves as a Delegate to represent Arizona within the National Foster Youth Institute, a Federal NYTD Reviewer with the U.S. Children’s Bureau, Chair of Arizona’s Chapter with the Foster Care Alumni of America, member of the FosterEQUALITY Lived-Experience Team with FosterClub, Spokesperson with AdoptUSKids, Constitute Consultant with Casey Family Programs, and a Arizona Consultant for Thriving Families, Safer Children Initiative with Annie E Casey Foundation, Casey Family Programs, Prevent Child Abuse America and U.S. Children’s Bureau. Currently, Mr. Young is pursuing a degree in Political Science at Phoenix College as a Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy and AFFCF Scholar.

He will continue his studies at Arizona State University to obtain a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Public Service and Public Policy with a concentration on Social Service Delivery in Fall 2023. As well as working as a Peer Mentor at Arizona’s Children Association mentoring young people who are currently experiencing foster care in the State of Arizona. Mr. Young inspires to become a Public Servant in Congress in the near future where he can make even more much needed changes in Arizona’s institutional systems. Mr. Young was honored with a 2021 Angels in Adoption Award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute formally nominated by Arizona’s Senator Mark Kelly for his efforts and extraordinary contributions on behalf of children in need of families. In his own free time, he loves to spend time with family and friends, an advanced roller skater and loves to travel.

2022 Plenary Speakers Wednesday, March 30, 2022 – Peter Scharff Smith Reform and Research: Re‐connecting Prison and Society in the 21st Century In this contribution, Peter Scharff Smith briefly outlines some of the historical and current trends in prison research and question how a prison researcher can work towards influencing policy and practice. He discusses the current role of ‘what works’ research and the way it is sometimes utilized in a time of penal populism and rising prison populations. Peter also argues in favor of a broader approach which recognizes the wider societal effects of imprisonment and provides a concrete example of how one can attempt to plan research and project work in order to facilitate progression from research and knowledge production to action and implementation. Finally, He discusses some of the scientific and ethical implications which can arise when working with reform and implementation projects.

Peter Scharff Smith is a Professor in the Sociology of Law at the University in Oslo, Norway. He has studied history and social science, holds a Ph.D. from the University of Copenhagen and has also done research at the University of Cambridge and at the Danish Institute of Human Rights.

Peter has undertaken several studies on the families and children of prisoners and has published books and articles within this field. He has also worked extensively with practical prison reform in this area together with, among others, Scandinavian prisoner family NGOs and the Danish prison and probation service. Peter has published books and articles in Danish, English and German on prisons, punishment and human rights, including works on prison history, prisoners’ children and the use and effects of solitary confinement in prisons. He has also published books and articles on the history of the Waffen-SS and the Nazi war of extermination at the Eastern Front. He is the author or co-author of nine monographs and co-editor of several edited collections. Peter has for example authored When the Innocent are Punished: The Children of Imprison Parents (Palgrave, 2014). His latest books in English are Jules Lobel and Peter Scharff Smith (eds.): Solitary Confinement: Effects, Practices, and Pathways toward Reform Oxford University Press 2020, and Rachel Condry and Peter Scharff Smith (eds.): Prisons, Punishment, and the Family: Towards a New Sociology of Punishment?

Oxford University Press 2018.

Wednesday, April 6, 2022 – Echoes of Incarceration A Holistic Approach to Young Voice The director and youth producers from Echoes of Incarceration will share our holistic approach to incorporating youth voice. Since 2008 Echoes has trained youth with incarcerated parents in filmmaking and advocacy and created documentaries and video journalism about the impact of mass incarceration on children. Beyond the films, youth voice is incorporated into all aspects of Echoes’ work: from curriculum design to workshop planning, to film productions, to large organizational decisions including marketing, fundraising and budgeting. In this workshop, we will watch film excerpts, youth producers will discuss Echoes’ process, and we’ll go through guiding principles as well as successes and failures in our efforts to create incorporate youth voice voices in meaningful ways. Questions and topics we’ll explore include: When is youth voice just lipservice? Where does it really count? How to protect youth from negative experiences when they’re expected to share the most difficult moments of their life for audiences? How to prepare and train youth to give meaningful input into organizational decision. What mistakes to avoid in soliciting youth voices. The workshop will include case studies and best practices we’ve found.

Echoes of Incarceration is an award-winning documentary initiative produced by youth who are directly impacted by the criminal justice system. The project provides hands-on video production and advocacy training for young adults and creates documentaries and video journalism pieces told from the life experiences of the filmmakers themselves. Echoes project has created films for Sesame Street, Upworhty, NowThis News, screened work at the White House in 2014 and was named a Robert Rauschenberg Artist-As-Activist Fellow in 2017.

Wednesday, April 13, 2022 – Sarai Flores and Isabel Coronado Intergenerational Trauma and Resiliency: A Mother and Daughter Journey A formerly incarcerated mother and her daughter discuss the intergenerational trauma and resiliency that has impacted their lives through witnessing and experiencing mass incarceration and how they use their advocacy to change the criminal legal system. Learn more about trauma-informed practices and current federal legislation impacting children of incarcerated parents.

Mrs. Flores continues to be directly impacted by many systems and cycles of oppression and poverty. Through these experiences, she has made it her life’s work to empower and encourage others by modeling the possibilities of overcoming cycles of oppression. Since graduating from law school in 2011, Mrs. Flores has worked in community development and public service at the Tribal level with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, national level with the U.S. Department of Energy, and internationally. Mrs. Flores is the recipient of the National Center for Native American Economic Development 40-Under-40 award, the Muscogee Creek Nation’s professional of the year award, and the New Leadership Oregon outstanding alumni award. In addition to leading the National Trauma Awareness Initiative, Mrs. Flores writes and speaks about the intersection between mass incarceration, disability law, civil rights law, and criminal justice system reform. She brings valuable first-hand insight into policy work, where many impacted people do not have a voice.

Isabel Coronado is an alumni of Next100 and a citizen of the Mvskoke (Creek) Nation. Isabel is focused on creating policy aimed at reducing the generational cycle of incarceration in Native communities. Isabel has spoken to the public and the media numerous times about the experiences of children of incarcerated parents, and has written on the same. She has also worked closely with the Families Integrity Campaign to pass the FAMILIES Act, a federal bill that would keep parents home with their children instead of going to prison. Isabel has worked with the Center for Native American Youth to put together a petition to Congress (that gathered over one thousand signatures) to ensure that Indian Country is accounted for in federal COVID-19 aid packages. She has also continued work in Oklahoma, her home state, coauthoring a response to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s State of State in February to lay down a marker of where the state has succeeded—and where it hasn’t gone far enough—in changing its criminal justice system.

Arizona ranks 4th in incarceration rate among the states (Casey, 2017), with approximately one in nine children having one or both parents incarcerated.

Parental incarceration is one of the 10 ACEs listed by the CDC that adversely impact a child’s well-being.

The ASU Center for Child Well-Being has compiled a list of fiction books featuring justice-impacted children. We need your help getting these books into the hands of the children who need them.

How can you help?

1. Whether or not you and your children are justice-impacted, read and discuss some of the books to help decrease the stigma of incarceration through empathy.

2. Spread the word! Encourage others to read books from the list and encourage them to donate.

3. Share the list with your local schools and libraries and let them know that featuring these books is important to your community.

4. To donate visit https://childwellbeing.asu.edu/CIPBooks

Wednesday, March 30, 2022 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m.

Linking Generations by Strengthening Relationships Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration Building strong relationships is an important key to success in all aspects of our lives. This workshop will offer participants the opportunity to learn truths and myths of healthy and positive relationships to assist in better understanding some root problems and solutions that assist in restoring families after incarceration.

The session will present opportunities to discuss and develop healthy boundaries to allow participants to define their personal limits and determine appropriate responses to violations of those boundaries. It will also explore how compulsive behaviors impact healthy relationships.

Al Pooley, Founder and President, Native American Fatherhood and Families Association

8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m.

Children of Incarcerate Parents Program (COIPP) and Caregiver Assistance Supporting and centering the voices and experiences of children and youth This workshop will highlight a variety of programs for caregivers of children impacted by incarceration. Included will be a discussion of Respite Meetings, Community Workshops, Outreach Assistance, Scholarships and Resource Fairs. Included will be information on organizing, funding and finding resources for each of the cargiver outreach programs. Evaluations of the programs will be shared and time will allow for questions and answers. In addition this workshop will include time for interactions between presenters and attendees.

Shari Scher, Coipp Cathy Anderson, Vice President, Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership Cynthia Diamondstone, Board Member COIPP, CIP Partnership (COIPP) Larissa Metzger, Family Coach, The Mental Health Association of Frederick County Sally Smith, Past President, Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership

9:15 a.m. 10:15 a.m.

Plenary Session: Reform and Research: Re-connecting Prison and Society in the 21st Century Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration In this contribution, Peter Scharff Smith briefly outlines some of the historical and current trends in prison research and question how a prison researcher can work towards influencing policy and practice. He discusses the current role of ‘what works’ research and the way it is sometimes utilized in a time of penal populism and rising prison populations. Peter also argues in favor of a broader approach which recognizes the wider societal effects of imprisonment and provides a concrete example of how one can attempt to plan research and project work in order to facilitate progression from research and knowledge production to action and implementation.

Finally, He discusses some of the scientific and ethical implications which can arise when working with reform and implementation projects.

Peter Scharff Smith, Professor, University of Oslo

10:30 a.m - Parenting From Afar Program 11:30 a.m. Supporting and centering the voices and experiences of children and youth This workshop will share information about a parenting program developed by Children Of Incarcerated Parents Partnership and how it uses situations shared by those in jail to build the core of the curriculum.

Parenting From Afar, the program developed, will be shared, including the topics discussed, the curriculum organization, the evaluations recieved and the resources distributed. One of the curriculum participants will share his experience with the parenting class. An annotated list of childrens books given out to participants in parenting class will be given out to attendees.

Shari Scher, Coipp Cathy Anderson, Vice President, Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership Patricia Einhorn, Board Member, Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership John Blaskowski, Teacher of Parenting From Afar, Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership

10:30 a.m - Mapping the needs and resources of children, caregivers, and the systems that support them: A 11:30 a.m. listening session to guide program development Understanding the effects of incarceration on children, youth, their families, and caregivers The goal of this session is to define the strengths and needs of children and families affected by incarceration to inform the development of an evidence-based program to support caregivers. The audience will participate in a guided discussion using Jamboard to map out this unique family context and identify areas for support.es to violations of those boundaries. It will also explore how compulsive behaviors impact healthy relationships.

Nalani Thomas, Research Project Coordinator, Arizona State University Cady Berkel, Associate Professor, Arizona State University

12:00 p.m.

- 1:00 p.m.

Family Involvement Center/Parents 4 Parents Understanding the effects of incarceration on children, youth, their families, and caregivers This panel presentation will include presentations from a variety of individuals who, were children when their parents were incarcerated or were parents when they were incarcerated. This presentation will provide participants with a comprehensive view from each panelist perspective of the impact incarceration had on each of them and their families. Participants will hear from the panelists about: What it felt like to be labeled as a child whose parent was in prison; What they felt when school officials, case managers and other professionals spoke negatively about their parent; What it did when the foster parent took on the parent’s title as mom. What happened when a visit with the parent was cancelled without explanation? What it felt like as the child or the parent to not know how their child or parent was doing, whether they were even okay; How being a parent motivated the parent to do what they needed to do to get and stay healthy. Participants will also learn from the presenters what the impact of the parent’s incarceration had on their parent child relationship once the parent was released. Finally panelist will share with the participants their thoughts about how little things could have been done to impact the child’s experiences in a more positive way.

Anna Ochoa, Parent Ally , Parents for Parents Theresa Hollaway

12:00 p.m.

- 1:00 p.m.

Inclusive Nurturing Through Elevating Relationships (INTER) Programming for Strengthening Coparenting Alliance Through Incarceration Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration This presentation encourages dialogue about the potential for progressive approaches to coparenting support for both incarcerated parents and the non-incarcerated caregivers of their children. Specific attention will be given to the discussion of the influence of caregivers on the family system functioning and the need for increased focus on caregivers’ perspectives of coparenting. The goal is to highlight the need for more robust research into programming and treatment targeted to the unique needs of families experiencing the effects of parental incarceration. The presenter will discuss the unique risks and outcomes of incarcerated coparenting, the proposed INTER programming, and potential future directions.

Elizabeth Curley(Speaker)Florida State University, Researcher

1:15 p.m. 2:15 p.m.

Parenting Inside Out Phase II: Expanding the Reach and Impact of Parent-Child Contact Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration

This workshop will feature an overview of the program, supporting research, and a panel conversation with parents, children/youth and caregivers who have experienced the program first-hand alongside facilitators, managers, and executive leadership who all bring diverse experience and intimate knowledge of the program.

TPN Leadership will also share other PIO models, such as PIO 1:1, that have been developed through their many years of experience working with the Parenting Inside Out program with agencies across the world.

They will share what they have learned, and how they will be implementing that into a new OJJDP grant that ODOC and TPN was recently awarded. During the next three years, TPN and ODOC will deliver a hybrid model of in-person and remote programming: Parenting Inside Out II: Expanding the Reach and Impact of Parent-Child Contact..

Sheri Sandoval, Director of Programs, The Pathfinder Network Leticia Longoria-Navarro, Executive Director, The Pathfinder Network and Parenting Inside Out Kindra French, Metro Programs Manager, The Pathfinder Network

1:15 p.m. 2:15 p.m.

Coping strategies for the stressful challenges within the carceral and systemic spaces.

Understanding the effects of incarceration on children, youth, their families, and caregivers Our presentation will validate, encourage, and affirm the success of one’s ability to cope the stressful challenges within the carceral and systemic spaces. Through a proven and long-term qualitative mentoring model of concern, support, and caring, we will provide clear strategizes for families dealing with the carceral spaces.

Ethnographic interactions will engage the hearts of mothers and their families as they navigate the profound impact on their trauma. Participants will uncover the interactions of others; realize they are not alone; hear the unheard voices of others; listen to Ms. Mills’ first-hand experiences; discover the true inequalities of sentencing; discover strategic plans to demystify their trauma; and learn the true inequalities occurring across America in carceral spaces. Our presentation will afford the participants a formalized and systemic personal program to help uplift, mentor, and provide faith and hope to effected and traumatized mothers and families. Through peer exchange; viewing the documentary trailer; and the Q&A session, participants will be able to hear their “unheard voices.”

Tosha Smith-Mills, CEO, Unheard Voices

2:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m.

Leveraging Lived Experiences to Inform Policies and Support Family’s Connection during Re-entry Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration In this presentation, we will explore how one father attempts to create a bond with a young son he has never met, rekindle an interrupted relationship with his other son, and sustain the trust his children’s mom has in him, while navigating the complicated rules and regulations associated with the father’s release. We address ways that policies and procedures impact youth and families’ connections and discuss approaches that are more sensitive to the needs of youth and families.

Aileen Keays, Project Manager, Children with Incarcerated Parents Initiative Irvine Peck’s-Agaya, Program Administrator, Children with Incarcerated Parents Initiative

2:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m.

Designing a Mentoring Program: Connecting children and youth of incarcerated parents with mentors.

Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration This presentation will begin with a brief review of research that indicates the benefits and outcomes when a mentor is involved with a youth on a consistent basis. Included will be findings of how youth of incarcerated parents benefit from advocacy and mentoring. Who makes the ideal mentor, whether from the community or the juvenile justice system will be examined, and how COVID-19 has impacted mentoring. Presentation will guide the participants in viewing the step-by-step process, known as the Elements of Effective Mentoring, the international quality assurance standards that govern all effective programs in order to design, implement and evaulate a program.

Dr. Susan Weinberger, President, Mentor Consulting Group

The mission of the Arizona Child & Adolescent Survivor Initiative (ACASI) is to foster the healing of intimate partner violence survivors.

ACASI provides statewide, trauma-informed, wraparound services to children and adolescents who have lost a parent to intimate partner homicide, and cases that involve near-lethal intimate partner violence and abuse (IPV/A) and other fatal family violence associated with IPV/A. ACASI is a project of the Family Violence Center (FVC) within the School of Social Work in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions at Arizona State University. https://socialwork.asu.edu/family-violence-center/acasi This project is supported by Grant No. VOCA-2021-ASU-00178. from the US Department of Justice - Office for Victims of Crime. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the US DOJ or the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Building Connections and Maintaining Consistent Communication Connect with Purpose

www.viapath.com

Wednesday, April 6, 2022 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m.

“Student and Family Support for Those Impacted by the Incarceration of Loved Ones” - The School District of Philadelphia’s Steering Committee Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration This panel discussion will provide participants with information on how the SDP has begun to implement services and support to students and families who have been impacted by parental incarceration. District leaders in the Office of Student Support Services will share how parental incarceration is a focal point of their day to day work. Participants will hear about the internal collaboration across district offices and SDP external partners supporting this work. Panelists will share specific information on how the SDP has used the Joining Forces curriculum in schools and the continued efforts to support and maintain students’ connections with their incarcerated fathers.

Shannon Elis, Director, Climate Implementation & Innovation, The School District of Philadelphia ·Phillip Hammond, Assiistant Director, Outreach and Education, Office of Family and Community Engagement, The School District of Philadelphia Meghan Smith, Director of 504 and Counseling Services, The School District of Philadelphia Colleen Landy, Director - Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness, The School District of Philadelphia Josh Staub, Director of Restorative Programming, The School District of Philadelphia

8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m.

Professor Ellen Marrus and Dr. Malikah Marrus - Bars Between Youth and Their Babies: Confined Youth Separated From Their Babies Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration While there are a growing number of programs that exist in jails and prisons for adult inmates with children, there are not programs readily available for adolescents who are parents and are being confined. It may be possible to transpose some of the programs for adult offenders for youth offenders with children, youth may also need programs to be developed that meet their specific needs. If we want to encourage parent child bonding, a continued decrease in teen pregnancy for girls of color, and to break cycles of neglect and abuse we need to develop programs that will allow young offenders to become positive, nurturing parents..

Ellen Marrus, Royce Till Professor of Law and Director, Center for Children, Law & Policy, University of Houston Law Center

9:15 a.m. 10:15 a.m.

Plenary Session: A Holistic Approach to Young Voice Supporting and centering the voices and experiences of children and youth The director and youth producers from Echoes of Incarceration will share our holistic approach to incorporating youth voice. Since 2008 Echoes has trained youth with incarcerated parents in filmmaking and advocacy and created documentaries and video journalism about the impact of mass incarceration on children. Beyond the films, youth voice is incorporated into all aspects of Echoes’ work: from curriculum design to workshop planning, to film productions, to large organizational decisions including marketing, fundraising and budgeting. In this workshop, we will watch film excerpts, youth producers will discuss Echoes’ process, and we’ll go through guiding principles as well as successes and failures in our efforts to create incorporate youth voice voices in meaningful ways. Questions and topics we’ll explore include: When is youth voice just lipservice? Where does it really count? How to protect youth from negative experiences when they’re expected to share the most difficult moments of their life for audiences? How to prepare and train youth to give meaningful input into organizational decision. What mistakes to avoid in soliciting youth voices. The workshop will include case studies and best practices..

Jeremy Robins, Director, Echoes of Incarceration Steven Montoya, Senior Crew Member, Echoes of Incarceration Linda Ricard, Echoes of Incarceration Kharon Benson, Echoes of Incarceration

10:30 a.m - Staying Connected: Strengthening Relationships between Children & Their Parents in Prison 11:30 a.m. Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration This workshop will support relationship building between children and their parents who are incarcerated. We will share the following resources all of which were created in collaboration with youth and families who experienced parental incarceration: Visiting Dad in Prison. This six-minute video is narrated by a 9-year-old girl that acquaints viewers with the rules that often govern visits while conveying some of the feelings that can arise during the experience. The video can better equip adults who are in a position to facilitate prison visits so they can effectively address the multilayered dynamics involved. Likewise, it can help children prepare for a visit and affirm their feelings and experiences.

Staying Connected: Strengthening Relationships between Children & Their Parents in Prison. This guide was written during the pandemic to support relationships between parents and children when prison visits are not possible. It can also be used to support relationships between visits.

Even When We Are Apart. This children’s picture book addresses some of the unanswered questions and emotions children may experience when coping with their parent’s incarceration. The story creates a platform for conversations between children and the adults who care for them.

Personalized social stories. We will offer guiding questions, scripts and templates that participants can use with children and families to create personal stories together. We will share an example of a personalized social story using a short clip from Downstream: The Effects of Parental Incarceration, RBI’s documentary film featuring children who have experienced parental incarceration.

Tricia Long, Resilience Beyond Incarceration Program Director, Lamoille Restorative Center Lida Lutton, Resilience Beyond Incarceration Projects Manager, Lamoille Restorative Center

10:30 a.m - Creating Familial Connection and Community Through a Pandemic: A Panel with Girl Scouts 11:30 a.m.. Beyond Bars (GSBB) Program Staff from across the United States of America Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration Staff from six different Girl Scouts Beyond Bars (GSBB) programs across the U.S. will highlight innovative aspects of their programming that keep youth and families connected during incarceration and beyond. Following the presentation, we will address audience questions, opening up a more in-depth conversation between panelists and the audience.

Objectives: 1. Identify a variety of trauma-informed strategies to strengthen communication between Girl Scouts and their justice-impacted loved one through the course of the pandemic thus far.

2. Identify practices and resources in planning and executing virtual programming for youth and adult(s)—during and after incarceration.

3. Identify applicable strategies and program structures, whether in-person or virtual, to inform implementation in settings beyond Girl Scouts.

Elise Gilmore (she/her), Girl Scouts Beyond Bars Program Specialist, Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington Victoria Arredondo, Girl Scouts Beyond Bars Program Specialist, Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington Amy Botula, Girl Scouts Beyond Bars Program Manager, Girl Scouts of Oregon and SW Washington Marilyn Nickerson, Program Specialist, Girl Scouts of Central Texas Euan Baker, Girl Experience Manager, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Cheryl Martin, Girl Scouts Beyond Bars Program Manager, Girl Scouts of Western Washington Ani Seville (They/She), Girl Scouts Beyond Bars Program Coordinator, Girl Scouts of Western Washington Davida Hamilton Barbara Strachan, Senior Associate - Community Partnerships, Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus Pine Council

12:00 p.m.

- 1:00 p.m

Mentoring Incarcerated Fathers and Investing in Early Childhood Education: A High Public Return Investment Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration We propose an incarcerated father mentoring project towards developing a successful family and community program for returning fathers. We conceive of fatherhood as a domain of citizenship, defined as a strong connection to the “Five Rs” of Rights, Roles, Resources, Responsibilities, and Relationships, and a sense of belonging in society that is validated by others (Rowe, 2014). The Citizenship Intervention, developed by the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health social scientists who will serve as Co-PIs for this project, includes group and individual support and mentorship, as well as participation in community valued role activities.

Our primary outcomes will be fathers’ community tenure and children’s early educational achievement, both of which have been substantially linked to community health and long-term costs savings.

Arthur Rolnick, Senior Fellow, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota

1:15 p.m. 2:15 p.m.

The Literacy Link – Partnering with Local Jails to Strengthen Family Relationships Through Literacy Connections Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration The Literacy Link collaborates with jails, libraries, treatment facilities, and other local partners to connect children with their justice-involved parents and caregivers through a variety of literacy-based experiences.

These include free child-focused, literacy-based video visits, a recorded book reading program, family-friendly visiting spaces and personalized family literacy kits with letters and children’s books sent home by the loved one in jail. It also includes support for the caregiver at home. A rigorous evaluation process is showing positive impacts in parent/child connection, children’s literacy exposure and other program goals. Through the Literacy Link, jail administrators have also increased awareness of the effects of incarceration on children and families and the importance of reducing barriers to parent-child connection through simple, cost-effective, and secure practices.

In this panel we will describe the multi-strategy approach used by The Literacy Link to support the family system with goals of sustaining and strengthening relationships, decreasing stress for children, and reducing learning disparities. We will discuss program outcomes and share materials developed by The Literacy Link to increase family connection during incarceration.

Finally, we will share tips and lessons learned about building local partnerships with jails, other justice agencies, and community organizations to guide policies and systems that promote family strengthening during incarceration.

Elizabeth Lexau, Justice Involved Families Specialist, UW-Madison Division of Extension Pam Wedig-Kirsch, School Readiness and Family Resiliency Educator, UW Madison Division of Extension Tracy Henegar, Human Development & Relationships Educator, UW Madison Division of Extension Mary Campbell Wood, Professor of Human Development and Family Relationships, UW-Madison Division of Extension

1:15 p.m. 2:15 p.m.

Inclusive Nurturing Through Elevating Relationships (INTER) Programming for Strengthening Coparenting Alliance Through Incarceration Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration This presentation encourages dialogue about the potential for progressive approaches to coparenting support for both incarcerated parents and the non-incarcerated caregivers of their children. Specific attention will be given to the discussion of the influence of caregivers on the family system functioning and the need for increased focus on caregivers’ perspectives of coparenting. The goal is to highlight the need for more robust research into programming and treatment targeted to the unique needs of families experiencing the effects of parental incarceration. The presenter will discuss the unique risks and outcomes of incarcerated coparenting, the proposed INTER programming, and potential future directions.

Elizabeth Curley(Speaker)Florida State University, Researcher

1:15 p.m. 2:15 p.m.

Using a Brief Multimedia Educational Intervention to Strengthen Young Children’s Feelings while Visiting Parents in Jail Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration Children who experience the incarceration of a parent are more likely to experience behavioral and academic challenges than their peers, however resilience is possible (Poehlmann-Tynan & Turney, 2021). Recently, educational tools have been developed to support positive adjustment for young children with an incarcerated parent, and it is important to understand children’s perspectives of these tools. The current study examines feelings toward family life for young children with incarcerated parents before and after viewing Sesame Street’s multimedia materials designed specifically for instances of parental incarceration.heard voices.”

TKaitlyn Pritzl, Research Assistant, University of Wisconsin - Madison · Dr. Julie Poehlmann-Tynan, Presenter, University of Wisconsin Madison

2:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m.

An Evidence-Informed Approach to Basic and Intervention Research Relevant to Children with Incarcerated Parents Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration Research results from studies of incarcerated parents and children with incarcerated parents across the period from pregnancy to early adolescence will be presented. The development and initial testing of an evidenceinformed intervention for parents during the reentry period will be described. A discussion of these results within the context of a lifespan development approach to incarcerated parents and their children and families will be facilitated within large and small group formats.

J. Mark Eddy, Professor, The University of Texas at Austin Genevieve Grade Pajarita Charles (she/her), Assistant Professor, Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work University of Wisconsin-Madison Jasmyne Kalysta Short, Lab assistant, Lab for Family Wellbeing & Justice Evelyn Coker Danielle Dallaire, Professor, College of William & Mary Jean Kjellstrand, Assistant Professor, University of Oregon

2:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m.

Arizona Paving the Way: Delivering Triple P Positive Parenting Program Through the Second Chance Centers and Inside the Prison System Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program was introduced to the state in 2009 through Arizona’s Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Consortium, and since then a variety of human service provider agencies have adopted the program. One reason for this is the recognition that positive parenting plays a critical role in advancing outcomes for young children across communities and has been demonstrated to mitigate the impact of adversity in early childhood. As one of the most highly researched and effective parenting programs in the world, Triple P has been demonstrated to improve parenting competencies, family relationships and communication skills, and parent well-being (as measured by decreases in parental depression, anxiety, and stress).

The unique aspect of Triple P that sets it apart from other evidence-based parenting programs is its emphasis on building self-regulatory capacities. The ability to self-regulate is critical in navigating life’s challenges, for any parent, but it is particularly important for parents with histories of involvement with the justice system.

For the past three years, and now entering the fourth, Triple P is being integrated into Arizona’s response to the opioid crisis (i.e., State Opioid Response, [SOR]) as a prevention strategy under the leadership of the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family (GOYFF) and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). Prevent Child Abuse Arizona (PCAAZ) has been coordinating this response, which includes Triple P training, ongoing implementation support, community organizational support, and evaluation.

Three priority target populations have been identified for Triple P as part of the state’s opioid prevention strategy: incarcerated parents at the time of reentry, DCS-involved parents/caregivers reunifying with children, and parents who have experienced domestic violence. In addition, Arizona’s state opioid response has pioneered the first delivery of Triple P inside the prison system, delivered by corrections staff AND inmates. The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) is initiating its second year of supporting the innovation of peer-to-peer delivery of Triple P within the inmate population.

This session will present information on the innovative strategy of including evidence-based parenting education/support within the state’s opioid response, along with a description of the Triple P rollout through PCAAZ and ADCRR. Data will be shared that demonstrate the need, the benefits of Triple P specific for this population, and the benefits that have been observed with Arizona’s Triple P rollout to date.

Cricket Mitchell, Ph.D., Triple P AZ Lead Coordinator and Evaluator, PCA AZ (Contractor)

Wednesday, April 13, 2022 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m.

Examining the Relationship Between Parental Status, Race, and Gender on Arresting Charges Understanding the effects of incarceration on children, youth, their families, and caregivers Prior research has found that parental incarceration leads to substance abuse, delinquency, unstable homes, and depression. Additionally, nearly fifty percent of the jail and prison population are parents. In response to this, the current study examines the relationship between jailed individuals’ parental status, race, and age on arresting charges. This study used self-reported information collected from intake forms administered during the jail classification process to examine parental offending patterns. Findings indicate that jailed parents and gender are significant predictors for property crime arrests . Additionally, race and age are significant predictors of arrest for public order crimes. Furthermore, age is also a significant predictor for drug-related arresting charges. Policy implications and suggestions for future research are provided.

Jennifer Bourgeois, Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Justice Research

8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m.

Examining the impact of COVID-19 at federal prison visiting rooms Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration Supporting and centering the voices and experiences of children and youth Understanding the effects of incarceration on children, youth, their families, and caregivers This presentation will showcase real-time data on the impact of COVID-19 at federal prison visiting rooms.

Visiting procedures, hours and allowances will be described in terms of pre-COVID policies and post-COVID policies over time. These practices will be compared to other government organizations, such as schools and federal agencies, with similar mandates for protecting the welfare of participants. The data presentation will transition to a larger discussion of implications for affected children and families who want to stay connected during the pandemic. The discussion will culminate in resources for interested parties to overcome potential challenges. The findings are part of ongoing work at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and supported by funding from the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at The Ohio State University.

Rosemary Martoma, MD

9:15 a.m. 10:15 a.m.

Plenary Session: Intergenerational Trauma and Resiliency: A Mother and Daughter Journey Understanding the effects of incarceration on children, youth, their families, and caregivers A formerly incarcerated mother and her daughter discuss the intergenerational trauma and resiliency that has impacted their lives through witnessing and experiencing mass incarceration and how they use their advocacy to change the criminal legal system. Learn more about trauma-informed practices and current federal legislation impacting children of incarcerated parents.

Isabel Coronado, Research Scholar, NYU Marron Institute Sarai Flores, Servant Leader, National Trauma Awareness Initiative · Part-time

10:30 a.m - “Daddy’s Coming Home”: 11:30 a.m. Resources and Best Practices for Dads Returning Home from Incarceration Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration This presentation will share resources available through the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghousean Office of Family Assistance under the Department of Health & Human Services (www.fatherhood.gov)- that will help fathers and families in the incarceration and reentry processes. Families of incarcerated fathers go through varying levels of stress which strain the relationships among the children, caretakers, and the fathers.

Children also experience psychological trauma as a result from the separation which can affect their development in later stages of life. We are the nation’s resource for research and evidence-based practices in supporting fathers and families including those affected by incarcerated parents. This presentation will provide examples of proven practices that fatherhood programs have utilized to improve the outcomes for incarcerated fathers and their families. We will also highlight existing programs and policies in communities around the country that have effectively provided support for fathers returning home from incarceration. These policies and programs have shown positive results in assisting fathers find employment, acquire relevant job skills, locating adequate and safe housing, and maintaining healthy family relationships. This presentation will be filled with practical strategies that are aimed at strengthening fathers, their relationships with their families, and helping fathers successfully reenter their communities after incarceration.

James Worthy, Community Outreach Lead Consultant, NRFC Eugene Schneeberg, Fatherhood Expert | Speaker | Trainer, Fathers Forward

10:30 a.m - My Dad Works on a Fishing Boat: Sharing Experience Through Storytelling 11:30 a.m. Understanding the effects of incarceration on children, youth, their families, and caregivers This presentation will highlight the stigma that children of the incarcerated face through Angela’s experience as a child when her father was incarcerated as well as her more recent experience with her father’s incarceration in a highly publicized case. Angela will share her journey navigating the criminal justice system on a personal level as well as what she has learned as a lawyer working with those experiencing incarceration and their families for the past 16 years. Finally, Angela will discuss ways that the justice system could reduce trauma for those in the courtroom including victims, witnesses, defendants and their families.

Angela DeMarse (she/her), Attorney, Maricopa County Office of the Public Defender

12:00 p.m.

- 1:00 p.m

What about the caregivers?

Three perspectives on caregiver support to mitigate the negative effects of parental incarceration Understanding the effects of incarceration on children, youth, their families, and caregivers This session includes three papers that focus on sources of risk and resilience for children with incarcerated parents. The first paper will present national data on the associations between parental incarceration and other adverse childhood experiences, positive childhood experiences, and child behavioral health outcomes.

The second will use data from the Parenting Inside Out (PIO) trial to explore caregivers’ parenting practices as a source of resilience for children with incarcerated parents. The third will report back on the results of a listening session conducted on the first day of the conference focused on the development of a program to support caregivers.

Cady Berkel, Associate Professor, Arizona State University Nalani Thomas, Research Project Coordinator, Arizona State University J. Mark Eddy, Professor, The University of Texas at Austin Liza Hita, Clinical Associate Professor, Arizona State University

12:00 p.m.

- 1:00 p.m.

75 Times More Likely to Make an Impact: Lessons from the Family Preservation Project’s Youth Advisory Council Supporting and centering the voices and experiences of children and youth Through this presentation, directly impacted youth will unpack the age-old statistics around children of incarcerated parents; the experience of living in the shadows of these negative stereotypes, and highlight what is possible when we intervene. We will debut a new film by Brian Lindstrom, (“Mothering Inside” and “Like a Shield”) who has followed families involved in the Family Preservation Project for close to a decade, and captured their work during the retreat. Join us as these courageous young people explore what they needed at during their mother’s incarceration; how they have continued to heal; and their plans for making the road easier for the young people who are currently impacted by their parents’ incarceration.

Jessica Katz, Founding Director, YWCA Family Preservation Project Caryn Shebowich Taylor Husak Nova Sweet, Supervisor, Mental Health Crisis Response Team, The Family Preservation Project Vanessa Sherrod Kendra Stidhem, Alumni, Family preservation project

1:15 p.m. 2:15 p.m.

Art and Healing: How Culture, Art and Music Can Help Reunify Families Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration

This workshop is a presentation and group activity/Q+A. Sharing a Short video of Camp Grace and discussion of the core values and mission with hopes that this could be a model transferred and provided throughout the country in various modified forms.

1. The value of Art as a Path to Healing and Connection 2. The importance of One on One time for children and their incarcerated parent 3. Strategies to keep children and parents connected while experiencing incarceration Karen McDaniel Candace Wakefield, Director Of Operations, The Place4Grace Maria Moore Jenny Andrade, Camp Grace Director, The Place4Grace

1:15 p.m. 2:15 p.m.

The Importance of Hope: Maintaining the Familial Bond Between Children and their Parent while incarcerated Understanding the effects of incarceration on children, youth, their families, and caregivers The relationship between children and their parents are the foundation on which children learn how to form and sustain healthy relationships. While the issue of crime is widely publicized, not much attention is given to the fact that 80% of prisoners are parents and that families go through a shared sentence with their incarcerated loved one. The average age a child parent is incarcerated is 7 years old and the average prison length is 7 years. Disrupting the parent-child relationships during such a pivotal point of development can have long-term effects on children and may lead to antisocial behavior, poor school performance, and physical and mental health problems. To rectify these strains, we must focus on connecting children and their incarcerated parents during such a pivotal part of life. Experience has taught us that it is not enough to work with just the children; we must work with the entire family. The core of our model rests on our core belief that, even in incarceration, family bonds must be safeguarded for the good of the child, the parent, the family, and the community. Through maintaining the familial bond, we decrease the likelihood the children will themselves go to prison, we decrease the likelihood that a parent will recidivate and we increase the likelihood that these children and families will be able to lead a more productive and fulfilling life.

Marketa Harris,Program Director, Foreverfamily, Inc.

2:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m.

Youth in Action: Informing, inspiring, and advocating for criminal justice reform Supporting and centering the voices and experiences of children and youth Youth and young adults with lived experience who are members of the Osborne Youth Action Council (YAC) and the See Us, Support Us (SUSU) Youth Team share strategies for how to center youth in policy and advocacy initiatives, and tips for preparing youth to share their personal stories to reform the criminal legal system.

Learn about YAC legislative campaigns, including efforts to Protect In-Person Visiting in New York, and how they prepare for meetings with legislators and other decision-makers.

Allison Hollihan, Senior Policy Manager | Osborne Center for Justice Across Generations, The Osborne Association Ava Lantiere, Community Linkage Specialist, Osborne Association Mia Barksdale

2:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m.

Not So Far Apart: The challenges and strategies of implementation Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration This presentation will include an overview of Not So Far Apart (NFSA). The purpose of NSFA is to offer children a vehicle to take the leadership role in sharing moments in time with their mothers. Additionally, challenges and victories of program development and implementation are explored.

Catherine Waugh, Ph.D, Founder/Director, company

Learn more about the presenters by visiting our web page. https://childwellbeing.asu.edu/content/speakers

On any given day, there are more than 2.2 million people incarcerated in jail or prison. Millions more are back home with their families and working every day to contribute to their communities, while often facing thousands of insurmountable legal and social barriers from their convictions. They are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters. Too often, those are not the words the media uses to describe them. Instead, harmful labels like criminal, felon, offender, and convict are used.

Language within the criminal justice reform movement and more broadly is transforming. There is no better time than now for news organizations to subscribe to this language evolution.

Words matter. Our language choices matter.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PEOPLE FIRST MOVEMENT VISIT FWD.US/PEOPLEFIRST