When parenting does not ‘come naturally’: providers’ perspectives on parenting education for incarcerated mothers and fathers

ABSTRACT

Learning to parent sensitively and safely can be challenging for adults with childhood abuse and neglect experiences. Such childhood experiences are prevalent among incarcerated parents whose ability to parent their own children is also limited by separation from them. Several prisons have developed programs to foster pro-social parenting skills among incarcerated mothers and fathers to assist them on release. This paper reports a qualitative research study that explored the factors affecting the delivery and outcomes of parenting programs in correctional facilities in New South Wales Australia from the perspective of individuals involved in developing and implementing the programs. Thematic analysis of 19 interviews identified two main themes: supporting parents’ learning in correctional settings and providers’ learning about parent education in correctional settings. Respondents reported the benefits of providing creative learning opportunities enabling parents to build on their strengths and to develop relationships. These factors contributed to changing prisoners’ attitudes and supporting them to consider alternative parenting approaches. The co-productive approach to parent education supported enhanced parenting knowledge among parents and greater insights among educators. Parenting education can be successfully delivered in correctional settings and can assist incarcerated parents to build on existing knowledge and adapt it to their own needs.

KEYWORDS:

• Parent education
• incarcerated parents
• qualitative research
• co-production of knowledge
• prison

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the staff of Corrective Services NSW for their assistance with conducting this research. We are very grateful to the correctional staff who participated in this study and gave generously of their time and insights.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Cathrine Fowler is Tresillian Chair in Child and Family Health, Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health at the University of Technology Sydney. Her research interests include families with complex histories and vulnerabilities, and child health and development.

Angela Dawson is a public health social scientist with expertise in health service delivery to vulnerable populations. Her recent work examines access to reproductive health, particularly for adolescents and innovative approaches to drug and alcohol services and information for Indigenous people.

Chris Rossiter is a social researcher and policy analyst. She has conducted qualitative and quantitative studies principally in the areas of child and family health, preschool literacy, and support for families with complex needs, including mothers with substance dependence issues and incarcerated parents.

Debra Jackson PhD FACN is a nurse, whose work is largely focussed on family support and parenting, with a particular interest in families experiencing some form of disruption. She works between Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Currently, she is Director of the Oxford Institute of Nursing and Allied Health Research (OxINAHR); Professor of Nursing in the Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, and Professor, Nursing Research at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Principal Fellow of the Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre.

Dr Tamara Power is a Senior Lecturer in Nursing and Director, Health Simulation at the University of Technology Sydney. The majority of Tamara's research has been in the area of family health, with a particular focus on parenting.

Michael Roche is Clinical Chair in Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Nursing at Northern Sydney Local Health District and the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University. He has wide experience in mental health nursing, management, education, information technology, and research positions. His research work has impacted has explored nurse staffing, nursing leadership, and consumer outcomes.

Additional information

Funding

The research was funded by the University of Technology Sydney and funds provided under the Corrective Services NSW.