Development of a multisystemic parent management training intervention for incarcerated parents, their children and families

Abstract

The majority of men and women prison inmates are parents. Many lived with children prior to incarceration, and most have at least some contact with their children and families while serving their sentences. Because prison populations have increased in the United States, there has been a renewed interest in finding ways not only to reduce recidivism, but also to prevent incarceration in the first place, particularly among the children of incarcerated parents. Positive family interaction is related to both issues. The ongoing development of a multisystemic intervention designed to increase positive family interaction for parents and families involved in the criminal justice system is described. The intervention package currently includes a prison-based parent management training program called Parenting Inside Out (PIO); a prison-based therapeutic visitation program; and complementary versions of PIO designed for jail and probation and parole settings. Work on other components designed for justice-involved parents, children and for caregivers during reunification from prison is ongoing. Program development has occurred within the context of strong support from the State department of corrections and other key governmental and non-profit sector groups, and support systems have been established to help maintain the interventions as well as to develop complementary interventions, policies and procedures.

Keywords:

• Criminality and delinquency
• family issues
• incarcerated parents
• parent–child interaction
• parent training program
• recidivism

Acknowledgements

Work on this was supported by Grant No. MH 46690 from the Division of Epidemiology and Services Research, NIMH and ORMH, US PHS; Grant No. MH 65553 from the Division of Epidemiology and Services Research, NIMH, NIH, US PHS; a grant from the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation; and funding from the State of Oregon. Special thanks to the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) Directors during the tenure of this project, Mr Dave Cook, Dr Ben DeHaan, and Mr Max Williams; to the leadership and staff in central administration as well as at each of the correctional institutions within the DOC for their ongoing support and assistance; to the chair of the Children of Incarcerated Parents Project (CIP) and current chair of the Board of Directors of the Children's Justice Alliance, Ms Claudia Black; to the members of the CIP for their input, guidance, and advice; to Dr John B. Reid and Ms Sharon J. Darcy for their mentorship and support; to the directors, staff members and Board members of Pathfinders of Oregon, the Children's Justice Alliance, and the Oregon Social Learning Center for their dedication and hard work related to this project; and to the many Oregon inmates and their families who shared their lives with us during the past 8 years.