HD70 - Children of Incarcerated Parents Project
Executive Summary: In December of 1992 the Virginia Commission on Youth reported that the most significant finding of their study of the needs of children of incarcerated parents was the absence of information regarding the number and conditions of those children in Virginia whose parents are incarcerated. The legislature responded quickly and thoroughly, requiring the development of an interagency initiative to identify, educate and serve these children, and those adults who have responsibility for them, in a systematic way. In doing so, Virginia has placed itself in the forefront of the nation in meeting the needs of this group of children. Prior to passage of the package, the Substance Abuse Services and Prevention Offices of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS) had initiated a project to develop a needs assessment, training manual and training program regarding service delivery to children whose parents are incarcerated. A representative was requested from each named agency in House Joint Resolution No. 413 to join the state steering committee for that project. The steering committee has also provided oversight for the development of the literature called for under HJRs 425 and 427. While not specifically mandated by legislation, the implementation of a needs assessment is a necessary first step to the development of appropriate literature and training models. The Office of Prevention and Children's Resources of the DMHMRSAS has contracted with the Prison Visitation Project to conduct the needs assessment, and to provide data and conclusions for incorporation into both the literature and training manual. The state steering committee has received regular reports on the project. At the same time the DMHMRSAS requested the Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents of Pacific Oaks College to complete a training manual for Commonwealth of Virginia human services professionals working with children of offender populations and/or with their caregivers. This training manual is scheduled for completion in March of 1994. The state steering committee is also developing the literature for children of incarcerated parents and their caregivers and has adopted an interagency dissemination plan for that literature. As of this writing the literature for children, their caregivers and the trainings for professionals are in progress. The committee has developed a time line which calls for completion of the needs assessment in November of 1993, (now completed), the literature in December of 1993, and pilot trainings from the training manual to be conducted throughout the state by the end of June 1994. Yet, the completion of these three tasks is truly only a beginning. Pilot programs could be developed based upon the models offered in the trainings. Literature will need to be distributed according to the dissemination plans, those plans evaluated, and modified if they are not successful. Additional initiatives may be developed to address some of the needs as they are uncovered. The steering committee agreed that there is a need for continued cooperation among agencies, and the importance of follow-up actions to the development of the literature and training models. Therefore the state steering committee for Children of Incarcerated Parents: Recommends that the Departments of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, Social Services, Education, Corrections, and Youth and Family Services continue their support of the state steering committee for children of incarcerated parents for an additional year, and that the committee periodically report its findings to the Commission on Youth. |
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