Impact on Community and DSHS Responses

1. Impact on Community and DSHS Responses

2. Intergenerational Trauma • Some families and communities are heavily impacted by incarceration • Rates of intergenerational incarceration are debated, but some studies find a rate of up to 70%. Usually incarceration is “transmitted” in tandem with other traumatic experiences. • Communities often need to address historical roots of traumas and incarceration in order to affect change, empower families and break ongoing cycles

3. Impact on employment, housing… • Most employers ask about felony convictions, and can refuse to hire based on results • Resource: Employment Security Department’s Offender Employment Services • Housing: Section 8 and other programs can refuse to house based on convictions • Education: Disqualify for government loan programs

4. National Work • Currently at least thirteen states working on initiatives to address this issue; Arizona, California, NH, VI, Hawaii, NY, WA and OR in particular • New national initiative: Council of State Governments- Governor’s Office Involvement • Recent Federal Initiatives opened doors • The child: Mentoring, Caregiver’s Choice • The incarcerated parent: Reentry and Healthy Marriage • Federal Resource Center: Family and Corrections Network • Involvement of foundations: • Annie E. Casey, Casey Family Programs

5. Initial State Legislation 2005 Legislative session: HB 1426 was passed following a DOC forum on Children of Incarcerated Parents (CIP) Directed DOC, in partnership with DSHS, to establish an oversight committee to develop a comprehensive interagency plan to provide necessary services and supports for children in Washington whose parents are incarcerated in a jail or prison.

6. Results of Oversight Committee June 2006 Final Report to the Legislature Recommendations Oversight: policy level position within DOC Data collection Development of arrest protocols Education/training of human services staff Child care during court proceedings Inside/Out Family Resource Centers Increase contact between parents and children and rates of reunification Promote family economic stability and durable family relationships

7. Recent State Legislation 2007 regular session: E2SHB 1422 Established an advisory committee managed by CTED, with representatives from DSHS, DOC, OSPI, AOC, WASPIC, DEL, tribes, and other partners Directive to agencies to review policies and services, collect data, implement oversight committee recommendations internally and with the advisory committee Reports to the legislature

8. Focus of E2SHB 1422 Identification of policies/services and ensure that they support the needs of children/families of incarcerated parents, including: Maintenance of familial connections Helping offenders build durable family relationships, and care for their children Services to offenders: parenting and job skills training/education Reduction in parental incarceration (related to maintenance of family ties) Reduction in intergenerational incarceration Maintenance of safety Focus on foster youth, youth in schools and youth receiving state assistance (state funded services)

9. DSHS (in tandem with other agencies) is required to: Review current department policies and services, assessing adequacy and availability Gather data on families of inmates Evaluate data to determine impact on recidivism and intergenerational incarceration Adopt policies regarding: contact, financial support and services to parents and children

10. DSHS work to address the needs of children and families of the incarcerated • Children and Families of Incarcerated Parents (CFIP) Workgroup includes representatives from every DSHS administration • Working on assessing and improving services, policies and service coordination. Developed statewide recommendations for DSHS and on CFIP issues in general, currently implementing recommendations that do not require funding/legislative changes • Participation in CTED-convened CFIP statewide Advisory Committee E2SHB 1422 • CFIP Data Subcommittee • Working to improve data-sharing agreements between agencies to evaluate the services needed and received • Research and Data Analysis CFIP data project • Ongoing data collection and evaluation

11. Recommendations • Children’s Administration: (items in bold are current projects) • Add data field to FAMLINK • Additional training for social workers on CFIP and resources, resource coordination, visitation processes • Identify and promote relationships with housing providers • Identify regional contacts (funding need) • Cross-training with CA and DOC/jail staff • Additional resources for visitation (funding required) • State law revision for ASFA (funding, leg. required) • Communication with DOC on adoption of service programs and mutual acceptance of programs • Increase provision of FPS for families experiencing incarceration (funding required) • Coordination with courts: regarding service planning

12. State Context: Visual (adapted from K. Russell 2009) WA Dept of Corrections WAPA Sheriffs & Police Chiefs Washington Correctional Center for Women Jails WA Department of Social and HealthServices JRA Courts, Prosecutors & Defenders Child Welfare League of America Faith-based groups Pacific Lutheran University OSPI OR and other states Caregivers CHILDREN OF OFFENDERS Individual School Systems Public Housing and Landlords Media (TVW; KPLU) Other Child Advocates & Groups Community Colleges WA House MH Roberts, E. Pettigrew R. Kagi, et al WA Senate D. Regala Delvin, et al Employers Office of the Governor Crime Victims Private Agencies Foundations Incarcerated Parents

13. Reports and Guides • DSHS REPORT • Children and Families • of Incarcerated Parents: Understanding the Challenges and Addressing the Needs • GUIDE TO SERVICES FOR FAMILIES OF THE INCARCERATED • Beyond the Walls • WEBSITE FOR FAMILIES • OF THE INCARCERATED • http://www.dshs.wa.gov/incarcerated CFIP WORKGROUP CONTACT Miriam Bearse • 360.902.8250

14. Thank you! • Thank you to all the panel participants, presenters, technical staff and audience members!