The Crucial Connection Program

1. TheCrucial Connection Program Phil Dodds and Tamsin McGuin

2. The Crucial Connection Program • Sisters Inside is an independent community organisation, which exists to advocate for the human rights of women in the criminal justice system in Queensland, and to address gaps in the services available to them. We work alongside women in prison and with their families in determining the best way to fulfill these roles. They have identified the following facts from a survey in 2002: • 1,000 women move through the prison system per year. • There were 350 women incarcerated in five prisons in South East Queensland at one time. • 85% of these women were mothers. • Each woman has an average of 2.5 children. • 82% of these women were the primary carer. • 44% of their children are in care of the Department of Families. • An average of 2,125 children are effected per year.

3. The Crucial Connection Program The women in prison identified a need for a program that would assist their families while they were incarcerated. The Crucial Connection program was developed to met the needs of young people and their families. It began in 2001 and continues as a voice for these young people and their mothers.

4. The Crucial Connection Program • What is the Crucial Connection program • Funded by FACS, Families and Community Services within the Reconnect Program. • Supports young people aged 12 to 18 who have mother’s incarcerated in a South East Queensland Prison and young women aged 12 to 18 who are themselves incarcerated in South East Queensland prisons. • Assists young people to become more involved with: • Their families • Employment • Education • Training and • The community.

5. The Crucial Connection Program • The CCP provides a range of support to both young people and their families which are determined by their own unique circumstances. • It is flexible in its delivery to meet the needs of young people. • Meetings can take place in a variety of safe locations such as: • Homes • Schools • Sisters Inside’s office • Other venues in the community.

6. The Crucial Connection Program • This program can assist young people in the following ways: • Arrange regular visits to mum in prison • Transport to prison for visits • Families mediation • Connecting with programs that assist in finding employment • Support to stay in school • Training options • Income support • Accommodation • Counselling • Support

7. The Crucial Connection Program • Assistance given to parents, guardians and families • Work things out with the young person • Finding the best ways to talk things through • Learning to live together when are thing become hard • Learning to live apart but staying connected as a family • Living apart but still communicating

8. The Crucial Connection Program What are the barriers that these young people face that make them different from others? What are the barriers that mothers face that impact on the quality of parenting they are able to give to their children while they are incarcerated? What are the barriers that face worker’s from assisting young people? Why are children of prisoner’s 5 times more likely to offend themselves?

9. The Crucial Connection Program • Barriers young people face: • Grief • Uncertainty • Low self-esteem • Anger • Suicide • Drug and alcohol use • Centrelink • Growing up to fast • Bullying • Treatment of outside people • Money

10. The Crucial Connection Program • Barriers that mothers face: • Dealing with the emotions of being separated from their children • Making decisions regarding the placement and care of their children • Maintaining contact with their children during their incarceration • Reuniting with their children when they are released from prison. • Limited ability to parent in the same way as they did before they were incarcerated

11. The Crucial Connection Program • Barriers worker’s face: • Contacting young people when mothers have been identified. • Prison access • Prison culture • Geographical distances • Prison protocol