Working with Children & Families

1. Working with Children & Families Dallas, TX February 5 & 6, 2010 Amanda Phillips, LGSW

2. Matching Game • Name • Were are you from? Agency? • How long have you been working with families? • Hobbies? • Who is going to win the Super Bowl? • Briefly describe a family that has really IMPACTED you.

3. What to Expect Today • Dynamics of MCP Families • Best Practices for supporting MCP Families & Children • Best Practices to share with Mentors

4. What Do your MCP Families look like? • Social Economic Status? (SES) • Living Situation (Trailer, Apartment, House, Condo) • Who lives in the home? • Primary caregiver of the Mentee?

5. The Culture of Poverty • Between 2000 and 2007, the number of poor Latino children increased by 960,000 (to 4.5 million) and the number of poor Black children increased by 323,000 (to 3.9 million).* • The Controversial Issue** • Liberals Vs. Conservatives Opinions • Most Often, there is no sign of hope • Sometimes think only day-to-day • Lack of resources * Children’s Defense Fund- Cradle to Prison Pipeline Campaign, 2008 * *SudhirVenkatesh, a professor of sociology at Columbia University

6. Promising Solutions • Harlem Children’s Zone* • This past spring, 100 percent of the third-graders at HCZ Promise Academy II scored at or above grade level in the statewide math tests. A few blocks away, 100 percent of the Promise Academy I third-graders were at or above grade level. • In 2009, the chess program served 106 children throughout HCZ who went on to win 78 trophies. • The Family Support Center Served 154 families from ‘08-09. 99% stayed intact, and 100% received counseling (family, individual or group) www.hcz.org

7. Single-Parent Homes • Approximately 84% of custodial parents are mothers, and 16% of custodial parents are fathers • 27.7% of custodial single mothers and their children live in poverty • 44% have two or more children living with them* *United States. Census Department. Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support: 2005. By Timothy S. Grall. Census, 2007. 17 Mar. 2008

8. Grandparents raising Grandchildren • More than 6 million children are being raised by grandparents…71% of these grandparents are under the age of 60* • HALF of all children with incarcerated mothers are cared for by grandparents** • Nearly TWO THIRDS of children of prisoners being raised by single grandmothers live in poverty…** *http://www.grandfactsheets.org/doc/National%202007%20New%20Template.pdf **http://www.sfcipp.org/rights.html

9. Impact of Incarceration on families • Housing: Shift in living arrangements • Emotional: trauma & sense of loss (regardless of safety concerns) • Economic: most parents bring money in prior to incarceration • Strain on Family Relationships • Social & Community stigma • Legal consequences

10. Impact of Incarceration on Children • A 1998 national study estimated that of the parents arrested: • 67% were handcuffed in front of their children • 27% reported weapons were drawn • 4.3% reported a physical struggle • 3.2% reported the use of pepper spray

11. Possible Developmental Effects of Parental Incarceration on Children • Early Childhood (2-6) • Inappropriate separation anxiety • Impaired socio-emotional development • Acute traumatic stress reactions • Middle Childhood (7-10) • Developmental regressions • Poor self-concept • Acute traumatic stress reactions • Impaired ability to overcome future traumas • Early adolescence (11-14) • Rejection of limits on behavior • Trauma-reactive behaviors • Late adolescence (15-18) • Premature termination of dependence on parents • Intergenerational crime and incarcerations Adapted from K.Gable & D. Johnston, 1997

12. Echoes of Incarceration • Youth-produced documentary project focusing on impact of the prison system on children through CUNY Graduate Program in December 2009 

13. How to find Community Resources • Outpatient services available • Attend local advocacy meetings for children & Families • Learn about re-entry programs in your community • Local United Way • Learn about local financial assistance

14. Ways to help • An Action Plan for Federal Policymakers • Advocating for children & Caregivers • Provide training for all staff • Mental Health Needs of child/Caregiver • PTSD treatment/CBT • Grief counseling • Attachment issues • Chemical Dependency issues • Self-esteem/social stigmas/peer support

15. Good Ideas for Case Managers/Support Staff • Getting to know the MCP families • Intakes at the home • Possible support groups • Assist in relaying information about resources • Trained in recognizing mental health needs • Maintain great support to Mentors during match

16. Helpful Tips To Mentors • Check in with Caregivers • Let Mentee know you are comfortable talking about their parent’s incarceration • Listen for the Mentee’s feelings • Make a list, journal • Mail letters with Mentee • Respect if the child chooses not to have contact

17. Mentor Tips • Everyone has a limit…

18. Mentor Tips Uncomfortable time in your life, or a situation you don’t tell many people…something you are not proud of about yourself.

19. Confidentiality • Sharing personal information about your Mentee or his family is a violation of trust, and against the law • Confidentiality should be broken if: • Physical or sexual abuse • Involvement in criminal act • Threaten to harm themselves, or others

20. Mentor Tips • Discussion of letters (from a Mentor’s P.O.V.)

21. Helpful Online Resources • www.childrensdefense.org • www.fcnetwork.org • www.reentrypolicy.org • www.sfcipp.org/rights.html • www.cwla.org • http://aspe.hhs.gov • www.aecf.org • http://www.search-institute.org/

22. Contact Me: Amanda Phillips, LGSW IMPACT Family Counseling MCP Director 1000 24th St. S. Birmingham, AL 35205 Office: 205-916-0123 Cell: 205-240-9744 Email: ap@impactal.org