Assistance program
Children of Incarcerated Parents
$29.6 Million committed in FY2018–FY2026
- Agency
- Office of Justice Programs, Justice, Department of
- Assistance
- Project Grants
- CFDA number
- 16.831
- What it does
- The goal of this program is to assist states and localities in developing or expanding services that meet the needs of incarcerated parents and their children. Programs proposed should aim to prevent violent crime, reduce recidivism, and protect the safety of law enforcement (correctional officers) within state and locally managed facilities or private facilities under contract with a state or locality. In addition to engaging incarcerated parents and their children, this program supports the delivery of transitional reentry services, including services to minor children, upon release to reduce recidivism and prevent violent crime. Objective for this program include: (1) develop a coordinated system for the provision of programs and services that support the needs of children of incarcerated parents, such as mental health issues, substance use issues, and trauma-related issues, to ensure minor children remain connected with their parents in a structured and supportive environment; (2) develop and implement programs and resources that equip parents with tools to identify and address problematic behaviors in their children, thus improving the parent’s ability to be involved; (3) develop strategies and approaches to strengthen the relationships between incarcerated parents and their children; (4) seek to reduce the incarcerated parent’s behavioral infractions during incarceration and recidivism post-release; (5) provide services that foster positive youth development for children of incarcerated parents; these services may include, but are not limited to, mentoring for these children; and (6) develop innovative approaches that will enhance child/parent communication, such as the use of tele-visiting, emailing, letter writing, audio recordings, and transportation assistance for in-person visits. The performance measures associated with these objectives are: PM 1: Percentage of eligible individuals served by a mental health treatment service PM 2: Percentage of eligible individuals served by a substance use disorder treatment service PM 3: Percentage of eligible individual’s case plans informed by parents/legal guardians PM 4: Percentage of parental visits where the child/children appropriately participated