Most Children of an Incarcerated Parent Need:

• Consistent, caring adults who understand that, in general, children love their parents, even when they have committed a crime

• People who will not condemn the incarcerated parents as worthless

• People who will understand that children of prisoners feel angry, sad, confused, and worried

• A chance to express these feelings and learn to cope with them

• A chance to learn and practice skills and keep busy with activities

• A chance to learn and practice skills and keep busy with activities

• Faith or affiliation with a community that can provide meaning for the child beyond their own crisis

• People who can help them to maintain contact with their incarcerated parent or parents or explain to them why they cannot maintain contact