WHEN PARENTS DO THE CRIME, CHILDREN AND THOSE LEFT BEHIND, DO THE TIME

As if the unprecedented challenges of parents and caregivers confined to staying at home with small children for long periods of time during the pandemic are not enough, some families must bear the burden of an additional hardship – one of the parents is incarcerated. Adults and the children left behind in their care suffer.

This Guide offers help.

It gives “vetted” advice to adults at home caring for children with an incarcerated parent (or other beloved friend or family member who is incarcerated). It helps the caregivers recognize and appropriately respond to the children’s challenging behaviors and inevitably “big” feelings. It takes away at least one important stressor – not knowing what to say or how to say it. It leaves instead, the possibility of acceptance, assurance, peace, and hope.

P.S. Because this Guide was written before the pandemic, consideration needs to be given to those few areas that would not now apply.