Children who are exposed to lots of adversities or trauma from a young age are more likely to miss out on emotional development.
Having a parent in prison can have an impact on a child’s mental health, social behaviour, and educational prospects. Children of incarcerated parents may face a number of challenging circumstances: they may have experienced trauma related to their parent’s arrest or experiences leading up to it, they may also be more likely to have faced other adverse childhood experiences, including witnessing violence in their communities or directly in their household or exposure to drug and alcohol abuse.
The emotional trauma that may occur and the practical difficulties of a disrupted family life can be hard on these children. They require support from local, state, and federal systems to serve their needs.
In 2002, The Elizabeth Fry Society identified children with a parent in prison as a distinct, unsupported subgroup in Canada. In the absence of programs and services to help them, more than 60 per cent of these children will one day find themselves behind bars. The legacy of crime is all too real, but we know from other jurisdictions that it doesn’t have to be this way.
The Elizabeth Fry Society works directly with children experiencing parental incarceration through programs like their summer camps, Saturday Club and Storybook Program.
Pardon Services Canada joined the movement this summer and showed support with its employees collecting books and toys for the kids in need. PSC believes in giving back to the community. We are constantly advocating on our clients behalf and we like to fight a cause that means something to us.
Through the Justkids program, Elizabeth Fry invites social service organizations, governments, businesses and individuals to join together to help these children experience a brighter tomorrow by creating, delivering and supporting programs to meet their unique needs.
Join the movement!
For more information on JustKids, visit www.just-kids.ca.