Our Children’s Place: The Real Reason Behind Supporting Kids of Incarcerated Parents

1 in every 28 children in the United States has an incarcerated parent, more than 20,000 children in the state of North Carolina have a parent in prison and, according to the Annie E. Cassie Foundation, an estimated 160,000 children in North Carolina have experienced parental incarceration and the resulting consequences.

Our Children’s Place of Coastal Horizons Center is a statewide program committed to the well-being of these children through education, advocacy and outreach. Their mission is threefold:

TO EDUCATE professionals about the impacts of parental incarceration on children and emphasize the urgency to act.

TO IDENTIFY AND PROMOTE policies, programs, and practices which improve outcomes for the children of incarcerated parents.

TO SUPPORT relationships between these children and their parents, not only to benefit the children, but also to ensure that the corrections system, agencies focused on serving families, and surrounding communities understand how best to facilitate these interactions in order to provide the most value.

Parental incarceration is a significant, adverse childhood experience that often coincides with parental divorce, economic instability in the household and substance abuse. After watching this episode it will be up to all of us to spread awareness for these children through education, advocacy and outreach!