With my grandson nearly 3 years old, our Christmas this year is full of toys and wonder and a reminder of the Babe long ago who brought hope to the world; whose birth we are celebrating. Christmas is definitely a time for children and a reminder of how many children have parents behind bars in our country. These young victims of their parent’s crimes suffer grave consequences, including separation from their parents during the holiday season.
According to the Bureau of Justice, 1.75 million children have a parent in a state or federal prison this Christmas. Many inmates have multiple children and the Sentencing Project estimates that 1 in every 50 children in this country has a parent behind bars. These are sobering numbers amid the lights and glitter of our holiday celebrating.
Children in this situation may be lonely and feel alienated from the season’s festivities. Even if able, visiting a parent in prison during this time of year can bring more sadness than cheer; emphasizing the obvious separation. Distance and lack of financial resources may make visiting impossible and incarcerated parents may be unable to afford providing even a token gift for a child.
If the incarcerated parent is also the primary care provider, the child may be living in foster care. More fortunate children may have a loving extended family member willing to provide support and supervision during this period. According to an economic study of incarcerated families, children with incarcerated parents are more likely to have difficulty in school with more aggressive behavior noted among boys and an increased chance of being expelled or suspended.
Most of us will not be able to make as great an impact as 2012 Miss America, Lauren Kaeppeler, who is using her platform to bring more attention to the plight of kids of incarcerated parents. Her father was incarcerated when she was a teenager and she has first-hand experience of the effects of a parent behind bars. However, every one of us can do something. Here are just a few of the organizations that are helping our patient’s children cope with the impact of prison on their lives. This Christmas season, consider contributing to one of these charities, or another you may be aware of in your community:
Children of Promise – New York City
Does your facility do anything for inmates and their children on Christmas? Could they? Share your thoughts in the comments section of this post.
Photo Credit: © allari – Fotolia.com
jeanne says
Lorry,
Thank-you for writing this poignant article. We can make an impact on the lives of others, no matter how small (we may think) an act of kindness is. Merry Christmas to you and your family! Please keep writing your articles. They are an inspiration.
Gayle Burrow says
Thank you, Lorry, for keeping this in the forefront of Corrections Health. We certainly concentrate on the care of the detainee and forget that there are families attached to each of our patients.
In our children and grandchildren’s classrooms are children of whose parents are in prison. I know I do not think of mentioning it to my grandchildren’s teachers when I go for special events.
That would be a good 2014 resolution to begin a dialog at our schools to raise awareness to address and be aware in out classrooms.
Happy New Year and may it be full of challenges and rewards.
Ruth_SJRN says
When someone is incarcerated, it is not only that person who is being placed behind bars, their family is also deprived of having their loved ones freely thus suffering almost that same consequence. This post is very inspiring hoping to hear more such act of kindness for patients in correctional facilities. Keep posting..Salute from SJRN Community.
Marilyn L Weitzel says
My church supports Angel Tree. My husbasnd and I have donated every year to at least two children. One year, we offered to help deliver the presents to the children. I walked into the grandparents’ house ( who knew wwe were coming) and saw the childen. When I said that I was bringing them Christmas presents from their Dad, their eyes lit up. they couldn’t believe that Dad would be able to love them, and get them presents. We gave the Dad the glory. then we told how much their Heavenly Father loved them even more and would protect them. I was in awe of how grateful the kids were. The hugs and thanks they gave us were worth more than the effort we had put in. I will contribute to this projec every year.
Marilyn L Weitzel says
Please forgive the typos:)
Lorry Schoenly says
What an awesome story! Thank you for your support to this family. I hope they make it through…