Angry and often overlooked, children of the incarcerated are hidden in plain sight

A Shared Sentence: The Casey Foundation recently reported on the more than 100,000 Washington children who have had an incarcerated parent. These children suffer long-term effects due to their parents’ incarceration that are as damaging as child abuse or domestic violence. Children with parents in prison move more frequently than their peers and are at greater risk of ending up homeless; 75% of them receive foster care, Medicaid, food stamps or welfare services; and they face much higher childhood poverty rates, even after their parents are released. NJP’s RISE Project works to preserve a child’s relationship with a parent during incarceration, reducing children’s mental health issues and anxiety, and provides vital legal assistance to support family reunification upon release.