Girl Scouts Beyond Bars: facilitating parent-child contact in correctional settings

Child Welfare. 1998 Sep-Oct;77(5):561-78.

Abstract

Distant prison locations, inconvenient visiting schedules, and the negative effects of a mother's imprisonment on her children often complicate the child welfare professional's work with the children of incarcerated mothers. Enhanced prison visiting programs offer a mechanism to support the mother-child relationship, facilitate reunification efforts, and assist with permanency planning. The article discusses one such program, Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, in relation to the problem of mother-child separation via imprisonment; traditional visiting practices; and the issues confronting child welfare professionals serving the children of imprisoned mothers.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child Welfare*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leisure Activities*
  • Maryland
  • Mother-Child Relations*
  • Mothers / psychology*
  • Mothers / statistics & numerical data
  • Prisoners / psychology*
  • Prisoners / statistics & numerical data
  • Program Evaluation
  • Psychology, Child*
  • Social Support