For this latest installment of our regular “Looking Back” series – where we revisit recent webinars for our child helpline members – our Learning Manager Laura Holliday has invited one of our expert speakers to contribute a guest blog for our website: Caitlin Martin, the Support & Information Services Worker for Families Outside.
On 15 April, I had the privilege of presenting a webinar to Child Helpline International alongside my Support & Information Helpline colleague, Chloe, and our CEO, Nancy Loucks, on the topic: “Supporting Families Affected by Imprisonment ”. I spoke about my experience of supporting children and families on our helpline, talking through some case studies and common issues that we deal with.
The purpose of this webinar was to help those working on child helplines to understand the common challenges and diverse needs of children and families affected by imprisonment, and the work that we do to support families in this situation.
It was a great opportunity to speak with professionals who work on child helplines across the world, such as in the Netherlands, Gibraltar, Malta and Kenya. We had some fantastic engagement from those attending, who asked great questions, such as: can services be doing more to ensure children are being supported in their communities when a family member goes to prison; how do you support children affected by imprisonment around the impact of stigma; and, what services are there outside of Scotland that support families affected by imprisonment?
You can find out more about the work we do and how children are impacted by imprisonment below.
What do we do at Families Outside?
Families Outside is the only national charity that works solely to support families affected by imprisonment in Scotland. Our purpose is to improve outcomes for children and families so they can live lives free from stigma and disadvantage.
Our Support & Information Helpline, 0800 254 0088, provides impartial information and support and is often the first port of call for families and professionals in Scotland looking for help and guidance. We can also support people outside of Scotland, if their relative is in a Scottish prison.
How are children and families impacted when a relative or loved one goes to prison?
Imprisonment can be a traumatic and devastating experience for families, affecting almost every area of life, from housing and finances to mental health. In their community, families are often socially isolated and judged for an offence they did not commit, meaning they do not always ask for help or they feel there is no one they can turn to.
An estimated 20,000 – 27,000 children each year in Scotland are separated from a parent through imprisonment. This means that, each year, more children in Scotland experience a parent’s imprisonment than a parent’s divorce. Children experience a range of negative emotional reactions to parental imprisonment including feelings of rejection, sadness, despair, confusion, depression, withdrawal, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (Hissel et al. 2011; Bocknek et al. 2009; Murray and Farrington 2008). Imprisonment of a household member is also one of the 10 Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) known to increase the risk of long-term impacts on health and wellbeing.
Many children may have witnessed criminal behaviour and/or the arrest of a parent, which can be very traumatizing. Adults may not know how to explain things to a child, and in an attempt to protect them, may say that their family member is “working away” or similar, which can lead to confusion, uncertainty, and anxiety. If children do not know why a parent (or other relative) is gone, they may feel like they are to blame. They may create their own narrative of what has happened to make sense of things – for example, that their parent has abandoned them or passed away.
Families Outside aims to help children understand the situation, reassure them that they are not alone, and help to maintain family relationships (if appropriate). It is often in children and families’ best interests to stay in contact with the person in prison, and we can help in setting up or maintaining this contact. When contact is restricted, children and young people may need extra support, and reassurance that the situation is not their fault.
How can you help?
Having one or more trusted adults that a child can turn to during a family member’s imprisonment is incredibly important. Here is how you can help:
- Recognize children and young people with a family member in prison as a group with unique needs.
- Recognize, in most cases, that it is beneficial for children and young people to maintain contact with the person in prison and support them with this where possible (and if appropriate).
- Reach out to children, young people, and their carers to ask them how they are doing, how things have changed for them, and how you can help.
- When speaking with children (and their families), maintain a non-judgmental attitude, focusing on their needs and changes in their life, not on the offence.
- Provide a safe place to listen and allow space and time to deal with emotions.
- Let the child or young person know they are not alone and that it is not their fault.
