Working in Partnership

Brighter Futures and the Jacaranda Mothers’ and Children’s Program

A Work in Progress…..

1. Incarcerated mothers – research shapes an idea2. Mothers’ and Children’s Program – brief history and overview3. Brighter Futures – Program overview and core components4. A Partnership is formed – the vision and the challenges5. Welcome to the Jacaranda Playgroup6. Jesica’s story7. Where to from here?

Research• Children with incarcerated parents identified as most ‘at-risk’ population in US

studies• Resultant generational attachment difficulties and the externalisation of negative

behaviours• Frequent changes of caregivers within the Out of Home Care system (Smyth 2011)• Only about one third (37%) had secure attachments (Poehlman 2003) compared to

60-70% in general population

Background• Closure of the Mulawa Mothers and Children’s Unit in 1981• The NSW Department of Corrective Services ‘Women’s Action Plan’ 1994 • Jacaranda Cottages opened in 1995

‘Corrective Services recognises that offending and/or imprisonment are not evidence of a mother’s lack of desire, or ability to perform her parental duties. Corrective services recognises that continuity in the

relationship between child and mother is critical to the child’s emotional, intellectual and social development.’

The Mothers and Children’s Program

• Full-time Residential Program

• Occasional Residency Program

• Classified Category 1 or 2

• Assessment Process

Brighter Futures• Families identify with one or more of the five parental vulnerabilities• Children 0 – 8• 12 – 18 months program duration• Core components :

CaseworkParenting Programs (group based)Structured Home Visiting Early Childhood Education and Care

• Use of Structured Decision Making Tools

Who are we?

Bonny Cotter, Brighter Futures Nepean Program Manager, Belinda McInnes, Mothers’ and Children’s Program Co-ordinator, Deb Ennis, Brighter Futures Early Childhood Facilitator

Caseworker Marian Allen and Deb Ennis

A Partnership• ‘Captive participation’ • Supported preparation for release and post release continuation• Longevity of Brighter Futures program can enable work throughout incarceration

period• The Brighter Futures Program ‘best fit’ with aims of the Mothers and Children’s

Program

Challenges…..Excitement…….

Perseverance…….Flexiblity …….

The Supported Playgroup• Facilitators• Program – play, music, parenting• Informal learning• An outing• Mothers and babies one-on-one time• Skillbuilding• Parents as Teachers• Trust enables casework relationship

Jessica’s Story

Bibliography and Resources• Loy, M. “A Study of the Mothers and Children’s Program in the NSW Department of

Corrective Services” (Paper presented at the Women in Corrections: Staff and Clients Conference 2000)

• Stanley, E. and Byrne, S. “Mothers in Prison: Coping with Separation from Children” (Paper presented at the Women in Corrections: Staff and Clients Conference 2000)

• Smyth, J. “Dual Punishment: Incarcerated Mothers and their Children” Columbia Social Work Review, Volume III 2011:33

• Poehlmann, J. ‘New Study shows children of incarcerated mothers experience multiple challenges’ Family Matters” A Family Impact seminar Newsletter for Wisconsin Policymakers (2003, October).

• “Parenting in Prison” by Joanna Tovia in MiNDFOOD December 2012 (www.mindfood.com)

• “Women in Prison NSW 1970-2010” (A Statistical and Policy Account) UNSW Comparative Youth Penalty Project 2010 (http://cypp.unsw.edu.au/node/120)