Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents: A Synthesis of Research and Input from the Listening Session Held by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the White House Domestic Policy Council and Office of Public Engagement

• NCJ Number: 244198
• Author(s): G. Roger Jarjoura; David L. Dubois; Rebecca J. Shlafer; Konrad A. Haight
• Date Published: 2013
• Length: 63 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2011-MU-FX-K009; 2013-JU-FX-K001
• Agencies: OJJDP-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)

Annotation

This report provides a summary of research presented at the listening session held by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the White House Domestic Policy Council and Office of Public Engagement.

Abstract

In September 2013, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention organized a Listening Session on Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents. The session brought together 40 individuals from relevant government agencies and departments, representatives from mentoring organizations and other programs that serve children of incarcerated parents, youth who were current or previous participants in some of the mentoring programs, and individuals that the White House had recognized as champions of children of incarcerated parents. This report highlights the research that was presented during the session along with input from session participants. The research presented during the session supports high-quality mentoring relationships for children of incarcerated parents that include the following practices: mentor and youth recruitment, screening and intake assessment, matching, training, structure and supports for mentoring activities, monitoring and support, family engagement, external partnerships, and closure of the mentoring relationship. The report also discusses a set of recommendations that were developed from the research. These recommendations include 1) providing strategic support to programs to enhance the availability of high-quality mentoring for children of incarcerated parents; 2) cultivating a community of practice for mentoring children of incarcerated parents; and 3) investing in research to advance the evidence base for effective mentoring for children of incarcerated parents. Tables, references, appendix, and notes