Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In previous years of this project, incarcerated women were interviewed and the resulting data were analyzed to learn about incarcerated mothers, their children, families and communities. The results of data analysis were disseminated via conference presentations and publications as reported in previous CRIS reports. In the final year of this project, data gathered previously were analyzed to address additional questions, and findings were reported via presentations at three more conferences. Findings of risk and protective factors in the children of incarcerated mothers were presented at the 2006 Conference on Hawaiian Indigenous Education, Research, and Well-being, in Honolulu. Findings of relationships between incarcerated mother history and child risk and protective factors were presented at the 2007 Conference of the Hawaii Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, in Honolulu. Findings of factors influencing frequency of visits between incarcerated mothers and their
children were presented at the 2007 Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences, in Honolulu. Project findings were also presented at a faculty seminar at the University of Hawaii. Project staff provided various services, such as consultation and advice, to others, both locally and nationally. Consultation was provided to Hawaii newspaper reporters, doing research and publishing on incarcerated parents and their families. Consultation was provided to the Planning and Development Director of a community service organization trying to facilitate reentry of serious and violent prisoners into society and community. Consultation was provided to a Hawaii State Legislator, concerned about related policies. And consultation and advice were provided to scholars doing research on incarcerated women and their children in other states.
PARTICIPANTS: John W. Engel, Ph.D., PI. Involved in all aspects of project design, research process, and reporting of results. Sylvia H. Yuen, Ph.D., Co-PI. Involved in all aspects of project design, research process and reporting of results. Allison Hu, M.A., Research Assistant. Involved in data collection, analysis and presentation of results. Partner organization: Department of Public Safety of the State of Hawaii. Partner organization: TJ Mahoney & Associates (Corrections/prison subcontractor).
TARGET AUDIENCES: This project benefitted stakeholders at various levels. At the individual level, incarcerated mothers, their children and families. At the community level, school, social service agency, law enforcement and corrections workers who serve or treat incarcerated mothers, their children and families. At the state level, legislators and administrative directors who craft and carry out policies relating to Hawaii's prisons and its inmates. At the national level, researchers who study incarcerated parents and their children and extend the related knowledge base.
Impacts
The outcomes of this projects work in previous years were reported in previous CRIS reports. Those for this termination year are as follows. Attendees and participants of the 2006 Conference on Hawaiian Indigenous Education, Research, and Well-being, in Honolulu, became more aware of and learned about risk and protective factors in families, schools and communities in and for the children of incarcerated mothers. Participants of the 2007 Conference of the Hawaii Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, in Honolulu, learned about relationships between incarcerated mother life histories and child risk and protective factors. They learned, for example, that children tend to have more academic problems when their mothers grew up in families or environments where incarceration of family members was common. Attendees and participants of the 2007 Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences in Honolulu, became more aware of and learned about factors influencing
frequency of visits between incarcerated mothers and their children. They learned that maternal life experiences such as teen pregnancy, family violence, sexual abuse, homelessness, drug use or abuse, having run away from home, dropped out of school, or having other family members in prison tend to be associated with lower frequency of visits between incarcerated mothers and their children.
Publications
- Engel, J. W., Hu, A., and Yuen, S. H. 2007. Factors influencing frequency of visits between incarcerated mothers and their children. In Proceedings of the 2007 Annual Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences (CD ROM, ISSN # 1539-7300), p. 751-759.
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Data gathered previously via interviews of incarcerated mothers were analyzed to identify academic/school and behavioral/psychological problems experienced or exhibited by a sample (N = 45) of their children. The more common problems reported for the children of incarcerated mothers were: (53%) argues a lot, (49%) unhappy, sad or depressed, (47%) temper tantrums, (44%) prefers being with older kids, (42%) swearing or obscene language. Higher percentages of boys than girls were reported to have academic/school related problems, such as: (29% vs 6%) placement in class for learning problems, (25% vs 0%) being suspended or expelled, (18% vs 12%) truancy or skipping school, (18% vs 6%) repeating a grade, (14% vs 12%) being tardy to school or class, and (11% vs 6%) placement in class for behavioral problems. Similarly, higher percentages of boys than girls were reported to have/exhibit behavioral/psychological problems, such as (57% vs 47%) argues a lot, (50% vs 47%)
unhappy, sad or depressed, (46% vs 41%) prefers being with older kids, (43% vs 41%) swearing or obscene language, (43% vs 29%) feels he/she has to be perfect, (43% vs 18%) lying or cheating, (36% vs 35%) sudden changes in mood or feelings, (36% vs 6%) gets in many fights, (36% vs 6%) destroys things belonging to family, (29% vs 24%) hangs around with others who get in trouble, (21% vs 18%) is cruel, bullying or mean to others, (21% vs 6%) feels worthless or inferior, (21% vs 6%) withdrawn, doesn't get involved with others, (11% vs 6%) deliberately harms self or attempts suicide, and (11% vs 6%) is cruel to animals. Higher percentages of girls than boys were reported to have/exhibit problems in only two areas: (47% vs 46%) temper tantrums or hot temper and (18% vs 11%) uses alcohol or drugs for nonmedical purposes. Data were analyzed to determine whether frequency of contacts between incarcerated mothers and their children mediated reported children's school and behavioral problems. In
seven of eight items pertaining to academic/school related concerns and problems, and in 19 of 21 items pertaining to behavioral, emotional or social problems, differences were found that are consistent with the hypothesis that children who visit their incarcerated mothers more have or exhibit less academic, school, behavioral, emotional and social problems. Project staff provided consultation to the Girl Scout Council of Hawaii in support of their efforts to design and organize a Girl Scout Beyond Bars Program for the State of Hawaii. Once the program was funded and workers recruited/hired, project staff provided inservice training for Beyond Bar workers. Subsequently, project staff are providing consultation on research to measure program effectiveness. Project staff continued to provide information and consultation to Hawaii State Senator Brian Kanno, related to legislative concerns regarding incarcerated parents and their children in Hawaii.
Impacts
Project findings on school and behavioral problems reported for children of incarcerated mothers were presented at the 2006 Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences in Honolulu. This paper, entitled Children of Incarcerated Women, a Hawaii Sample, was published in the HICSS Proceedings later in the same year. These reports are expected to increase the knowledge and understanding of researchers, educators and policy makers at national and international levels, as well as educators, community/social service providers and policy makers in the State of Hawaii. Preliminary findings on contacts between incarcerated mothers and their children were presented at the 2006 Annual Conference of the Hawaii Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, in Honolulu. This report is expected to increase the knowledge and understanding of researchers, educators and policy makers at the national level, and motivate community/social service providers and policy makers to
facilitate contacts between incarcerated parents and their children in the State of Hawaii.
Publications
- Hu, A., Engel, J. and Yuen, S. 2006. Children of incarcerated women: A Hawaii sample. Proceedings of the 2006 Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences (CD ROM, ISSN # 1539-7300).
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
Women incarcerated in a community residential transition program were interviewed regarding their community and family backgrounds, developmental histories and experience with the criminal justice system. Data were analyzed to identify developmental risk factors and family/community resources that might be related to crime, incarceration, and recidivism. Various risk factors were found to be common in the developmental histories of the incarcerated women interviewed for this study. Many reported coming from families where other family members were involved in the criminal justice system. During their childhood (ages 1-12), most (over 50%) experienced violence in the home, had been sexually abused, had run away from home. The difficulties these women experienced in childhood tended to continue and appeared compounded by others in their teen years. During their teen years (ages 13-17), these women engaged in various risky behaviors: many dropped out of school; most used
alcohol or other drugs, became pregnant in their teens, and experienced domestic violence. Other risk factors or difficulties were reported to be common in adulthood (ages 18 and older): many experienced being homeless; most reported illegal activities and loss of family members. Though still never-married, most of the women were already mothers of one or more children by/at the time of the interviews. Native Hawaiians tend to be over represented in the criminal justice system of Hawaii. This study found that while Native Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians reported similar risk factors, these negative life experiences generally occurred at an earlier age for Hawaiian than non-Hawaiian women. These incarcerated women reported use of various resources to improve their lives. Most had received professional counseling or therapy for emotional problems, participated in self-help groups, educational programs, or live-in drug treatment programs.
Impacts
Preliminary findings describing Hawaii's incarcerated women were presented at a Kamehameha Schools Research Conference on Hawaiian Well-Being in Hilo, Hawaii, in October, 2004. This report was later included in the Conference Proceedings made available online. These reports are expected to increase the knowledge and understanding of educators, community/social service providers and policy makers in the State of Hawaii. Project findings on incarcerated women's developmental risk factors and resources were presented at the Annual Conference of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, in Minneapolis, June, 2005. This paper, entitled 'Incarcerated Women's Developmental Risk Factors and Resources', was accepted for future publication in the AAFCS Proceedings. These reports are expected to increase the knowledge and understanding of researchers, educators and policy makers at the national level. Project staff provided information and consultation to
newspaper reporters (related to articles published in two newspapers), community/social service agency workers (e.g., Girl Scouts), and government representatives (e.g., Hawaii State Senator Brian Kanno). In partial recognition of expertise, contributions and potential impacts, one of the project investigators (S. Yuen) was appointed to serve on the Hawaii Task Force on Children of Incarcerated Parents which was established by the Hawaii Legislature (SCR128 SD1) in 2005.
Publications
- Yuen, S., Hu, A. and Engel, J. 2005. A profile of Hawaiian and Non-Hawaiian women incarcerated in a community residential transition program. Hulili: Multidiciplinary Research on Hawaiian Well-Being, 2(1), 97-110.
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
A new research assistant was recruited and hired. Project staff contributed "A Researchers Perspective" power-point presentation at a two-day conference on "Children of Prisoners: Impact on the Innocent" sponsored by Child and Family Service of Hawaii and the Child Welfare League of America. A research agreement between the University of Hawaii and the Hawaii State Department of Public Safety (DPS, which oversees prisons) was negotiated and approved, allowing access to incarcerated subjects. DPS staff cooperation was sought and obtained, and incarcerated subjects were recruited. Interviews of subjects were initiated and continue. The initial grant proposal for this project was revised, submitted and approved for two more years of support. A paper reporting preliminary findings on a subsample of subjects was submitted and accepted for presentation at a conference later in the year.
Impacts
Approximately 125-150 community and social service agency representatives participated in a two-day conference on "Children of Prisoners: Impact on the Innocent" wherein project staff contributed a power-point presentation on "A Researchers Perspective." Participants heard about and had opportunities to discuss research issues such as: Why do research on children of prisoners?, Why hasnt research been done?, What is the problem?, What is needed?, What data should be collected? And what should be avoided?. Participants had opportunities to discuss the need for research to provide information about both risk and protective factors related to impact on children, and potential dangers to children and families that should be avoided in future research.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
A survey instrument was developed with input from corrections staff and previously incarcerated mothers. An appropriate sample of incarcerated mothers was identified. A research protocol, including questionnaire and consent letter, was submitted to and approved by the University Committee on Human Studies (IRB), and a revised Form CSREES-2008 was submitted. An application was made to the Hawaii State Department of Public Safety (which oversees prisons) for access to subjects for the interviews. A research agreement between the Department of Public Safety and the University is currently being negotiated by their respective general counsels. A Video Conference entitled "Children of Prisoners, Children of Promise" was organized and held on June 24, 2003, under the auspices of the UHM Center on the Family. Over 60 participants representing various State agencies and community service organizations and incarcerated parents came to the University of Hawaii to network and
identify the problems and needs of incarcerated parents and caretakers with regard to their children. Participant working groups identified numerous problems and issues faced by children and families affected by incarceration in Hawaii, including problems/issues related to childcare, visitation, economics, mental health, parental rights and correctional facility and/or public policy. Participant working groups also identified and discussed what could be done to support children and families affected by incarceration in Hawaii, including strategies having implications for collaboration between agencies, resource allocation, training, transitional release programs, and legislation.
Impacts
Approximately 60 representatives of various State agencies, community service organizations and incarcerated parents participated in a "Children of Prisoners, Children of Promise" conference at the University of Hawaii in June, 2003. The conference was evaluated by participants at the end of the conference. Participants rated the conference presentations, materials/handouts, small group work and the conference as a whole as "Very Good" (mean = 2) on a 5-point scale from "Excellent" to "Poor." Listed by participants as "most useful" were: increased awareness and understanding of incarceration from the perspective of the child, small group work, opportunities for networking and collaboration (between organization/agency representatives, and between service providers and ex-convicts), and the message/perception that the University "cares and wants to partner with the community." Listed as "least useful" or "suggestions for improvement" were time constraints and the lack
of (and need for) more data/information on children of incarcerated parents in Hawaii as opposed to data on/from other states. As a result of this conference, a project staff member was invited to help Child and Family Service of Hawaii and the Child Welfare League of America plan another conference, "Children of Prisoners: Impact on the Innocent" for the future; and to contribute a research perspective in a panel presentation at that conference.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/02
Outputs
A review of the literature on incarcerated parents and their children and families was continued to refine research methods and develop survey instruments. Potential samples of subjects were identified and contacts made with Corrections personnel towards eventual sampling. Relevant prison records were identified and initial steps taken towards obtaining approval to access confidential files.
Impacts
As this is still the first year of this project, no impacts are expected to-date.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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