Report to the Legislature Incarcerated Parents Chapter 403, Laws of 2005

• NCJ Number: 219024
• Author(s): Dee Crocker; Betsy Rodgers; Kathleen Russell; Belinda Stewart
• Date Published: January 2006
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Washington Dept of Social and Health Services
• Sale Source: Washington Dept of Social and Health Services
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded June 27, 2007.

Annotation

This paper reports on the activities thus far of an oversight committee appointed by the Washington State Departments of Corrections and Social and Health Services to guide an interagency exploration of the needs of children in the State whose parents are incarcerated.

Abstract

Under HB 1426, Children of Incarcerated Parents, the 2005 Washington Legislature charged the two departments with identifying existing State service programs for the children of incarcerated parents, as well as recognized community-based services and programs. The departments were also assigned the tasks of identifying methods for improving collaboration and coordination of existing services and programs, as well as the identification of evidenced-based practices and areas for further research. Recommendations are to be developed for new services and programs for children of incarcerated parents that involve both interagency and community-based efforts. The 26-member interdisciplinary oversight committee met for the first time on September 8 and 9, 2005, for the purpose of exploring its tasks and organizing its work. The committee formed four subcommittees designated to focus on the needs and services for children of incarcerated parents in the phases of preincarceration, confinement, reentry/reunification, and ongoing services. On November 8, the committee met again in order to hear reports from the subcommittees, consider formative recommendations, and plan its work for early 2006. Thus far, the subcommittees have independently determined that Washington State's services and programs for the children of incarcerated parents are few in number, small in scope, and fragmented. Information about current services available in Washington State and other parts of the Nation is being summarized in a resource guide. The oversight committee will finalize the findings of the subcommittees and data from the Departments of Corrections and Social and Health Services in a report to the legislature on June 30, 2006.