CHILDREN WITH PARENTS IN PRISON - CHILD-WELFARE POLICY, PROGRAM, AND PRACTICE ISSUES

As the rate at which adults are being incarcerated in the United State s escalates, child welfare professionals are encountering growing numb ers of children who have parents in prison. Current estimates indicate that as many as 1.5 million children have an incarcerated; parent; ma ny thousands of others have experienced the incarceration of a parent at some point in their lives. These vulnerable children face unique di fficulties, and their growing numbers and special needs demand attenti on. Challenges facing the child welfare system as it attempts to work with this population are explored.