On any given day, there are an estimated 2 million children in America with at least one parent in prison or jail.

NRCCFI at FCN is the oldest and largest organization in the U.S. focused on children and families of the incarcerated and programs that serve them.

  • Disseminating accurate and relevant information
  • Guiding the development of family strengthening policy and practice
  • Training, preparing, and inspiring those working in the field
  • Including the families in defining the issues and designing solutions

New & Notable

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News on the Site and in the Field

Here you will find the latest updates from this site and in the field including the following:
International News: UN Day of Discussion, International Symposium, New Website and Study, and the 2012 International Study Week/Seminar for Children of Prisoners
New Report: Safeguarding NY’s Children of Incarcerated Parents
NYC Premiere of Mothers of Bedford
Family Justice Program Publication: Setting an Agenda for Family-focused Justice Reform
Centerforce Presents: The Original Training for Mentors: Mentoring Children of Prisoners-Training for Trainers (An Extraordinary Savings Opportunity!)
Blog of Interest -  Immigrant Children of Incarcerated Parents
New Film – “LIFE WITHOUT: Youth With Incarcerated Parents Tell Their Own Stories”
A Resource for Caregivers – Difficult Questions Children Ask,  and Answers that Can Help: A Caregiver’s Guide
NRCCFI Special Project – Visiting and How to Get There: A Survey of Program Models Offering Transportation for Prison Visiting
CSG Justice Center Unveils Federal Action Plan for Improving Responses to Children of Incarcerated Parents
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A Letter of Thanks

Dear Children of Prisoners Library,

Thank you so much for just existing. I am an ex-offender now working as a Reentry Case Manager. My twins were 3 years old when I was arrested and they witnessed my arrest. I was gone for 9.5 months. I went from being a very involved mom when they were babies to totally checking out due to my drug addiction. My children reacted to my incarceration by regressing. They stopped talking and my daughter was peeing on the floor of the kitchen.

Today, I’ve been home for almost three years and you would never know that a significant trauma had occurred. We were and are fortunate enough to be able to provide play therapy for my children, marriage counseling for me and my husband and individual counseling for myself. Read More

Spotlight

Spotlight: The Center for Young Women’s Development

The Center for Young Women’s Development in San Francisco is one of the first non-profits in the United States run and led entirely by young women. From the beginning, they have organized the most marginalized young women in San Francisco, those in the street economies and the juvenile justice system, to design and deliver peer-to-peer education and support. FCN sits down with Executive Director Marlene Sanchez to discuss CYWD’s unique approach, some of the keys to its successes, and how her own personal experiences have informed her passion for this work.
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Popular Resources from NRCCFI

There are many ways that communities can help children and families of the incarcerated but it often begins with a plan and effective training. Learn how your community can organize and help.

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New Trainings from NRCCFI

NRCCFI offers a series of exciting onsite and remote trainings. Learn about our newest trainings for teachers and school personnel, for mentoring youth in juvenile justice programs, for working with children and families when parents return from prison and for implementing policy reform using the Bill of Rights for Children of the Incarcerated. Read More

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Updates on the Bill of Rights Project

Here you will find updates regarding the latest news and progress reports on the various Bill of Rights policy projects throughout the nation. The Bill of Rights for Children of Incarcerated Parents was published in 2003 by the San Francisco Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership, a coalition of groups in the San Francisco area and supported by the Zellerbach Foundation in San Francisco (www.sfcipp.org).

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