New Study on Mentoring Children of the Incarcerated
With the support of a Distinguished Fellowship from the William T. Grant Foundation, Dr. David DuBois is currently working with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to analyze data that they are collecting on the strength and longevity of mentoring relationships involving youth who have an incarcerated parent. Dr. DuBois presented his initial findings in June at the organization’s national conference. The organization plans to also evaluate outcomes associated with mentoring for youth with incarcerated parents in the areas of academics, relationships with parents and peers, and attitudes toward risk behavior. These analyses will make use of data that are collected with a newly developed outcomes survey that is being completed by all youth served by the organization.
The NRCCFI web site will post updates to Dr. DuBois’ on-going research
He can be contacted directly at –
David DuBois, Ph.D.
Professor
Institute for Health Research and Policy (M/C 275)
University of Illinois at Chicago
1747 W. Roosevelt Rd.
Chicago IL 60608
(312) 413-9806
Fax: (312) 996-2703
e-mail: dldubois@uic.edu
More Ongoing research
Below are two projects funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research at NIH. The first is an evaluation of the Taconic and Bedford Hills prison nurseries and the second examines the parenting experience of mothers post-release.
Project Title: Maternal and Child Outcomes of a Prison Nursery Program
Grantee: Columbia University
Abstract: The broad objectives of this project are to identify and explore the changes in maternal-infant attachment and infant/toddler development as they occur during incarceration on a prison nursery and during the year following release of the infant with and without the mother. The overall goal is to enrich the knowledge base from which prison and community based parenting programs can be developed and tested and to improve the lives of incarcerated women and their children during co detention and following release.
Project Title: The Lived Experience of Mothering after Prison
Grantee: Boston College
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of the lived experience of mothering after prison. Although current research has identified the impact of separation on mothers and their children during maternal incarceration, a paucity of knowledge exists regarding the experience of previously incarcerated mothers during reintegration into their mothering role. Nearly two-thirds of women in prison have at least one child under the age of 18, with a reported 71.7 per cent of them having lived with their children before entering prison (Greenfield & Snell, 1999). According to a report from the National Institute of Corrections nearly 85 percent of mothers in prison reported that they planned to live with their children after their release. (Collins & Collins, 1996). The findings from this study contribute to a greater under standing of the experience of mothering after prison. This study will inform public health nurses of the needs of this population and encourage collaboration with correctional institutions and the community-at-large in order to promote successful reentry to the family and community.
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