Children of Imprisoned Parents: A Workbook for Holistic Caregiver and Child Well-Being

For too long, the adverse impacts of parental incarceration have remained in the shadows. This book, along with its companion volume, Children of Imprisoned Parents: A Guide to Holistic Caregiver and Child Well-Being (ISBN 978-1-4766-8716-2), illuminates the hidden challenges. Through an empowering journey, the authors help caregivers expand their understanding of children’s stress-response systems, allowing them to recognize how anxiety and grief may manifest in a child’s daily behaviors.

This comprehensive workbook provides caregivers with a safe space to practice, role-play, and tailor their responses to seemingly challenging situations typically associated with parental incarceration. Ultimately, users will learn how to forge strong connections between primary caregivers and their children. In a novel extension of the primary workbook content, the use of bibliotherapy-based children’s books equips caregivers to better comprehend children’s withdrawal, stigma, sadness, anger, and even perceived acting out in the home or classroom. Caregiver-led reading activities provide a perspective through which storybook characters show children that they are not alone in their circumstances.

Avon Hart-Johnson is a dedicated researcher, scholar, and advocate at the forefront of social justice initiatives. Her books and journal publications focus on the intersection of mass incarceration and its profound effects on children, families, and communities. She also leads national and international coalitions, driving discussions on social change, human rights, and reparative justice. Geoffrey Alan Johnson possesses a distinctive combination of experience in law enforcement, research, and non-profit leadership. He bridges the gap between the demand for practical strategies in public policy, juvenile justice reform, and the promotion of structural changes in social justice. He is the author of handbooks on family member incarceration and has created children’s books to help youth better grasp the related complexities. Renata Hedrington-Jones is a university educator and researcher focused on the role of social workers and human services professionals in helping families with reintegration after incarceration. Her work prepares families to build resilience. She is a principal researcher serving on multiple research teams.