Did We Forget Something? Fathering Supports and Programs in Prisons in Victoria, Australia

Bartlett, Tess; Trotter, Chris

doi:10.1177/0306624x19828575

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…There are many possible factors contributing to these negative outcomes. For instance, recent evidence shows that there is limited parenting support or preparation for post-release parenting for incarcerated fathers in Victoria's prisons (Bartlett and Trotter, 2019). More targeted and in-depth studies are needed to capture the complexity in the relationship between children and their incarcerated parents and managing the challenges both during and after imprisonment.…”

Section: Unanticipated Findings and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

University students/graduates who have experienced parental incarceration: A qualitative exploratory study of protective processes

Zhang

Flynn

2019

Qualitative Social Work

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Incarceration of a parent has been shown to have significant negative impacts on children’s development, with poorer educational outcomes and engagement in anti-social behaviours. However, the experiences of children who do well, despite parental incarceration, have been largely ignored in scholarly research. This study therefore sought to bring a strengths-orientation to this area, investigating the protective processes described as important by non-offending, ‘resilient’, young adults with lived experience of parental incarceration. Data from individual semi-structured interviews conducted with five university students/graduates demonstrate the role of family support. Family-related protective processes, including positive caregiving characteristics, perceived closeness with non-incarcerated caregivers and multi-faceted family support, are the most important in helping the participants cope well and develop resilience. These findings provide important initial knowledge in this area and propose core areas for further investigation. These preliminary findings suggest that assisting families, through the provision of resources and parenting supports, would be helpful in facilitating the development of resilience for children with incarcerated parents.

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Section: Unanticipated Findings and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

University students/graduates who have experienced parental incarceration: A qualitative exploratory study of protective processes

Zhang

Flynn

2019

Qualitative Social Work

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“…For these men, taking part in the program gave them new parenting skills, a new confidence in fatherhood and allowed them to remain involved in their children's lives while continuing to support their partner (Dennison et al, 2014). In Victoria, a forthcoming paper that examines supports/services for 39 primary carer fathers incarcerated in Victoria indicates that, overall, three-quarters of the men were never offered/nor did they participate in any parenting programs or support services (Bartlett and Trotter, 2019). Given that latest estimates show there are around 6644 men currently imprisoned in Victoria (ABS, 2017) and (using a 50% estimate) around 3322 of these are likely to be fathers, there exists a need for the provision of fathering programs in prison.…”

Section: Educational Fathering Programsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supporting incarcerated fathers: An exploration of research and practice in Victoria, Australia

Bartlett

2018

Probation Journal

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In recent decades the number of incarcerated parents has increased on a global scale. The majority of these prisoners are men, yet there has been very little formal attention concerning the parenting status of these men, despite knowledge about the impact of parental incarceration on children being well established. In Victoria, Australia, some 93 per cent of prisoners are men, and more than half of these are fathers, yet they have also attracted limited scholarly and practitioner attention. This article explores research and practice accounts regarding support for incarcerated fathers and their children, particularly emphasising visiting, supported/visiting and fathering units, to build knowledge in Victoria. To do so it examines 36 publications from 2000 to 2018, addressing a gap in knowledge relating to supporting father-child relationships from prison. It concludes by offering pragmatic solutions for the development of supports that will contribute to the maintenance of these relationships.

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“…Men's parenting programmes have variable availability in Victorian prisons, and little has been published about their operations or efficacy (Bartlett, 2019; Bartlett & Trotter, 2019). The Parenting Inside Out programme was developed for incarcerated fathers and is available in two Victorian prisons.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Whose responsibility? Reexamining Victorian justice system responses to the children and families of parents in prison

Hart¹,

Field-Pimm²

2021

Aust J Social Issues

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Research into the children and families affected by parental imprisonment has demonstrated a range of well-being concerns and proposed a comprehensive array of policy and practice responses, but little practical change has been achieved. With a focus on the Victorian justice system, we provide an overview of the literature and the current service provision, investigating why the policy inertia has persisted. Using feminist theory on the ethics and practices of care, we reexamine the findings of two significant Australian studies into the child and family-centeredness of professionals within the police, courts, prisons and child protection agencies. We demonstrate that, at best, care is fragile and rendered from the margins of roles that are designed to be care-less in relation to this cohort.At worst, justice system personnel and procedures can be resolutely uncaring. We suggest that reluctance among policymakers to displace attention from "core business" may explain the absence of policies to care for children and families of imprisoned parents, and highlight two further strategies: leadership to protect and extend the fragile care practice within the justice system; and new mandates to care for children and families of imprisoned parents extending from familyoriented human services outside the justice system.

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Did We Forget Something? Fathering Supports and Programs in Prisons in Victoria, Australia

Cited by 5 publications

References 34 publications

University students/graduates who have experienced parental incarceration: A qualitative exploratory study of protective processes

University students/graduates who have experienced parental incarceration: A qualitative exploratory study of protective processes

Supporting incarcerated fathers: An exploration of research and practice in Victoria, Australia

Whose responsibility? Reexamining Victorian justice system responses to the children and families of parents in prison

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