Parents Behind Bars: The Plainfield Series
As America’s prison population continues to increase, so do the number of children without a parent figure in their life.There are currently 2.7 million children with an incarcerated parent, that equals 1 in 28 (3.6%) children having a parent behind bars. Unfortunately, the statistic increases for African-American children to 1 in 9 (11%). Experiencing a devastating trauma at such a young age can have some serious effects on a child and Plainfield is no exception. If the statistics hold true in Plainfield as they do around the country, then with around 9,000 students in the district there can be anywhere from 325–600 children in Plainfield who currently have one or both parents in the prison system.
Personally, I can think of a couple of people I grew up with who had parents behind bars during some part of our childhood. Since this is an ongoing situation for many students in the district, one would think the Plainfield Public Schools would have some type of coping mechanism to support those students.
I briefly spoke with the Director of Student Intervention and Family Support Services, Anna Belin-Pyles about services the district offers. Belin-Pyles previously served as the superintendent of Plainfield Public Schools but was recently demoted last year March to serve in her current position.
Director Belin-Pyles admitted the district does not keep a running record of students who currently have parents incarcerated and therefore have no special programs specifically for those students. However, the district does keep records of students that are currently incarcerated.
For students, this department offers a few programs geared toward after-school enrichment, pregnancy prevention, teen parenting, and youth development among others. No programs offered are specifically for youth with incarcerated parents. What the district does offer families, according to Belin-Pyles, are numerous economic resources funded by grants that assist displaced families and students with housing, food, utilities. Parents in said families could receive help with job search, resume writing, and referrals from the district.
Despite the Director naming these services offered by the district, most students and families are not aware this support is available. Kathy Lopez*, 2015 Plainfield High School graduate, said she was never aware of these services during her time in school.
“My father was locked up when I was in elementary school and high school,” said Lopez. “Once I got older I started to act out. There was a counselor who really wanted to help. But no one at the school knew he was in jail. It’s not like there’s a policy where you have to notify the school.”
Lopez is one of possibly hundreds of students in Plainfield who dealt with this. Lopez however brings up a point, it is not a policy to tell the school. Now I am not advocating for Plainfield to instill a policy where families have to notify the district when a parent is incarcerated, but possibly employ some transparency with the matter.
There is a stigma in society where incarceration is shamed, families usually keep it private. I am challenging Plainfield to have an open door policy with these issues, let families in the district know that there is support available to them either during PTO meetings, orientations, or even as brochures in the main office.
Studies show that children with an incarcerated parents often have behavioral and emotional struggles growing up, with an increased edge toward an attention deficit, anxiety, depression, obesity, and asthma. The Family Strengthening Project, a direct leg of the National Institute of Corrections, is one of many organizations around the country that assist children who have incarcerated parents.
Due to the lack of conversation around the topic, parents and caregivers may not feel like they can openly ask for assistance with their child. With the transparency I am advocating for, parents will feel welcomed to share with their child’s school what is going on at home and in return the school can offer support.
Even though there are currently no specific programs in Plainfield for children dealing with this, it’s possible some transparency will show the district there are enough kids in this demographic to create specific programs.
*Name has been changed to protect identity of source
