Children of Imprisoned Parents - by Avon Hart-Johnson & Geoffrey Johnson & Renata A Hedrington-Jones (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

For too long, the adverse impacts of parental incarceration have remained in the shadows. A companion to Children of Imprisoned Parents: A Guide to Holistic Caregiver and Child Well-Being (ISBN 978-1-4766-8716-2), this workbook helps caregivers understand children's stress-response systems and 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. Users will learn how to forge strong connections between primary caregivers and their children. The use of selected children's books as bibliotherapy 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.

Review Quotes

"While the self-help workbook format should be noted, this extremely helpful manual is designed for hands-on caregivers raising children of imprisoned parents. Mass incarceration scholar and social justice advocate Hart-Johnson presents practical information and steadying advice through a series of self-learning modules. ... With clear presentation and organizational aids, the content is further demarcated for specific age groups, from infants through adults. ... Most public and academic libraries will want to add this unique offering to their collections."-Booklist

About the Author

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. She is a contributing faculty member at Walden University. 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 A. 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.