Trauma and Resilience in Young Children: Effects and Experiences of Parental Incarceration

Parental absence due to incarceration is a unique family stressor. Many children have an absent parent because of events such as divorce or deployment, but an absence that is due to incarceration can be highly stigmatizing and may lead families to hide this fact. Teachers and other professionals are in a position to provide critical supports and services that build on family strengths and foster resilience in children affected by the trauma of parental incarceration. This issue of the Journal draws attention to the millions of children in the United States who have experienced parental incarceration and its consequences, and invites readers to consider how one can help.

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Table of Contents

Pg 2—This Issue and Why It Matters

Pg 5—Promoting Resilience With Children Impacted by Parental Incarceration

Pg 14—“No One Has Ever Asked Me if I’m a Dad.”: Supporting Families in the Context of Incarceration Through Community-University-Corrections Partnerships

Pg 22—Parent–Child Separation Due to Incarceration: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Considerations

Pg 30—Reuniting Young Children With Their Incarcerated Parents

Pg 40—Understanding Secondary Trauma and Stress in the Early Childhood Workforce

Pg 51—Exploring Early Care and Education Policy for Young Children of Incarcerated Parents

Pg 59—Family Systems, Communities of Care, and Mental Health

Pg 66—In Memoriam: J. Ronald Lally