Learning to parent sensitively and safely can be challenging for adults with childhood abuse and neglect experiences. Such childhood experiences are prevalent among incarcerated parents whose ability to parent their own children is also limited by separation from them. Several prisons have developed programs to foster pro-social parenting skills among incarcerated mothers and fathers to assist them on release. This paper reports a qualitative research study that explored the factors affecting the delivery and outcomes of parenting programs in correctional facilities in New South Wales Australia from the perspective of individuals involved in developing and implementing the programs. Thematic analysis of nineteen interviews identified two main themes: supporting parents’ learning in correctional settings and providers’ learning about parent education in correctional settings. Respondents reported the benefits of providing creative learning opportunities enabling parents to build on their strengths and to develop relationships. These factors contributed to changing prisoners’ attitudes and supporting them to consider alternative parenting approaches. The co-productive approach to parent education supported enhanced parenting knowledge amongst parents and greater insights amongst educators. Parenting education can be successfully delivered in correctional settings and can assist incarcerated parents build on existing knowledge and adapt it for their own needs.
Fowler, CathrineDawson, AngelaRossiter, ChrisJackson, DebraPower, TamaraRoche, Michael
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences\Department of Nursing
Year of publication: 2017Date of RADAR deposit: 2017-10-26