The Promises of Parenting Program improves the maternal-infant relational health of incarcerated mothers and their co-residing children residing on the Officer Breann Leath Memorial Maternal-Child Health Unit at the Indiana Women’s Prison by providing evidence-based parenting education and support.
Incarcerated mothers represent a rapidly growing inmate population in the United States. The number of incarcerated women has increased by more than 700% in the last forty years. Most of these women are mothers and primary caregivers for their families, causing a traumatic separation for the child when the mother becomes incarcerated.
Learn more on the incarceration of women in the United States from the American Civil Liberties Union.
A consistent and responsive caregiver is critical to an infant’s development of secure attachment and sense of safety in the world. When a caregiver-child separation occurs due to incarceration, the development of secure attachment is disrupted, causing trauma and an increased risk for both short-term and long-term adverse outcomes for both the child and caregiver.
Prison nurseries allow the mother to retain physical custody of her baby after delivering in the hospital. A mother and her baby will leave the hospital and live together in a prison nursery unit. This allows the mother to provide the critical safe, comforting and consistent care that infants need most in the earliest days of life.
The Promises of Parenting Program provides weekly evidence-based parenting education to mothers residing in the Leath Unit, enhanced by the distribution of foundational toys and learning materials to the mothers and babies.
Promises of Parenting core components
Circle of Security parenting classes
Classes focus on strengthening maternal reflection and understanding young children’s genuine relationship needs.
Milestone Moments classes
Classes focus on developmental milestones, appropriate parental expectations and child health and safety.
Play and Learn group
This group is a chance for mothers and children to play, share positive experiences and interact with other mothers and children. This time also creates a safe environment for the mother to ask questions and practice parenting techniques learned in classes.