Parental incarceration of is one of the 10 Adverse childhood experiences and it affects more than 5 million school-aged children in America today.
“Schools are becoming more aware of the trauma that some students have faced and how those experiences impact students’ ability to focus in school and to interact with others in a positive way. The incarceration of a parent or other close family member is one of the ACEs that has the most impact on a child, but might also be the most likely to be ignored.”
It is important for educators to understand the challenges that children of incarcerated parents face so they can offer the correct supports to help students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.