SKIP flyer 2011

1. “You don’t have to be sad
all the time just ‘cause your
Support for Kids with Incarcerated Parents Program
dad is in prison.
I have a lot to be proud of.”
—SKIP participant
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Children of incarcerated parents are often faced with the problems
of poverty as well as feelings of confusion, hurt, shame, and anger.
Usually, they have few opportunities to talk openly about their par‐
ent’s incarceration and even fewer opportunities to deal construc‐
tively with their feelings. They often misbehave in school or at
home and because of poor choices, they sometimes become part of
the juvenile justice system themselves. The SKIP Program seeks to
avoid this outcome by enabling these children to recognize their
self‐worth and enhance their interpersonal functioning so that they
can grow to be healthy, productive adults.
“I learned to believe in
myself. I learned that just
HISTORY AND CONTENT
because you cannot see
your parent doesn’t mean The first SKIP group was held in 1991 at the request of inmate par‐
ents interested in receiving support for their children. The curricu‐
your parent does not love
lum of the program is modeled after a project developed by Parents
you.”
and Children Together, Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas. Topics addressed
—SKIP participant through activity and discussion include self‐esteem, feelings, family,
incarceration, and coping. This program provides a setting in which
children can openly express and deal with feelings about parental
incarceration, build self‐esteem via completion of projects, and learn
coping skills that they are able to successfully apply outside of the
group setting.
Structure
Children involved in the SKIP Program attend a support group
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
once a week for twelve weeks. Sessions are typically held at the
Betty-Ann Izenman
245 North Broad Street child’s school, either during or after school hours. Each session be‐
Philadelphia, PA 19107 gins with a healthy snack and is followed by an hour of activity and
215.564.4775, ext.112 discussion. The final session is a celebration in which family and
215.564-7926 (Fax) friends are invited to recognize the children for their participation in
baizenman@prisonsociety.org the program. Children are presented with certificates and share
www.prisonsociety.org with their guests what they learned from the program.

2. Enrollment and Caregiver Involvement
Caregivers interested in having their child(ren) participate in the
program attend a registration interview in which they meet the
SKIP facilitator, learn more about the program and complete the
registration paperwork. Caregivers are given the opportunity to
share concerns they have regarding their children and families.
Once the group has begun meeting, the facilitator maintains con‐
tact with each caregiver regarding his/her child’s progress in the
group and welcomes correspondence from caregivers who have
questions or concerns. Interested caregivers are also informed of
volunteer opportunities that arise over the course of the program.
“My son is out of his shell
Corresponding with the Incarcerated Parent
now. He used to be so quiet in Because they are away from their children, sometimes at a
school. Now he expresses very great distance, incarcerated parents are often not in‐
himself. formed about what is going on in their lives. We strive to
eliminate this by corresponding with each parent. At the on‐
set of a SKIP group the facilitator sends a letter introducing
him/herself and explaining the program. Another letter is
He made the Honor Roll for
sent close to the conclusion of the program which summa‐
the first time ever and had rizes the child(ren)’s participation and includes a letter or
perfect attendance. drawing from the child. Many times it is through the SKIP
program that parents and children regain communication
with one another. It is our hope that through this correspon‐
He writes his dad all the time dence, and the referrals we provide for prison parenting edu‐
cation and other related programs, we will enhance the rela‐
now.
tionship between the children we serve and their incarcerated
parents.
Overall Goal
He even seems to spend more The Pennsylvania Prison Society is dedicated to helping chil‐
time with his grandfather.” dren and families cope with the incarceration of their loved
one. Our goal is to break the cycle of intergenerational incar‐
ceration by providing these children with the support they
need. SKIP support groups are focused on the child’s experi‐
—Caregiver of SKIP
ence and provide a supportive program in which discussion
participant— of feelings is encouraged, self‐esteem building is fostered and
positive mechanisms of coping are learned. Although the
SKIP support groups are specifically for children, the pro‐
gram seeks to support their families as much as possible by
providing information and referrals for other supports the
family may need.