Federal law sets timelines for states' decisions about placing foster care children in permanent homes, and, in some cases, for filing to terminate parental rights. Some policymakers have questioned the reasonableness of these timelines for children of incarcerated parents and expressed interest in how states work with these families. GAO was asked to examine: (1) the number of foster care children with incarcerated parents, (2) strategies used by child welfare and corrections agencies in selected states that may support contact or reunification, and (3) how the Department of Health and Human…
Report, Other
This paper discusses three key policy areas regarding incarcerated mothers and fathers in Oregon: prison nurseries and community-based residential parenting programs; foster care laws; and parenting programs for incarcerated fathers. After reviewing background and best practices associated with policy implementation in each area, the paper explores ways in which policymakers, stakeholders, and advocates might address each policy area in Oregon, and suggests the formation of a legislative task force to address these issues. It emphasizes the need for increased policy attention to be focused on…
More than 10 million children have had a parent in prison. These children often live with their remaining parent or another family member, or in foster care. Children of incarcerated women placed in foster care are subject to the termination of parental rights requirements of the Adoption and Safe Families Act. The act specifies that termination petitions be filed when children live in foster care during 15 of the previous 22 months. However, no provisions are made for incarcerated parents who cannot attain custody during the time limit. Research has found that parental stress contributes to…