Jailed Mothers and their Children in School - Research Proposal Example

Jailed Mothers and their Children in School Preface Mothers are the foremost caretakers of children. There is undeniably a natural cohesion in the bond between the mama and the offspring. Everyone gets first lessons in life from the mother who teaches the baby how to talk and to walk. Many great things come from mothers. The milk that flows from her breasts, the tender touch, the loving words, the sweet kisses before each sleep are among the nicest things that mothers give. As anyone's first teacher, no mother will allow her child to grow dumb or nincompoop. She will always see to it that he young beloved is raised in an atmosphere conducive to learning in preparation for endeavors. The ordinary and average mom wakes up early in the morning to make breakfast for the schooling kids, prepare their things before the yellow bus arrives and send them off to safety. Owing to the dynamics of the strength of this bind, separating the child from the mommy will devastate, dislocate and disorient the life of the former while causing pain and unbearable sorrow to the latter. Incarceration is among the causes of the split. In the instant study and research proposal, the principal object of the undertaking is the case of schoolchildren from the Bronx of New York City whose mothers are behind bars. Several studies have indicated that the academic performance of those children is adversely affected by the separation. Special emphasis is had on African-American incarcerated mothers. Discussion Kids are deeply affected by the traumatic experience of their mothers being sent to jail. They feel left out or develop that frame of mind where they blame themselves for the unfortunate and sorry plight of the parent. The embarrassment and stigma brought about by the jailing of their mothers are significantly imprinted on the minds of these young people. Resultant of these circumstances, the subject children tend to have emotional and behavioral predicaments including poor showing in school. They are also vulnerable to becoming juvenile delinquents or drug addicts or both. They become figures themselves in the criminal justice system just like their parents who are mostly black or Latino. (Edelman, Marian Wright: Mothers Rocking the Prison Cradle. Politics. The Huffington Post. June 23, 2008. All Bronx News, All the Time! [internet]. Accessed on July 29, 2009. Available at: http://bronxnews.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/mothers-rocking-the-prison-cradle/) Disconnected from their mothers due to detention or imprisonment, the usual scenario for the abandoned children is that they are entrusted to the custody of a foster care of the government or of their kin. This situation results to these kids having difficulties in focusing to their studies in school. They find it hard to relate to their classmates and develop a sense of isolation. They also tend to have emotional shortcomings. (Nyary, Sasha. Foster Children With Mothers In Jail. March 2004. Children. Gotham Gazette. New York City News and Policy. [internet]. Accessed on July 29, 2009. Available at: http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/children/20040303/2/901) One child who had experienced getting removed from his family as a toddler when his mother was sent to jail would always be haunted by the dark past. Even when already living with a new family, he could not shrug off the sad memories indelibly marked in his recollections. He could not grow out of the ordeal. He would remember his mother reeling deeper into addiction and financial hardships. He would not forget her going to and fro jail times and rehabilitations processes. There was once instance when they had a brief reunion. It gave him the feeling of himself having a life of hell. It was as if he was likewise going to the same direction of darkness. He attributed the whole thing to probably why he started selling prohibited drugs. (Chen, Michelle.e could notfd Parents in Prison, Children in Foster Care. Children. July 2009. Gotham Gazette. New York City News and Policy. Gotham Gazette. [internet]. Accessed July 30, 2009. Available at: .) In the same afore-cited article on the research of Michelle Chen, another child of a jailed mother was raised in a group home being managed by nuns. Four years separated, the dyad met again in one encounter. The son did not seem to recognize the mother perceiving at her as just some lady who wanted to take him. She was ready to make up for lost times but confusion ensued instead. It was as if she was being blamed. It was as if she would rather not have come home to re-join him. Fundamental findings The gist of the factual studies and researches discussed above is that the incarceration of parents, particularly of the mothers, has negative adverse effects on the children, their lives, their outlook in life and their education. In sum, the observations must be addressed accordingly. The entanglements of the welfare of children, on one hand, and of criminal justice, on the other, have complicated impacts. Firstly, it must be observed that the child welfare system of the state and of the federal echelon does not include such factors as mainly dealing with criminals. It has its mission and vision concentrated on the protection and care of the juveniles. Within the ambit of that framework, child welfare polices do not necessarily incorporate and include the data and information which relate to the parents of the concerned children, most especially the mothers and the fathers behind bars. It is however worthy to note that statistics and pertinent records show that so many of these kids have parents in incarceration. With this set-up, there are no ways of synchronizing, coordinating and correlating the sides of separated children and of their incarcerated parents. Hence, there are no specific official schemes to connect the status and relationships of these children and parents. In the same vein, parents who are jailed to answer for infractions in accordance with the precepts of the legal system suffer the punishment in order to serve the ends of justice. Ironically, the children who are left behind are likewise made to bear and endure the consequential misery and burden. In short, if nothing is done about the children being cut off from their homes, it will be tantamount to giving justice to the parties offended by the parents but tendering injustice to their children who did not and do not have anything to do with the commission of the crimes. While it is understood and admitted that the prison system was not designed for family relations and concerns, there is a need for a wake-up call to spark awareness among federal and state authorities about the need to consolidate, reconcile and synchronize the functions of government appurtenant to child welfare and criminal justice as far as relating to children who get disunited from their parents who have to go to jail and leave the family. At this juncture, it is also important and significant to observe that a lot of parents in jails and prisons have children left in the custody of welfare care or of their kin and communications and inter-actions between them are severely restrained or otherwise deprived. Some of these children are of school age and studying. As a matter of fact, seventy per cent of incarcerated women have no less than one child below the age of eighteen. (Bruns, Deborah A. PhD. Promoting Mother-Child Relationships for Incarcerated Women and Their Children (Abstract). Infants & Young Children. [internet]. Accessed July 30, 2009. Available at: http://journals.lww.com/iycjournal/Abstract/2006/10000/Promoting_Mother_Child_Relationships_for.4.aspx:). As stated in one afore-cited article, most of parents behind bars are very far from their homes, that is, a distance of about one hundred miles. On top of this, there are no sufficient policies or guidelines requiring or outlining how the incarcerated adults can maintain their relationship and communications with the separated children. For these reasons, mothers in prison rarely meet their children on a regular basis and, consequently, they have not an iota of a chance to get involved in the welfare and parenting concerns of the young ones. There are instances of some parents totally losing track of their kids. In effect, the criminal justice system actually breaks families and homes apart. Also pertinent is the fact that about eighty per cent of children with mothers in imprisonment stay with a grandparent or relative who does not get ample government support and thus limiting mobility and interaction. It must further be observed that federal law terminates parental rights under certain conditions making more difficult any contact with their children. (Edelman) Suggestive opinions Taken in a consolidated overview, the articles subject of the discussion offer opinionated suggestions. In the year 200, the Children of Incarcerated Parents Program was initiated. A scheme has been formulated to schedule about eight hundred visits every year for parents and children at Rikers Island. Monthly visits to other penitentiary locations were likewise arranged. It was however found out that resources are short while it is necessary and proper to expand the program. The natural connection between mothers in jail and the children left behind must not be hampered by the incarceration. Along this notion, processes are ongoing to revise prison policies about pregnant inmates before and after delivery to take into account how mother-child bonding is not lost. There are also good examples set by some states with the end in view of revising or modifying stern regulations and practices on confinement. To illustrate, California has moved women prisoners from big and remote prisons to those of lesser in size and which are community-based. This manner will afford and accommodate more frequent visits. Prison nurseries have also been established in the states of California, Indiana, Nebraska, New York, Ohio and Washington, among others. Another commendable crusade is the one handled by the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars which gather incarcerated mothers and the daughters together in weekly or monthly group encounters connected to the development of the children. This is presently in operations in seventeen states. There are also simulated visitations via the utilization of technology including video cameras, computers and tape recorders. Community advocates who look after the welfare of incarcerated women have valid suggestions. One is for the promotion of services toward the prevention of addiction cases advancing the opinion that drug treatment considerably results in reduced drug-related crimes. It is likewise opined that, based on statistics, such a government program is about half the cost of keeping the subject in jail in a New York setting. In other words, it is wiser and cheaper to cure the addict rather than prosecute and lock her in jail Another information gathered from the discussed articles conveys the assessment that making arrangements for prison visits and managing the same may be expensive and time consuming. It is therefore imperative for the child welfare agencies and the correctional institutions to work together, cooperate with each other and set the common goal for the welfare and greater interests of the child and the mother. The collective but independent efforts are therefore for the common goal of not separating the mother from the child. The split has devastating and deteriorating effects. It bears both to the physical and emotional development of the dis-united child. Reunification in cases of maternal incarceration must therefore have to be achieved. While this is easier said than done, it necessitates initial steps in order to move forward. One thinking expresses the view that among the variables attendant to a lesser chance at unification is African-American ethnicity. (Hayward, R. Anna and Diane DePanfilisa, Foster children with an incarcerated parent: Predictors of reunification. (Abstract). Science Direct. [internet] Accessed July 30, 2009. Available at: < http://www.sciencedirect.com/science_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V98-4P1G9CP-3&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=75947138e8fce843355925e4b51d1297>) Albeit the observation may be correct, such discrimination has to be disregarded in the carrying out of the objectives of this study and in avoiding any mis-interpretation in order to solicit the valued cooperation of all concerned. Recommendations In view of all the foregoing facts and well-founded opinions gathered from factual sources, it is strongly recommended that a survey be conducted among at least five sparsely located public high schools in the Bronx in New York City. In order that the census will not be interpreted in a bad light, it will cover all children within the programmed scope, tentatively set at fifty students per high school or for a total of two hundred fifty students. The number preferred for the gender factor will be twenty for boys or males and thirty for girls or females. In order to assure secrecy and confidentiality of information, the specific names of the covered students will not be required. The survey form is suggested to extract the information listed below and/or to answer the given questions, thus - 1. Age, 2. Address, 3. Year level, 4. Ethnic origin, 5. Religion or faith orientation, 6. Occupation of the father, 7. Occupation of the mother, 8. What does the student want to be in the future, 9. What qualities in a family does the student desire, 10. What does the student like in his or her father, 11. What does the student like in his or her mother, 12. Who prepares the breakfast of the student, 13. Who sends the student to school, 14. Who picks up the student after classes, 15. How does the student think about the school, 16. How does the student rate himself or herself in class Is it above average, average, below average, poor or very poor 17. How does the student explain his or her rating in class 18. If the student is to picture life, what will it be, 19. Who is the student's male movie hero, 20. Who is the student's female movie hero, 21. How does the student describe God, 22. How important is money to the student, 23. What is the student's happiest moment, and 24. What is the student's saddest moment, if any. It is suggested that before the survey plans are finalized, a discussion with the respective school administrators be had. It is important the there must be consent and approval coming from the school management. It will also be stressed that the survey will be totally voluntary and will cover all the given students with general guidelines; hence, the respondents must not be classified as to native origin or race such as black, white or Latino. The information and data to be extracted and the questions to be asked. The information and data to be extracted all self-explanatory as to purpose. For instance, religion is important as a piece of information because it is common knowledge that people who fear in a Supreme Existence are usually peace loving and law abiding citizens. While it may not convey conclusiveness, religious leaning has something to speak about the respondent. As to how the student rates himself or herself, it is presumed that he or she will honestly declare the same it being that the survey is to be held in utmost secrecy and confidentiality. The question on the ambition of the student for his future is important because it will express how his or her hopes are defined. One who aspires will always observe order and harmony in his own life and will avoid any troubles in the process. No direct information should be obtained from official records like those of school files. Family background has to be therefore elicited via such questions as what qualities dies a student desire in a family. This same is true in what he or she likes in his or her mother and father. Questions concerning who prepares the breakfast, the one who sends the student to school, and who picks him or her up will become determinants if the student is being attended to by his or her parents or otherwise. Upon the other hand, such queries as what the student thinks of his or her school, how the student pictures life, who are his or her screen heroes, how he or she describes God, how important money is to him or her, and his or her happiest and saddest moments will reflect on the student's outlook and perceptions of life. Budget for the survey It is estimated that a total of two hours has to be spent for each student to be surveyed. With the minimum wage in New York at more than seven dollars per hour, each surveyor may be paid ten dollars per hour with the extra over the minimum rate to serve as incentives for an effective and efficient job. A total of fifty survey takers may be hired or a ratio of five student each. It will possibly be a two-day activity. A one-meal budget per taker is suggested for every day of work. Cost per meal is pegged at two dollars which is relatively reasonable under the circumstances. Estimated cost of office supplies per surveyor is also two dollars. Total cost of the actual survey is thus broken down and summarized as follows: a. Number of survey takers 50 b. Number of students under each survey taker 5 c. Total number of students (50 x 5) 250 d. Number of hours to be consumed per student 2 e. Total man-hours for the survey 500 f. Cost of labor per hour of survey taking 2 dollars g. Total labor cost of the survey 1,000 dollars h. Meal allowance per surveyor for two days at two dollars each for two days for 50 surveyors (2 x 2 x 50) 200 dollars i. Cost of office and other supplies per surveyor 2 dollars j. Total cost of office and other supplies (2 x 50 surveyors) 100 dollars k. Overall cost of the survey taking (g., 1,000 dollars, plus h., 200 dollars, plus j., 100 dollars) 1,300 dollars. For the collation of the survey documents and results and the finalization of the same, it is projected to require sixteen working hours and at ten dollars per hour, it will sum up to one hundred sixty dollars. Hence, grand total cost of the whole undertaking will be one thousand four hundred sixty dollars (one three hundred dollars representing overall cost of the survey taking [k. above] plus the cost of finalization in the amount of one hundred sixty dollars). Final recommendations Once the results of the survey are finalized and documented, it is strongly recommended a report on the same be furnished the child welfare agencies of the Bronx, the administrators of the jails and the prisons having charge of incarcerated mothers of schooling children from the Bronx, and the federal and city officials concerned, as well as the congressmen and senators having jurisdiction over the Bronx area. The report must include a poignant determination on the part of the crusading advocates about a specific law that must integrate child welfare and the prison system so far as relating to incarcerated parents and their children for constant contact and communications. If legally and procedurally feasible, the report must also include a strong suggestion to repeal or abolish the law which terminates parental right over children. If resources are available, the report must also include exploring lobbying possibilities. Models in other states taking favorable actions on the matter may be cited in order to push the state and federal officials to think of solutions to address the burdensome situation. The involvement of the legislators has to be of particular importance. It must be stressed and highlighted that the adversely affected students are becoming a risk in the population based on studies showing that children of incarcerated parents who are not well attended to go to the wrong paths themselves. The youth, supposed to be the hopes of the fatherland, may be deserving of a better and wholesome treatment in society. Works Cited Bruns, Deborah A. PhD. Promoting Mother-Child Relationships for Incarcerated Women and Their Children (Abstract). Infants & Young Children. [internet]. Accessed July 30, 2009. Available at: . Chen, Michelle.e could notfd Parents in Prison, Children in Foster Care. Children. July 2009. Gotham Gazette. New York City News and Policy. Gotham Gazette. [internet]. Accessed July 30, 2009. Available at: . Edelman, Marian Wright: Mothers Rocking the Prison Cradle. Politics. The Huffington Post. June 23, 2008. All Bronx News, All the Time! [internet]. Accessed on July 29, 2009. Available at: . Hayward, R. Anna and Diane DePanfilisa, Foster children with an incarcerated parent: Predictors of reunification. (Abstract). Science Direct. [internet] Accessed July 30, 2009. Available at: < http://www.sciencedirect.com/science_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V98-4P1G9CP- 3&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct= C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=75947138e8fce84335592 5e4b51d1297> Nyary, Sasha. Foster Children With Mothers In Jail. March 2004. Children. Gotham Gazette. New York City News and Policy. [internet]. Accessed on July 29, 2009. Available at: . Read More