About This Guide
This library guide is intended to supplement the Children and Youth with Incarcerated Parents eLearning available through OACAS Learning. These resources were compiled and kindly shared with OACAS by course creator and host E.M. Knudsen.
Ontario Service Providers
- Canadian Families and Corrections Network (CFCN)This national non-profit provides services to families including: toll-free advice phone line; information booklets, Visitor Centre parenting resources and fathering programs at certain federal institutions; They are also the Canadian distributor of Sesame Street’s resiliency kits and host events for this project across Canada.
- Kids of Prisoners (KIP) CanadaThis non-profit provides a range of services, including: transportation to Ontario institutions, after-school programs, counselling (including Indigenous-specific counselling), camps and mentoring, to children and families in the Greater Toronto Area.
- Mothers Offering Mutual Support (MOMs)This group runs a variety of support groups and advocacy projects for family members of prisoners in Ottawa.
- Local Elizabeth Fry SocietiesElizabeth Fry Societies are charitable agencies that operate across Canada and provide services to criminalized women and gender-diverse folks. Every local E Fry agency is a little different, but most offer counselling and support groups (often with a focused on issues like mental health, substance use, relationship, parenting, or needs like employment or housing), and support around specific charges (such as anger-related issues, sex work, theft/fraud).
- Local John Howard SocietiesJohn Howard Societies are charitable agencies that operate across Canada and provide services to people involved in, or at risk of being involved in, the criminal justice system. Every local John Howard Society agency is a little different and provides different services, but these can include supports to prisoners ‘inside’, reintegration services, counselling, parenting, and bail programs. Few of the local John Howard agencies have programs specifically for families of prisoners, aside from in London and Hamilton which provide transportation services and support groups to families of prisoners.
Advice and Resources for Social Workers Serving Families of Prisoners
Printable Leaflets and Resources for Caregivers on the 'Outside'
Resources for Children
- Coping with Incarceration | Sesame StreetThe incarceration of a loved one can be overwhelming for both children and caregivers. Because of the feeling of stigma, it takes special effort to start important conversations and answer kids’ questions. But parents can comfort children and guide them through difficult moments just by talking. With love and support, the family can cope with the challenges of incarceration together. This page has videos, activities, printables, and information for care providers and children.
- Books for parents, caregivers and professionals to read with children of the incarcerated | Rutgers UniversityA recommended book list for parents, care providers, and professionals to read with children who have an incarcerated parent. Most of these can be found at your local public library, or borrowed through inter-library loan at no cost.
Canadian Advocacy Organizations
- Canadian Coalition for Children of Incarcerated Parents (CCCIP)The Canadian Coalition for Children with Incarcerated Parents (CCCIP) comprises a network of organizations and individuals and advocates for children’s rights and seeks to create standard safeguards that ensure the best interests of the child are a primary consideration in all decisions and at every stage of the justice system in Canada.
- Local Elizabeth Fry SocietiesElizabeth Fry Societies are charitable agencies that operate across Canada and provide services to criminalized women and gender-diverse folks. Every local E Fry agency is a little different, but most offer counselling and support groups (often with a focused on issues like mental health, substance use, relationship, parenting, or needs like employment or housing), and support around specific charges (such as anger-related issues, sex work, theft/fraud).
- Local John Howard SocietiesJohn Howard Societies are charitable agencies that operate across Canada and provide services to people involved in, or at risk of being involved in, the criminal justice system. Every local John Howard Society agency is a little different and provides different services, but these can include supports to prisoners ‘inside’, reintegration services, counselling, parenting, and bail programs. Few of the local John Howard agencies have programs specifically for families of prisoners, aside from in London and Hamilton which provide transportation services and support groups to families of prisoners.
United Nations international human rights instruments:
- The “Nelson Mandela Rules” | The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. Of particular interest to child protection workers: Rules 43(3), 58, 88, 106, 107
- The “Bangkok Rules” | The United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders. Of particular interest to child protection workers: Rules 2, 23, 26. 28, 60, 64
