California Institution for Women and Gordon Philanthropies Present at the 2024 National Children of Incarcerated Parents Conference

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 25, 2024 (Newswire.com) - California Institution for Women Chief Deputy Warden (A) Delinia Lewis and Gordon Philanthropies Executive Director Sylvia Beanes spoke at the 2024 National Children of Incarcerated Parents Conference on the importance of Children’s Libraries in correctional facilities. Their presentation, The California Institution for Women, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, and Gordon Philanthropies Put Children First, spoke to how positive visitation experiences are widely recognized as incredibly beneficial for both incarcerated parents and their children, the role that libraries can play in enhancing these experiences, and how correctional facilities in other states can replicate this work.

“We know that consistent, meaningful visitation reduces recidivism rates and helps nurture healthy bonds between children and their incarcerated parents. This means that correctional facilities must provide safe, inviting spaces to help nurture those relationships. The California Institution for Women has seen firsthand the benefit our Children’s Library has had on these visitations,” CIW Chief Deputy Warden (A) Delinia Lewis shared with attendees.

Lewis and Beanes spoke about how the installation of CIW’s Children’s Library (with funding from GP) has provided children with a safe, clean environment to read and play as they visit their parents. Families are allowed to visit the library as they await the arrival of their incarcerated family member. This is critical, they noted, as it can take one to two hours before a family can visit their incarcerated family member — with no outside items allowed due to security issues. Now, children have access to the latest books, board games, and other educational materials to help make their visit that much more meaningful.

“Libraries, like the one we helped establish at CIW, are so desperately needed. The incarceration of a parent can severely harm a child’s education and overall quality of life. If Gordon Philanthropies can help children in need by providing educational materials and other resources, including the installation of a Children’s Library in a correctional facility, then that is exactly what we will do,” said GP Executive Director Sylvia Beanes during her presentation.

There are an estimated 2.7 million children across the United States who have at least one parent who is incarcerated. According to the National Institute of Justice, “Without support, children of incarcerated parents have poor educational outcomes, are vulnerable to developing behavioral health challenges, and shorter life expectancies.” This is why the NIJ recognizes children as the “hidden victims” of incarceration. Fortunately, research also suggests that healthy parent-child bonds combined with strong social support systems can help children overcome the challenges and stigmas of having an incarcerated parent.

Lewis and Beanes delivered this information to an audience of over 100 professionals from numerous states across the nation and Canada on the second day of the 6th National Children of Incarcerated Parents Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. The conference brings together professionals working in child welfare, state and federal correctional facilities, education, social work, behavioral health and human services, judicial affairs, and more. Conference panels and presentations provide attendees with an opportunity to gather, share effective practices, and engage in planning. The conference was hosted by Arizona State University’s Center for Child Well-Being.

Source: Gordon Philanthropies