A majority of state (55%) and federal (63%) prisoners in the U.S. have at least one child under the age of 18 years. Parental criminality, arrests, and incarceration are at least modest predictors of violent and serious child delinquency, and there is evidence that the impact of parent criminality on child antisocial behavior is mediated by parenting practices. A variety of non-standardized programs aimed at improving inmate parenting practices have been delivered in U.S. prisons, but rigorous scientific knowledge on the impact of such programs on inmates and children is non-existent. To begin to remedy this lack of knowledge, we propose a randomized preventive intervention trial to test the impact of parent management training on the children of incarcerated parents. This trial will be conducted with the full cooperation and support of the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Oregon Governor, and services for the intervention will be paid for by the DOC. Incarcerated parents (.N = 400; 50% female; 50% minority) will be randomized into a parent management training condition (PMT; g = 200) or a services-as-usual condition (SU; _n= 200). PMT will combine current standard of practice prison parent education curricula with state of the art, empirically-based parent management training content and methods. In addition, caregivers will receive weekly mailings as well as weekly phone calls as part of the PMT condition. Participants (i.e., inmates, caregivers, and a focus child in elementary school [grades 1 through 5]) will be assessed at baseline, during intervention, following intervention, after release from prison, and 6 months after release. School and court records and teacher data will be collected at baseline and 6 months after release. Collected data will allow for an examination of whether a theoretically and empirically based, group-delivered PMT program for incarcerated parents positively impacts the behavior, well-being, and relationships of the inmates, their children, and the caregivers of their children while the inmate is inside and outside of prison; and whether any changes in child and caregiver behavior, well-being, and relationships are mediated by treatment-initiated changes in inmate parenting practices.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH065553-03
Application #
6888178
Study Section
Risk, Prevention and Health Behavior Integrated Review Group (RPHB)
Program Officer
Vitiello, Benedetto
Project Start
2003-06-09
Project End
2008-04-30
Budget Start
2005-05-01
Budget End
2006-04-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$633,714
Indirect Cost
Name
Oregon Social Learning Center, Inc.
Department
Type
DUNS #
084418656
City
Eugene
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97401
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Poehlmann, Julie; Eddy, J Mark; Dallaire, Danielle H et al. (2013) Relationship processes and resilience in children with incarcerated parents. Monogr Soc Res Child Dev 78:vii-viii, 1-129
Kjellstrand, Jean; Cearley, Jennifer; Eddy, J Mark et al. (2012) Characteristics of Incarcerated Fathers and Mothers: Implications for Preventive Interventions Targeting Children and Families. Child Youth Serv Rev 34:2409-2415
Kjellstrand, Jean Mollenkamp; Eddy, J Mark (2011) Mediators of the Effect of Parental Incarceration on Adolescent Externalizing Behaviors. J Community Psychol 39:551-565
Kjellstrand, Jean M; Eddy, J Mark (2011) Parental Incarceration during Childhood, Family Context, and Youth Problem Behavior across Adolescence. J Offender Rehabil 50:18-36
Smith, Dana K; Chamberlain, Patricia; Eddy, J Mark (2010) Preliminary Support for Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care in Reducing Substance Use in Delinquent Boys. J Child Adolesc Subst Abuse 19:343-358
Eddy, J Mark; Martinez, Charles R; Schiffmann, Tracy et al. (2008) Development of a Multisystemic Parent Management Training Intervention for Incarcerated Parents, Their Children and Families. Clin Psychol (New York) 12:86-98
Martinez Jr, Charles R; Eddy, J Mark (2005) Effects of culturally adapted parent management training on Latino youth behavioral health outcomes. J Consult Clin Psychol 73:841-51