NCJ Number
150266
Journal
Social Work Volume: 39 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1994) Pages: 9-14
Date Published
1994
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Incarcerated mothers in New York State prisons who had children in foster care were studied to determine issues involved in permanency planning based on the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980.
Abstract
The participants were 53 mothers in four prisons. They completed a pretested structured questionnaire. The analysis focused on the incidence of correspondence, telephone contacts, and notification of court hearings. Results revealed that the mothers ranged from 20 to 32 years of age; the majority were over age 26. Although most of the mothers reported having telephone contact or correspondence with caseworkers, a sizable number reported having neither. In addition, less than half of the mothers were familiar with the procedures that would enable them to appear for court hearings, although failure to engage in such activities jeopardizes the parental status of the incarcerated mother. Findings support several recommendations for changes in policies and practice that facilitate increased correspondence and telephone contact as well as notification of and attendance at court hearings. Tables and 17 references