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Family Friendly Jail Initiative (FFJI)
Carlton County Family Friendly Jail Initiative
Parental incarceration can be difficult for a child. When a parent goes to jail, the child may experience challenges in family relationships, at school and in their community. The stigma of having an incarcerated parent can affect mental health and social interactions. FFJI strives to support kids and parents in this stressful situation to build connections and resiliency. There are three components of the program: Parent Education, Family Friendly Visiting, and the Family Community Liaison.
The goal is to promote the well-being of children of incarcerated parents by addressing changes within the policies, systems, and environments that result in more responsiveness to children’s needs.
Click Below to See Our Brochure:
Contact
Family Community Liaison
Tess Christensen
218-451-6514
Tess.Christensen@carltoncountymn.gov
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The Family Community Liaison
The focus of the liaison is to help children build and maintain strong attachment to their parents during and, especially, after incarceration. There are many community agencies in our county whose services may be available to the families, along with our county school districts, who are partners in this effort. An overview of the things the liaison can help with are:
• Connect families to community resources
• Assist children navigating through big, emotional feelings they may be struggling with; through the use of social emotional kits and books geared towards children of incarcerated parents.
• Work with schools and caregivers/parents to support regular communication regarding the child's progress.
• Set up Zoom school conferences with parents who are incarcerated so they can be involved with the child/ren’s education.
• Assist with setting up visits for the child/ren
• Help arrange transportation
• Assess strength and needs of families
• Assist families in signing up for any public work support they may need such as: Medical assistance, Food assistance, Childcare assistance.
• Access resources through Bridge to Benefits and Help Me Connect.
• Offer parenting education programs in the jail and community.
• Referral to an online support group for children of incarcerated parents