Introduction
"Nearly 5% of all Australian children
and 20% of Indigenous children have experienced parental incarceration"
(Children, un-intended victims of the legal process)
The Families of Offenders Resource Kit (FORK) is funded from 2006 to
2009 by the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
under Local Answers to operate in eight Victorian local government areas:
| City of Darebin |
City of Mooney Valley |
| City of Whittlesea |
City of Monash |
| City of Port Phillip |
City of Casey |
| City of Geelong |
City of Wellington |
FORK Provides:
- a practical tool for those who come into contact with families and
children of prisoners. This resource for workers is available to
download
- this website; containing additional information helpful to
workers.
WHY?:
The impact of a relatives incarceration is very much a hidden, unacknowledged
issue within our community, mainly due to the shame and stigma that family
members (including children) experience. Families did not commit the crime
but are left with a range of issues to cope with such as: loss of friendships,
loss of income, loss of a parent (sometimes the main carer) which may then
lead to moving house, new carers, changing schools. Families feel that it
is important that they can:
talk to somebody who understands, for myself, and just to make
sure that the kids werent affected by this. I wanted to know that I was
doing the right thing by my son, telling him the right thing. (Mother)
The kit provides information for local government, community agencies
and schools about:
- The correctional system and the impact of imprisonment on offenders
families;
- Identifying "at risk" behaviours among offenders children;
- Strategies for working with families;
- Resources available to assist these families.
Long term outcomes aim to:
- Reduce the incidence of intergenerational crime by supporting children
to develop their own personal resources and increasing the capability
of the familys coping resources.
- Increase awareness and understanding about the impact of imprisonment
on families and children.
- Foster or strengthen referral connections between a broader range
of community and support agencies.
Topics covered by the Resource Kit include: Engaging families of prisoners,
the Criminal Justice System, family relationships with prisoners, parents
in prison, partners in prison, prisoner's children, prison visits and their
impact on families, home detention, release and reintegration, impact of
incarceration on other cultures, substance use and service referral.
HOW?
FORK focuses on early intervention for "at risk" children of offenders
and their families. It strengthens service response to these families by
including the local service providers in identifying the families specific
needs within their local community and increase community capacity building.
Local Involvement:
The project team liaises with local agencies at both an individual
level and within a working group to offer agencies the opportunity to
raise localised issues that they are experiencing with these families.
This ensures that each kit is delivering information that meets the
needs of the local environment.
Families:
Families who have experienced a relative in prison and who are living
in the local area, are invited to participate at the same level as the
agencies. Their input is invaluable as it provides real life context
to the support information included in the kit.
TRAINING:
Free training is provided for local government and community agencies
and schools who may encounter offenders families and their children. Providing
opportunities for training aims to will increase workers confidence in
understanding the issues and in responding appropriately click
here for more information.
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