The Adams County Prison announced last week the implementation of its Children of Incarcerated Parents Program or “ChIP.”
The program, created partially by the Adams County Criminal Justice Advisory Board, allows incarcerated parents supervised, one-on-one visitation with their children after the completion of a parenting educational program.
The education training, conducted by a treatment specialist at the prison, was developed by the Pennsylvania Family Alliance. It includes four four-hour sessions of parenting education.
The parent-to-child contact is proven to be beneficial in reducing the anxiety that children have by maintaining regular contact during a parents’ incarceration, according to a news release from Jay Ondrizek, advisory board coordinator. It also helps with the reintegration back to the family setting once the parent is released.
Brian Clark, prison warden, has supported the program since it began as an idea in 2011.
In Ondrizek’s release, Clark said the program strengthens bonds with children, encourages positive behavior after incarceration and strengthens overall family values of those who have been involved in the criminal justice system.
“The child is often a victim of incarceration through no fault of his/her own, and this program allows for positive growth and reduces the responsibility of future criminal justice involvement by the child,” Clark’s statement read.
Through local donations, the prison was able to include a child friendly area in its lobby, including games, books, toys and children’s furniture.
Clark represents Adams County on the Children of Incarcerated Parents State Roundtable, which currently promotes the program’s intention throughout the Commonwealth. Adams County is one of five counties running such a program. The others are Allegheny, Blair, Cambria and Franklin counties.