Recorded presentation

Frederica Barrow, PhD, Social Work, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, MGY 132, Tampa, FL 33647, 813-974-1276, fhbarrow@verizon.net

This paper answers the question, how are the problems and issues of more than two million children of incarcerated parents being described in major newspapers across the nation. The relevance of this question lies with the responsibility carried by media to create awareness and understanding of social welfare problems. This issue is of paramount importance to African American children because so many of their parents are imprisoned. A new interdisciplinary public health paradigm is needed to prevent innocent children from being further victimized as a consequence of parental loss, and the absence of systematic approaches to prevent physical and mental health conditions and social and educational failure.

Dimensions of their problems are defined in social science literature and their pathways into the child welfare system have been described. However, communities need to be organized to respond to the conditions of this population with public health interventions comparable to immunization for communicable diseases. Just as the general population is impacted by the outbreak of physical disease, it will also be affected by the neglect of so many children at risk for failure as adults. The emerging social problem calls for new policy development.

This presentation will be based on findings from an analysis of a sample of national newspaper articles concerned with the children of incarcerated parents to learn what the public is being taught about the sponsorship of programs including (1) the scope of interventions, (2) where the locus of the problem is situated and (3) whether social policy is addressed. This information can be used to develop public health strategies and as a basis for advocacy for comprehensive social policy to address this social justice issue so critical for African American communities, families and children.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to

• Assess whether the public is being offered adequate information about the problems of children whose parents are incarcerated.
• Identify major service providers portrayed in the newspapers.
• Describe the intervention strategies that are being reported.
• Articulate the need for new social policy development.

Keywords: Public Policy, African American

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation