- Advance research and scholarship on children, caregivers, and families affected by incarceration.
Center for the Study and Support of Children and Families of the Incarcerated
The Center for the Study and Support of Children and Families of the Incarcerated (CSSCFI) in the Department of Psychology at Miami University is committed to solution-focused research, practice, and pedagogy that can have a substantial impact on the lives and well-being of returning citizens and their children and families.
About the CSSCFI
The Center for the Study and Support of Children and Families of the Incarcerated (CSSCFI) developed out of an awareness by scholars from Miami University and practitioners in the Butler/Warren Country areas of the growing number of children and families experiencing the incarceration of a parent and or parents in Ohio.
Based on data released by the Annie E. Casey foundation (2016) 271,000 children in Ohio have experienced some form of parental incarceration and on a national level, statistically, Ohio ranks number 4, behind Florida, Texas, and California in the number of children who have experienced parental incarceration.
The CSSCFI unites scholars and community partners from varied academic backgrounds to conduct
research on children with parents in the criminal justice system, and to advocate for the needs of
children of incarcerated parents and their caretakers.
Vision
Children, caregivers, and families impacted by incarceration thrive.
Mission
All children, caregivers, and families impacted by incarceration are recognized, valued,
and supported without stigmatizing or stereotyping through solution-focused, evidence-informed
research, practice, and pedagogy.
Goals
- Identify local needs and barriers in order to develop resources for incarcerated and returning
citizens, their children, caregivers, families, and professionals working with children, caregivers,
and families affected by incarceration.
- Assist our community partners in developing and evaluating mentoring and support programs for incarcerated and returning citizens and their children, caregivers, and families.
- Advocate for policy change to create access to services, remove barriers, and reduce stereotypes and stigma toward incarcerated and returning citizens and their children, caregivers, and families.
- Provide educational opportunities for Miami University graduate and undergraduate students to
become knowledgeable about the impact of incarceration on children, caregivers, and families.
- Educate the community about the research, stereotypes and stigma associated with incarceration.
Values
Research and Scholarship
We are committed to conducting research which addresses the gaps in the literature on children, caregivers, and families affected by incarceration.
Technical Assistance
We value our community partners and are committed to providing technical assistance to support their development and evaluation of mentoring and support programs for incarcerated and returning citizens and their children, caregivers, and families.
Advocacy
We recognize to need to advance positive views of children, caregivers, and families affected by incarceration and will strive to serve as a forum for policy amendment and change.
Resource Development
We believe in the importance of providing resources to incarcerated and returning citizens, their children, caregivers, families, and professionals working with children, caregivers, and families affected by incarceration.
We are committed to creating an online resource library open to the public so that any and all
individuals can obtain the necessary information, tools, and assistance with learning about children, caregivers, and families affected by incarceration.
Education and Training
We believe in the importance of providing education and training to incarcerated and returning citizens, their children, caregivers, families, and professionals working with children, caregivers, and families affected by incarceration.
We also believe in the importance of educating and training undergraduate and graduate students who want to become knowledgeable about the impact of incarceration on children, caregivers, and families.
Center for the Study and Support of Children and Families of the Incarcerated
Room 216 Psychology Building
90 N. Patterson Ave.
Oxford, OH 45056
