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Take Action

Get involved and support children of incarcerated parents today! See below for action items to see and support children of incarcerated parents every day

2. Support Legislation

Safeguard Children of Arrested Parents in
New York State

The New York State Child Sensitive Arrest Bill will require the New York State Police to implement policies to safeguard children and require all Police Departments to collaborate with the parent who is arrested to ensure their child is cared for. Learn more.​​​​​

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FAMILIES Act

Federal judges would be able consider diverting parents and caregivers to alternatives to incarceration. Learn more.

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Protect In-Person Visiting in New York

New York State bill S3318/A6488 would require prisons and jails to provide evening and/or weekend visiting hours, and ensure in-person visiting is not replaced with video conferencing. Learn more.

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VICTORY! The New York Proximity law was implemented in Dec 2021

Incarcerated parents can now apply to be placed in a prison close to their minor children that meets their security and programming needs. Let incarcerated parents know about this new law so they can ask their ORC (counselor) how to apply for a transfer. To learn more, contact nyinitiative@osborneny.org

NYS CARE Act

NY State CARE Act (S.7132/A.7630) puts babies first by ensuring correctional facilities provide prenatal care for incarcerated pregnant women and postpartum support for mother-baby bonding. Learn more.

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1. See and support children of incarcerated parents

Use humanizing language when speaking about people impacted by incarceration.
 

Learn More

Visit the Educator Resources toolkit

Educator Resources

Include children's books about parental incarceration in waiting areas, libraries, and schools.

Download Recommended Books

Visit the SUSU Family Resource page to learn about preparing to visit, creating affirming spaces, promising practices, and more.

Family Resources

3. Get Involved

Sign Up for the 
See Us, Support Us Network
Newsletter
 

Sign Up Here


Follow SUSU on Social Media

 

See Social Media Platforms Here

Enter the SUSU art contest for  children/young adults who experienced parental incarceration 

Learn More About the Art Contest

4. Polices and Practices 

SUSU 2021 Youth Listening Session for Educators

Youth share recommendations for supporting them in educational settings and beyond.

Read here

Creating Affirming Spaces

These guiding tips will help you create a safer space where children and families feel comfortable expressing their emotions without feeling judged, blamed, or labeled.

Download here

New York State Kinship Navigator

Information, referral, and advocacy program for kinship caregivers.

Read more

A Call to Action: Safeguarding New York’s Children of Incarcerated Parents

Recommendations for how to improve the lives and outcomes of New York’s children who have justice-involved parents.

Download here

Child WelfareYou Don't Have to Stop Being A Parent While Incarcerated

Learn about the rights of incarcerated parents in New York State who have an open child welfare case. 

Read here

Protective and Promotive Factors to Support Youth Well-Being

An interactive guide on strengthening protective factors that increase the likelihood that youth develop into healthy, thriving adults. 

Download here

SUSU 2019 Youth Listening Session Summary

Summary of the See Us, Support Us Youth Listening Session convened in NYC during SUSU 2019. We heard from 8 brave young people about their experiences and recommendations for addressing the unique needs of children whose parents are in the criminal justice system.

Read here

NY Children of Incarcerated Parents Resources Fact Sheet

List of New York resources supporting children of incarcerated parents.

Download here

NY State Council on Children and Families

Statewide Coordinating Council on Children with Incarcerated Parents.

Learn more here

Seven Out of Ten?
Not Even Close

A review of research that shows that most children of incarcerated parents can thrive when given the right supports.

Read here

Youth.gov

Federal website of national resources.

Learn more here

Children of Incarcerated Parents Bill of Rights

Developed by the San Francisco Partnership for Children of Incarcerated Parents as a roadmap to safeguard children whose parents are involved in the criminal justice system.

Download here

Safeguarding Children of Arrested Parents Model Policy

A report and implementation toolkit on a model policy from the International Association of the Chiefs of Police, in conjunction with the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Read here

Be Sure Your Child is Cared for And Safe, NY Courts

Options that help parents plan for their children’s care while incarcerated.

Learn more here

Child Welfare Identifying and Supporting Children of Incarcerated Parents in Child Welfare

This report offers recommendations to guide the field in better attending to the needs children of incarcerated parents in the child welfare system.

Read here

Words Matter Guide

Join our #WordsMatter campaign to use humanizing language to refer to PEOPLE and PARENTS who are incarcerated or have come home, and replace "visitation" with "visits" or "visiting"

Learn more here

5. Words Matter

SUSU Words Matter Guide

Read Here

FWD.US People First
Language Guide

Download Here

Center for NuLeadership's  Language Letter

Download Here

Arizona State University  
Words Matter Guide

Read Here
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