When children are impacted by incarceration, the effects reach far beyond one family.
In Oklahoma, more than 26,000 children currently have at least one parent in state prison, and the number grows significantly when county jails and federal facilities are included, according to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections in their recent report.
Estimates suggest that over the course of a year, the number of affected children may exceed 35,000. These children face unique challenges that affect their emotional well-being, academic achievement, and social development.
“On any given day in Oklahoma there are 25,000 to 30,000 children who have an incarcerated parent,” said David McLeod, interim director of the Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work at the University of Oklahoma and chair of the Oklahoma Children of Incarcerated Parents Legislative Advisory Committee. “Unfortunately, our state only provides funding to help about 100 kids each day with programming that is evidence-based and helpful. We’re thankful for every dollar Oklahoma provides, but it’s simply not enough.”
To address these challenges, the Oklahoma Children of Incarcerated Parents Awareness Day was created. The event was initiated by the Oklahoma CIP Advisory Committee, a statewide collaborative convened by the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, according to their website. The committee includes representatives from nonprofits, government agencies, academic institutions, law enforcement, faith-based organizations, and individuals with lived experience, all working to support children with incarcerated parents and raise awareness of their needs.
According to the Prison Policy Initiative, Oklahoma has the highest incarceration rate per capita of any state in the developed world, which means a disproportionately large number of children here are affected by the justice system.
“The trauma that children endure by having an incarcerated parent, particularly an incarcerated mother, is astronomical,” McLeod said in an article released by University of Oklahoma. “Some studies show that children of an incarcerated parent are 70% more likely than their peers to become incarcerated themselves. We know these kids are the most at-risk so we should be able to do something to support them before they become a statistic.”
The goal of the awareness day is to unite families, service providers, community partners, and policymakers to highlight the impact of parental incarceration and share solutions. The event addresses a significant issue: parental imprisonment is considered an adverse childhood experience and is linked to worse educational, social, and health outcomes, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation in their 2024 report. By providing a platform for dialogue, resource access, and policy engagement, the event helps reduce stigma and strengthen support systems for affected children.
According to an ODOC recent report, more than 26,000 children in Oklahoma currently have a parent in prison, a figure that rises further when county and federal incarceration are included. Research from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections shows that children affected by parental incarceration are more likely to experience emotional trauma, behavioral challenges, academic struggles, and social stigma, underscoring the need for awareness, advocacy, and support programs To assist children and caregivers year-round, the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth has developed a toolkit for children of incarcerated parents, their caregivers, and community members who want to help improve the lives of Oklahoma’s children. McLeod’s committee updates this toolkit annually to ensure families have access to current information. The toolkit includes more than 30 pages of resources, from basic tips for caregivers and questions
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