Mapping the critical service needs of adolescent children of prisoners

This study explores the service needs of adolescent children of prisoners by collecting information directly from the youth. The conceptual and empirical literature focused on children of prisoners generally attempts to describe or understand the effects of parental incarceration on prisoners' offspring but frequently fails to include data gathered directly from youth or include their voices in the litany of suggested programs and services. This study employed concept mapping technology to investigate the service needs of 14 adolescent children of prisoners living in an urban city in the Midwest. The findings revealed perceptions of unmet physical, emotional, psychological, and social needs divided into six thematic clusters. The findings also suggest that a single-service focus such as mentoring or tutoring may fail to meet the multiple and varied needs that these youth identified, especially those related to basic care such as food and clothing. Participants were asked to rate the themes on importance, and data suggest a high level of consistency between young women and young men. Strength-based solutions were then identified from the data to meet the needs of these youth.