Youth Experiences of Parent Incarceration: Doing Time From Both Sides

In 2015-2016, an estimated 6 million children in the United States had at least one parent incarcerated. Children of incarcerated parents experience physical, mental, social, and economic consequences, including migraines, asthma, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, school dropout, and homelessness. The purpose of the current phenomenological study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences of youth who have or have had an incarcerated parent. Narratives were gathered from a sample of 15 individuals ages 13 to 19 attending a 1-year long workshop entitled Peace Makers. The rich text revealed shared experiences of disrupted homes, unfulfilled visits and promises, and social isolation captured by the following themes: At Home No More; "To Feel Her…Kiss Her Cheek"; "Waiting at the Door"; and "Trapped in an Isolation Box." Care providers must develop an empathic understanding of affected youth to facilitate healing, restore dignity, and advocate for their rights. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 57(6), 22-29.].