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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Pediatrics

Promises of Parenting Program

The Promises of Parenting program improves the maternal-infant relational health of incarcerated mothers and their co-residing children residing on the Officer Breann Leath Memorial Maternal-Child Health Unit at the Indiana Women’s Prison by providing evidence-based parenting education and support.

Recognition

Our Promises of Parenting program was selected as an Emerging Practice by the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP). Please visit the AMCHP to learn more about this program and to download the implementation handout that provides our practice summary and implementation guidance. Please feel free to contact us if you are interested in replicating this approach in your community.

Learn more

GMCHI Promises of Parenting logo

Incarcerated mothers represent a rapidly growing inmate population in the United States. The number of incarcerated women has increased by more than 700% in the last forty years. Most of these women are mothers and primary caregivers for their families, causing a traumatic separation for the child when the mother becomes incarcerated.

Learn more on the incarceration of women in the United States from the American Civil Liberties Union.

A consistent and responsive caregiver is critical to an infant’s development of secure attachment and sense of safety in the world. When a caregiver-child separation occurs due to incarceration, the development of secure attachment is disrupted, causing trauma and an increased risk for both short-term and long-term adverse outcomes for both the child and caregiver.

Prison nurseries allow the mother to retain physical custody of her baby after delivering in the hospital. A mother and her baby will leave the hospital and live together in a prison nursery unit. This allows the mother to provide the critical safe, comforting and consistent care that infants need most in the earliest days of life.

The Promises of Parenting Program provides weekly evidence-based parenting education to mothers residing in the Leath Unit, enhanced by the distribution of foundational toys and learning materials to the mothers and babies.

Promises of Parenting core components

COS class completion kit 1

Circle of Security parenting classes

Classes focus on strengthening maternal reflection and understanding young children’s genuine relationship needs.

More about Circle of Security parenting classes

Discharge toy bundle

Milestone Moments classes

Classes focus on developmental milestones, appropriate parental expectations and child health and safety.

More about Milestone Moments classes

Leath play space 1

Play and Learn group

This group is a chance for mothers and children to play, share positive experiences and interact with other mothers and children. This time also creates a safe environment for the mother to ask questions and practice parenting techniques learned in classes.