Youth of Incarcerated Parents (YIP)

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2022

The work of the Franklin County Family Stabilization Unit (FSU) Pilot Program has shown that additional services are needed for youth who have experienced a parent being incarcerated. These children are at greater risk for negative life outcomes, both short and long term, that put them at higher risk of poor educational and employment opportunities, and incarceration themselves. In collaboration with the Franklin County Office of Justice Policy & Programs and Nationwide Children's Hospital, we are piloting efforts to provide enhanced services for these youth and their families to help them build resiliency and avoid negative outcomes. The unit will provide services to youth up to age 17, or age 21 if they are still living at home at the time of parental incarceration. Youth will be referred to the program by the judicial system or medical providers. They will be screened to determine their immediate service needs as well as longer term needs, and connected to appropriate service providers. FSU-YIP Specialist will connect with families at the Franklin County Judicial Services Building and will eventually co-locate at Nationwide Children’s Hospital sites. Outcomes of the proposed unit will be measured both by the number of children referred and successfully connected to services, and by positive outcomes for the youth who participate in the programs.