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Otago community unites to support children of prisoners

Otago community comes together to support children of prisoners and break the cycle

Representatives from across the community are to undertake training to improve their understanding of the needs of children of prisoners and their families.

The charity that has supported positive futures for children of prisoners for over 25 years in New Zealand is delivering training this week to members of the Otago community that come into contact with these vulnerable children each day.

The purpose of the Invisible Sentence training developed by Pillars is to provide the community with resources to support young people who have a parent go to prison, and the families and caregivers who are caring for them. The training is underpinned by the two-year study into the children and families of prisoners in New Zealand undertaken by Pillars.

The training has been made possible with the support of the South Dunedin Social Sector trial which represents a collaboration of agencies working to improve how the social sector supports vulnerable communities. Around 30 participants from various sectors including Law, Education, New Zealand Police, Ministry of Social Development and Department of Corrections are taking part in the training.

It is hoped participants will complete the training with a greater understanding of the trauma and social stigma children of prisoners can face. The teaching includes best practice responses to help them stay in school, be healthy and well, live crime free lives and be positive members of the community. Included in the training is best practice guides for working with children of prisoners and specific toolkits for people working in Health, Education and Law organisations.

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One of the attendees of the training this week is Judy Powell, Otago Prison Liaison Officer for the New Zealand Police. Pillars has been working proactively with Judy over the past two years to share resources such as the Pillars national helpline for family of children who have a parent at Otago prison.

Pillars Chief Executive Verna McFelin welcomes the support in Otago for the training:

”With children of prisoners being over nine times more likely to go to prison as adults than other kiwi kids, it is beneficial that those in the community who have an influence over their lives receive this training which can help break the cycle and strengthen local communities as a result.”

Somebody who knows first-hand the value of this training is Larna McCarthy from the Ministry of Social Development who has helped coordinate this in Dunedin:

“I grew up with a parent in prison and I am passionate that our community and those working in the social sector be better equipped to understand the needs of children of prisoners so we can support them to have positive outcomes, not be our future prisoners.”

ENDS

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