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Home / Life stages / Early childhood: ages 0 to 3 / Children with incarcerated parents

Children with incarcerated parents

Having a parent in prison can have a significant impact on a child’s mental and behavioral health. These children often face challenges, including changes in family structure, financial instability, shame and social stigma. To help reduce the risk for negative outcomes, such as depression, substance use and criminal behavior, it is important for communities to wrap around children with incarcerated parents.

Child safety & support

Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health: Belden Village

Mental and behavioral health services for children and families.
  • Case management
  • Diagnostic mental health assessments
  • Medication management
Trauma and grief-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and SITCAP services to reduce risk and increase childhood resiliency:
  • Case management
  • Diagnostic mental health assessments
  • Medication management
4641 Fulton Dr. NW
Canton, OH 44718
Phone: (330) 433-6075
Phone: (330) 433-6075
Trauma Services: (330) 454-7917
Trauma Services: (330) 454-7917
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OhioGuidestone

Providing counseling, support, advocacy, and education with a focus on prevention and treatment in the home, community, office, or telehealth. Additional Program: The Prevent Relapse Occurrence Team with Enhanced Case management and Treatment (Protect) works with juveniles who have shown sexual behavior problems who are not incarcerated or are returning to the community following separation. PROTECT services are designed to work specifically with individuals who have been identified as participating in “sexting” behavior or other minor-related sexual behavioral issues.
4579 Everhard Rd NW
Suite A
North Canton, OH 44718
Phone: (440) 260-6466
Phone: (440) 260-6466
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Mon.
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Tue.
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Wed.
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Thu.
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Fri.
8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Stark County Job & Family Services

Report child abuse: 330-455-KIDS / 1-800-233-5437 Partner with our customers, community and other service providers to protect children and vulnerable adults, stabilize and strengthen families, and encourage self-sufficiency and personal responsibility.
  • Cash assistance
  • Food assistance
  • Medicaid & Medical
  • Non-emergency transportation - Transportation to and from Medicaid-qualified appointments, including doctor visits, dental visits, vision appointments and more.
  • Child care services
  • Work experience program - Program participants are matched with local businesses and organizations in exchange for public assistance benefits.
  • Subsidized Employment Program (SEP) - Supports local employers by offsetting the costs of hiring and training new employees.
  • Foster care & adoption
  • Kinship care
  • Child support services
  • Project KARE
  • Healthy Start - Medicaid-funded program providing basic medical coverage for pregnant women and children up to 19 years old.
  • PRC Plan - providing short-term assistance to address an emergent need and help families retain and maintain employment.
221 3rd St. SE
Canton, OH 44702
Toll free: 1 (888) 698-6893
Toll free: 1 (888) 698-6893
Local: (330) 452-4661
Local: (330) 452-4661
TDD: (330) 451-8879
TDD: (330) 451-8879
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Mon.
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Tue.
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Wed.
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Thu.
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Fri.
8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Stark Community Support Network

Community safety net linking families to resources and social services.
  • Community Support Services (Mental Health & Substance/Alcohol Abuse) - Identify, Link, and Support individuals and families through the mental health and alcohol and substance abuse system.
  • Community Response Team (Trauma Care and Community Violence) - Refer, Assist, and Advocate for individuals and/or families experiencing trauma.
  • Infant Mortality (THRIVE) - Identify and Support women through their pregnancies to reduce infant mortality.
  • Pathways Hub (Pregnant Mothers) - Educate and Support pregnant mothers to ensure a safe and healthy delivery.
  • Parenting Classes - Classes are available for parents by court order or personal request.
  • Individual or Group Counseling - Clinical Counseling / Therapeutic Support Groups are offered to individuals or families.
Legal advocacy & guidance

Stark County Bar Association

Referrals for people who have questions or need legal advice but do not know where to turn for a lawyer.
116 Cleveland Ave. NW
Suite 400
Canton, OH 44702
Phone: (330) 453-0685
Phone: (330) 453-0685
Attorney referrals: (330) 453-0686
Attorney referrals: (330) 453-0686
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Stark County Family Court

Legal services for child custody, behavioral health and domestic relations cases. Visit their website for more information. Intake specialists who work with juvenile offenders and their families to prepare for court cases and provide mediation when possible are available at (330) 451-7317. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)/ Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) - Representing the rights and interests of abused, neglected and dependent children in Stark County.
110 Central Plz. S
Suite 670
Canton, OH 44702
Phone: (330) 451-7415
Phone: (330) 451-7415
Visit Website
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Mon.
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Tue.
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Wed.
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Thu.
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Fri.
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Resources & guides

Youth.gov

Find support for parents, teachers, law enforcement, case workers, clinical professionals and more as they care for children with incarcerated parents.

Child Welfare Information Gateway

Learn strategies to reduce negative outcomes for children with a parent in prison, including poverty, poor academic performance, aggression, depression, delinquency and substance use.

Sesame Street Incarceration Toolkit

The incarceration of a loved one can be overwhelming for children and caregivers. It takes special effort to start important conversations and answer kids’ questions. This toolkit can help you comfort children through these difficult moments.

How else can we help?