The UpFamilies project has recently published a “Roadmap on programs and services that meet the needs of families affected by incarceration”.
The purpose of this Roadmap is to provide an overview of the existing services available to the families of people who are in prison or in the process of reintegration. It includes a directory with information on existing services and programs that support families affected by incarceration in each UpFamilies partner country: Romania, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Greece. The directory lists the services provided by each organization as well as where they operate. In addition, the Roadmap also includes links to the websites of all the participating organizations, where readers can find updated information and contact details.
This Roadmap begins by delving into the most common needs of the different members of the families affected by imprisonment: children, partners and extended family. Informed by a comprehensive review of literature and research findings, the needs analysis details the range of impacts experienced by each member of the incarcerated person’s family, with particular attention paid to the nuances in the needs of each distinctive group.
The Roadmap then analyses the range of existing services in each UpFamilies partner country, identifying gaps and limitations in the availability of services. Moreover, it also provides country-specific insights regarding these gaps.
Finally, it provides policy recommendations, divided into three main areas: Support, Protect and Invest. The Support recommendations focus on ensuring that family members receive the appropriate type of support at the right time, such as by promoting trauma-informed care principles in all interactions and interventions, ensuring a continuity of service throughout the incarceration and re-entry process through the implementation of transition plans, and prioritizing a holistic approach that addresses physical, emotional, social and financial needs. The Protect recommendations identify how the quality of services provided might be strengthened, for example by prioritizing the training and professional development of the service providers and by implementing quality assurance standards and controls. This also involves the promotion of collaboration and communication, both among community organizations and service providers as well as with correctional systems. The Invest recommendations consider how these services may be continually improved, with an emphasis on engaging families in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of services.