Use of Social and Health Services By Children of Incarcerated Parents

This is the second of a series of analyses prepared to satisfy reporting requirements under E2SHB 1422 which requires the Department of Social and Health Services to “gather information and data on the recipients of assistance who are the children and families of inmates incarcerated at department of corrections facilities. Findings represent preliminary analyses from the initial round of matching of DSHS client data, DOC facility data, DOC visitation data, DSHS Child Support data, and birth certificate records. The numbers of children with DOC parents have increased since our September 2008 report was released, because new sources (DOC visitation and DSHS Child Support) allowed more parent-child matches. The age range of children involved is birth through age 17. Future analyses will be refined to include: 1. Information from linkages to data in other systems (for example, school outcomes). 2. More information about the timing of incarceration and service events in relation to outcomes for children and families.