Lessons from a Mother's Program in Prison

Abstract

Abstract Abstract This article examines a psychosocial group model among women in prison focusing on their roles and identities as mothers. The group is co-facilitated by the author and another woman who are prisoners and mothers themselves. The goals of the group are two: to provide women with the opportunity to grow through examining their roles as mothers in the past and present and to strengthen the mother-child relationship during incarceration. The article illustrates that when a mother works on her own emotional issues, this process can also improve her ability to parent her children, if her children's needs are kept in the forefront. The article will discuss the strengths of a peer support model within the prison context while defining issues raised by utilizing peers rather than a professional therapist to facilitate the group.