More than 15,000 Miami-Dade County children have parents in jail or in state or federal prisons.

The incarceration of parents has severe, unseen consequences for children who are often left confused and uncertain of what it means to be an adult. Research shows that children of incarcerated parents are much more likely than other children to become delinquent and to engage in antisocial behaviors.

The Service Network for Children of Inmates coordinates services to over 1,000 children including linking them and their families to avenues to obtain basic needs, mental health services, life skills training, academic support and other services as needed.  The Network also works to strengthen bonds between children and their families, including reconnecting them with their incarcerated parents, where appropriate.  Through these efforts, the Network seeks to mitigate childhood trauma caused by parential arrest/incarceration and to increase the likelihood of successful reunification.