Understanding family support needs of people in prison custody: literature review

9 - Approaches and models of family support

Introduction

The support provided to families of imprisoned individuals varies significantly across different countries, reflecting diverse approaches and models aimed at maintaining family connections and supporting reintegration. Literature reviewed indicates that state initiatives and government-funded programmes targeting children of prisoners are often ad hoc and inconsistent (Burton, 2012). However, several countries, including Scotland, have implemented innovative strategies to mitigate the negative impact of parental imprisonment on families.

This chapter explores family support models/practices firstly in Scotland, and then from various countries (England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scandinavia, Poland, Netherlands, USA and Australia) that Scotland could potentially learn from to enhance its own support systems for families affected by imprisonment. However, it should be noted that international examples might not be appropriate to transfer to Scotland given the differing contexts. For example, the Scandinavian model differs from the Scottish context, particularly in penal policy. For instance, the Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules do not permit overnight stays in Scottish prisons for children.

Family Support Models

During Custody

In Scotland, the Beside Me project was a six-month initiative at HMP Perth which took place between March 2023 and October 2023, aimed at strengthening relationships between imprisoned fathers and their children. Led by Dundee Rep in partnership with Families Outside and the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), the project used creative theatre workshops to facilitate meaningful interactions. Seven families participated in activities designed to build confidence, improve communication, and foster a sense of togetherness. The project concluded with a performance at HMP Perth, allowing participants to showcase their experiences and growth. The evaluation, conducted independently by Social Research Solutions, focussed on the impact of the project on participants, their families, and stakeholders (Social Research Solutions, 2024).

The evaluation found that Beside Me had a profound positive impact on participants, deepening their connections with family members and improving their self-esteem and resilience. The project provided a unique and supportive environment where participants could momentarily forget their imprisonment and engage meaningfully with their children. Many fathers reported increased confidence in their parenting roles, and families appreciated the informal, nurturing setting. However, challenges such as recruitment, retention, and operational constraints within the prison were noted. The report recommended improving long-term support for families and expanding the project to other prison settings (Social Research Solutions, 2024).

The Game with Mum and Dad initiative was a family fun day held at HMP Grampian in 2023, designed to foster meaningful connections between imprisoned parents and their children through sports and creative activities. The event featured a variety of games, including Beat the Goalie, running races, Keepy Uppie competitions, and arts and crafts, ensuring participation for all ages. The day concluded with a five-a-side football match, after which all children and parents received medals, trophies, and treats as a token of their participation (Families Outside, 2023b).

Feedback from both families and staff was overwhelmingly positive. Participants highlighted the joyful atmosphere, the opportunity for meaningful interaction, and the event’s departure from typical prison visits. Many requested more events of this nature, with some expressing regret that older children were unable to attend due to visit restrictions. Staff praised the initiative for its ability to promote positive family contact in a relaxed, enjoyable setting, and noted that prison officers were more engaged with families than usual (Families Outside, 2023b).

The Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids (HDHK) in Prisons programme is a pioneering initiative introduced at HMP Barlinnie, marking the first time this Australian-developed programme has been implemented in a prison setting. Designed to strengthen relationships between imprisoned fathers and their children, HDHK uses physical activities and shared meals to enhance health, wellbeing, and family connections.

Developed by researchers from the Universities of Glasgow, Stirling, and Newcastle (Australia), it is part of a broader two-year study examining ways to improve family relationships for imprisoned men both during their sentence and after release. The programme includes weekly "fathers-only" sessions on topics like positive parenting and health, followed by interactive sessions with children, incorporating activities such as rough-and-tumble play, fitness, and fundamental movement skills. The sessions conclude with a family meal, offering an intimate bonding experience outside the usual prison visit setting (Scottish Prison Service, 2024c).

The evaluation of HDHK highlighted profound positive impacts, with fathers reporting stronger emotional connections, better parenting awareness, and improved communication with their children. Participants valued the structured time spent with their families, noting that the absence of external pressures helped them engage more meaningfully. Due to its success, the programme expanded from HMP Barlinnie to HMP Perth and is set to be introduced in HMPs Low Moss, Shotts, Kilmarnock, and Dumfries. Additionally, 23 prison staff members have been trained to facilitate its wider rollout. Researchers praised the dedication and compassion of staff, emphasising the programme's role in reducing intergenerational cycles of disadvantage and supporting long-term rehabilitation (Scottish Prison Service, 2024c).

The Bookbug in Prisons scheme in Scotland sought to increase the amount of quality interaction (talking, reading, singing, playing and cuddling) between prisoners who were parents and their young children, failed to engage families (Skellington Orr, 2015). Facilitated by Family Contact Officers (FCOs) within prison, fathers were encouraged to take part in singing, rhyming and story-telling sessions with their visiting children, however, uptake was low. The initiative nonetheless resulted in key staff across prisons receiving training in positive parenting and how to encourage better prisoner-child interactions, which had more generalised positive impacts on visiting experiences.

In England and Wales, two schemes have been identified during the review aimed at promoting positive relationships between imprisoned parents and their children: Invisible Walls Wales and the Visiting Mum Scheme.

Invisible Walls Wales^[24] is a Big Lottery funded project based in HMP Parc, South Wales, aimed at maintaining and improving relationships between male prisoners and their children and families, improving the quality of life of all participants, reducing re-offending by the prisoners, and reducing the risk of ‘intergenerational’ offending by adopting a ‘whole family’ approach. It was found to have resulted in decreased drug misuse, improved attitudes to reducing reoffending, better family, school and prison liaison, reduced support needs for children and improved potential for prisoner resettlement on release (Clancy and Maguire, 2017a).^[25]

The Visiting Mum Scheme^[26] three year pilot (2014-2017) supported longer visits in rooms with limited prison staff and access to play/games, as well as volunteer helpers. An evaluation of the Visiting Mum Scheme by Rees et al. (2017) found that the scheme significantly reduced children's anxieties about their mothers in prison by providing a more supportive and less intimidating visiting experience. The first visit was considered crucial, as a negative experience could deter children from returning, although the scheme did not always manage to engage families in time. Children valued the service highly, noting that it strengthened family bonds and provided a nurturing environment through extended, informal visits. They appreciated meeting others in similar situations, and contact with their mothers was regarded as a right rather than a privilege.

The evaluation also found that mothers benefited from the scheme as well, reporting reduced anxiety, improved mental health, and an enhanced ability to maintain a parenting role, which aided family reintegration upon release. The service helped reduce incidents of self-harm and disciplinary issues in prison. Carers also found that the scheme alleviated emotional and financial pressures, while prison staff recognised its value within the institution. Volunteers played a crucial role and expressed interest in providing further support, although post-release services, particularly regarding housing and employment, remained minimal and awareness of the scheme was limited across the social care spectrum.

Based on the successful Visiting Mum’s Scheme pilot, Pact operates two Visiting Mum’s Services at HMPs Styal and Eastwood Park (under One Wales), and HMP Downview (funded by Comic Relief)^[27].

Also in the UK, voluntary prison-based Partners of Prisoners (POPS)^[28] run services in the North of England including visitor centres, family support services, and offer supervised play areas which have been evaluated by users as being helpful to families to support visits with children (Yarwood et al., 2017). Provision of refreshments by these services were also seen as a way of helping to bring families together during visits.

In Northern Ireland (NI), the Families Matter programme in Maghaberry Prison, developed by Barnardo’s NI, was designed specifically to help improve and maintain relationships between children and their fathers. This residential programme, delivered collaboratively by Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) and external providers, allowed fathers to take part in a range of parenting/relationships skills classes, as well as to live in separate accommodation to other prisoners, and receive family visits once a month to put into practice the skills they had learned. An evaluation of the programme (Butler et al., 2015) showed that involvement in the programme had many short and medium term benefits including increased frequency and quality of contact between fathers and their families; fostering a culture of peer support; improved wellbeing and ability to cope with the prison experience. Use of appropriate settings and close working between professional partners in delivering the project were highlighted as examples of good practice.

Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Sweden have pioneered family support models that prioritise rehabilitation and family integration (Families Outside, 2017). These countries emphasise open prison settings, community-based alternatives to imprisonment and robust family support programmes, demonstrating how community-based alternatives to imprisonment and strong social support systems help in reducing recidivism and supporting families. For instance, in Norway, children could stay overnight with their imprisoned parent in specially designed apartments, fostering uninterrupted family time and maintaining familial bonds (Smith, 2014).

Research by Smith (2014; 2015) suggests that the rights and conditions of sentenced prisoners in Scandinavia may provide a model of positive practice. At the time of the research this included, for example:

• visits taking place both inside and outside of the building (with opportunities for children to play outside)
• access to mobile phones in open prisons (without Internet connection) to facilitate contact with family members
• in Norway, children being able to stay overnight with their parent in specially designed apartments
• in Denmark, entire families being able to stay overnight in some cases.

Denmark has implemented children's officers in prisons, dedicated to ensuring child-friendly visitation procedures and facilitating family therapy sessions. This approach was shown to be successful in integrating child perspectives into the prison environment, and supporting positive family interactions (Smith, 2015).

In Poland, the ‘Patronage‟ Penitentiary Association holidays pilots also reported success in helping to maintain family ties and strengthen family bonds (Napadło-Kuczera, 2015). Organised residential holidays for prisoners and their children were arranged which facilitated contact between families and their imprisoned parents, as well as contact between siblings. Separate holidays were organised in different projects for male and female prisoners, but all reported positive benefits for participants and their families. Prisoners felt they were able to ‘make up for lost time,’ and ‘feel like free people for a moment’ whilst caring for their children, and children and siblings expressed enjoying the meaningful time they were able to spend with their parents and siblings (Napadło-Kuczera, 2015: 25).

In the Netherlands, a family approach programme was shown to be potentially beneficial in terms of encouraging parenting amongst imprisoned fathers (Venema et al., 2024). Those on the programme had a greater insight into their father role, the effects of imprisonment on that and the implications for release. The authors found that “Key factors that positively affected father-child interaction quality during visits included privacy, active interactions, physical contact, opportunities for play and a child-friendly atmosphere” (Venema et al., 2024: 16). The study was inconclusive as to when programmes should be delivered – at the start or end of a sentence. They also recommended widening family-centred approaches beyond the scope of a limited programme.

The Baby Elmo programme in the US (Barr et al., 2011; 2013) also reported positive impacts on quality of interactions in prison visits for male prisoners and their children, as well as improved emotional responsiveness between families. Fathers who were provided with training around how to improve interactions with their children, using such things as following the child’s lead, were filmed and assessed for changes in use of their time on different activities during visits and the quality of interactions. Results showed significant positive increases in the amount of parent support and infant engagement (although the absence of a control group was noted).

Extended Families

Robertson (2016) reported that several European countries actively involved children and young people in decision making regarding how best they should be supported, i.e. giving them greater agency in the process as a means of support in itself. Roberston highlighted the following examples:

• Advisory groups of young people with a parent in prison in Norway being consulted to describe their needs, give advice and suggestions and contribute to UN Convention on the Rights of the Child shadow reports.
• Relais Enfants Parents Romand in Switzerland fostering agency in the child during support sessions by enabling them to determine how such sessions unfold.
• Children in Sweden being invited to create "10 wishes" of things they would like to see done differently to support contact (for example, being allowed to telephone into prison).

Similar interactive approaches are reported in Luxembourg, Belgium, France and Italy (Robertson, 2016).

Post-Custody

From the literature reviewed there is less evidence regarding successful models of support in the post-release period. One historical study by Frye and Dawe (2008) reported on an intensive multifaceted parenting program in Australia, Parents Under Pressure (PUP), delivered to women offenders after release, or in low-security confinement where they were living with their children. Although limited to a small sample of 12, they reported “improvement in maternal mental health and the quality of the parent-child relationship” (p. 99), along with reductions in both abuse potential and problem child behaviours.

Reflections on Whole Family Wellbeing Fund Principles

The ten Whole Family Wellbeing Fund (WFWF) principles are explained in chapter two.

The examples in this chapter show alignment with several Whole Family Wellbeing Fund (WFWF) principles, particularly whole family support, needs-based approaches, and collaborative working.

The various models discussed highlight the importance of holistic, family-centred approaches, such as the Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids and Beside Me projects, which aim to strengthen relationships between imprisoned parents and their children. These initiatives reflect the WFWF principle of tailoring support to the individual needs of families, rather than relying on rigid structures.

Additionally, non-stigmatising support is emphasised in programmes like The Visiting Mum Scheme, which creates a more welcoming environment for children visiting their mothers in prison. The chapter also showcases assets and community-based approaches, such as Scandinavian family support models, which integrate rehabilitation into community settings. The emphasis on reducing intergenerational cycles of disadvantage aligns with the WFWF’s focus on early intervention and preventative support.

However, the chapter also highlights gaps in post-custody family support, which suggests a need for more sustainable and seamless services, reinforcing the WFWF principle that support should be timely and adaptive to the family’s changing needs.

Summary

This chapter explored various family support models aimed at strengthening relationships between imprisoned parents and their children. Several initiatives within Scotland, such as the Beside Me project, Game with Mum and Dad, and Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids, demonstrate significant benefits in improving family connections, parenting confidence, and overall wellbeing. While challenges such as engagement and operational constraints were noted, these programmes showcase innovative approaches to fostering meaningful interactions within prison settings.

Beyond Scotland, successful family support initiatives in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and across Europe and the U.S. highlighted the importance of structured activities, extended visitation opportunities, and holistic, family-centred approaches. Scandinavian models, in particular, emphasised rehabilitation through open prison settings and child-friendly visitation policies. Programmes in Poland, the Netherlands, and the U.S. further reinforced the value of quality interactions, privacy, and play in maintaining parent-child bonds.

While much of the research focussed on support during custody, evidence of post-release support models was more limited. However, initiatives such as Parents Under Pressure in Australia indicated the potential for targeted parenting programmes to improve family reintegration and reduce reoffending. Overall, the chapter emphasises the need for continued investment in family-centred support strategies, both during and after imprisonment, to enhance rehabilitation outcomes and break intergenerational cycles of disadvantage.