Invisible No More: Ending Stigma to Support Children Experiencing Parental Incarceration

Join See Us, Support Us (SUSU) and the Osborne Association for a powerful discussion featuring youth with lived experience, the Marshall Project, Hour Children, Parallel Sentence, Author Reda Taleb, and more. Together, we will explore how stigma impacts children of incarcerated parents, and identify actionable steps to end it to ensure young people reach their full potential.

More than one in 14 children in the U.S. have experienced the incarceration of a parent, yet their stories often go unheard due to the pervasive stigma attached to having an incarcerated parent. This stigma, fueled by harmful media portrayals and entrenched in policies, negatively affects children’s self-esteem, academic pursuits, and well-being. It prevents families from seeking support and building connections. As part of See Us, Support Us (SUSU) month this October, we’re dismantling these harmful narratives and fostering a world where children with incarcerated parents are seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.