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New support for children with family members in jail

A support group kicks off later this month in Warren aimed specifically to support children who are – or have been – separated from a loved one by incarceration.

It will be held the first and third Mondays of the month at First United Methodist Church from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Mary Eileen Saylor, one of the group’s organizers, said a children’s group has been available since an adult group was started a while back.

She’s seen similar emotions in both children and adults struggling with incarcerated family members, specifically citing “feeling alone” and “being angry.”

According to the state Department of Corrections, citing a prior year’s data, there were over 81,000 children in the Commonwealth with a parent incarcerated. Additionally, one in seven children living in poverty have an incarcerated parent.

Per the Population Reference Bureau, a non-profit statistical group in Washington, D.C., children “with an incarcerated parent were more than three times more likely to have behavioral problems or depression than similar children without an imprisoned parent, and at least twice as likely to suffer from learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, and anxiety.”

According to a brochure for the group, plans were to start the group this week.

“Both groups strive to be a supportive, safe, non-judgmental and confidential environment,” Saylor said, “in a Christ-centered program to the individuals.”

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