Family Bridge Network, through our program “Children Left Behind,” has commissioned the writing of several books for children with a parent in prison or children in foster care to help raise awareness and remind children that they are not alone. Their situation can happen to many other children, and they can still care about their parent and maintain contact with them. We hope you enjoy the stories and take a moment to think of those children with a mom or dad in prison.

In 2024, over 2.5 million people were incarcerated in the United States, leaving behind children, partners, and parents to cope with the aftermath of their incarceration. This meant that over 2 million children lost a mom or dad in circumstances hey had no control over, and many may not have been told the truth about where their parent had gone.

In total, over 10 million children in the U.S. have experienced the incarceration of a parent during their time in school. For some of these children, having a prisoner in the family may almost be considered “normal” within the community. For others, it will be a traumatic experience, far outside the norm. Yet all of them, along with their families, face issues of trust, stigma, and possible isolation. The impact of a parent’s incarceration on children can be extremely damaging, and many experience some of the following changes: becoming withdrawn or secretive, displaying anger or defiance (especially against authority figures such as teachers), attention-seeking or self-destructive behavior, poor educational performance, and significant mental health problems.

We also know that many children do not want to tell their friends or teachers what has happened in case they are treated differently, bullied, or teased. Some parents decide to “protect” their children from the truth and make up stories about where their mom or dad has gone. In general, though, children want to be told the truth—only then can they understand what has happened.