Fall 2025 Newsletter

From the Transition Director

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

During See Us Support Us Month we gathered across the nation to commemorate a milestone that reminds us why this work matters so deeply. On October 3, 2025, the NRCCFI hosted a webinar celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the San Francisco Children’s Bill of Rights—a framework that transformed how we think about children of incarcerated parents.

During my remarks at that celebration, I reflected on the difficult decade from 1995 to 2005, when our nation made a choice to continue incarcerating individuals at unprecedented rates while failing to build infrastructure to support the nearly 2 million children left behind. I spoke about the barriers families faced—the dollar-per-minute phone calls, the hundreds of miles to visitation, the profound racial inequities that meant Black children were ten times more likely than white children to have a parent in prison. We discussed how grandmothers, particularly Black and Latina grandmothers, became the safety net when formal systems weren’t there, receiving almost nothing in return.

But I also spoke about the turning point the Bill of Rights represented. For the first time, we had language that said clearly: these children have rights—not privileges, but rights. The right to be kept safe and informed. The right to be heard. The right to maintain connection with their parents. It gave us a north star to navigate by, transforming children from collateral damage into individuals with inherent dignity that systems have an obligation to protect. You can read my full speech here.

A Global Conversation: Pillars from New Zealand

Our October 3rd webinar brought an exciting international dimension to this conversation. We were honored to be joined by Pillars, a New Zealand charity that supports the children and whānau (extended family) of people in prison to create positive futures for themselves.

What made this collaboration particularly powerful was the work done by youth involved with Pillars. These young people took the San Francisco Bill of Rights and rewrote it to more accurately reflect their own feelings, experiences, and culture. Their voices reminded us that while the framework is universal, its expression must honor the lived experiences and cultural contexts of the communities it serves. This is cultural humility in action—listening to those most impacted and allowing them to shape the language and priorities of the work.

New Resource: A Roadmap for State Action

I’m pleased to announce the release of an important new resource: Statewide Correctional Initiatives Supporting Children with Incarcerated Parents: An Action Plan for Policymakers(Ann Adalist-Estrin et al., Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy, 2025).

This Action Plan provides a comprehensive framework for states to develop coordinated, effective support systems for children and families affected by parental incarceration. The executive summary outlines key policy recommendations across multiple domains:

• Cross-system collaboration to break down the silos that have historically fragmented services
• Culturally responsive programming that centers the voices and needs of communities most impacted
• Supporting caregiver stability with financial assistance and legal support
• Maintaining family connections through affordable communication and family-friendly visitation practices
• Child-centered policies in both corrections and child welfare systems
• Data collection and evaluation to inform evidence-based practice

I must note with profound sadness that Ann Adalist-Estrin, the founding Director of NRCCFI, passed away in April 2024 before this report was released. Ann dedicated her life to this work, and this Action Plan represents the culmination of decades of her leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to children and families. It is a fitting legacy.

Over the next few years, we will utilize this Action Plan to guide our work with states across the country. We see this as a living document—a tool for advocacy, policy development, and systems change. Whether your state is just beginning to address these issues or looking to strengthen existing initiatives, this Plan offers a roadmap grounded in research, best practices, and the lived experiences of families.

Our Services: How We Can Support Your Work

The NRCCFI offers a range of trainings, technical assistance, and consulting services designed to meet organizations where they are. We work with:

• Health and behavioral health organizations
• Educational institutions and school districts
• Academic researchers and universities
• Nonprofit and grassroots organizations
• Faith-based communities
• Correctional facilities and reentry programs
• Community members and other professionals

Whether you need support developing a new program, strengthening existing services, training staff, or navigating policy change, we’re here to partner with you.

Save the Date: January 30, 2026 Webinar

Mark your calendars for our upcoming webinar on January 30, 2026, which will continue the conversation we began in October regarding the Bill of Rights and its impact on school-age children and families.

Schools are where children spend much of their time, yet educators often lack training and resources to support students experiencing parental incarceration. This webinar will explore practical strategies for creating trauma-informed, supportive school environments. More details will be shared in the coming weeks.

We Want to Hear from You

As we plan for the year ahead, we want to understand your current and future needs so that we can best gather resources and design trainings that truly serve you. What challenges are you facing in your work with children and families affected by incarceration? What training topics would be most valuable? What resources would help you do this work more effectively? What barriers are you encountering that we might help address?

Your feedback will directly shape our programming and resource development. Please reach out to share your thoughts and needs—this work is most effective when we do it together, informed by the wisdom of practitioners and families on the ground.

The Bill of Rights gave us a framework twenty years ago. The new Action Plan gives us a roadmap. But the real work happens in communities, in programs, in the moments when a child feels seen and a family feels supported. Thank you for being part of this movement.

In solidarity,

Carol F. Burton
Transition Director
National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated (NRCCFI)