Addressing the "impact of incarceration on children and families" is a an objective of CHSA and family mediation for incarcerated parents is one of the strategies endorsed by of the Children's Cabinet of the Governor's Office (GOCC) as a part of their Four Strategic Goals to develop a family-focused approach to reducing the impact of parental incarceration. A GOCC 2015 study shows that " { t} he impact of incarceration on children and families includes family instability, higher rates of child welfare involvement, and post-traumatic effects such as hypervigilance, feelings of despair and powerlessness, and poor academic outcomes." Further, this impact "remains an understudied and underserved area ... "

Statistics from CCDC continue to be pending at the writing of this application but sampling children participating in a YES Cecil County summer camp in 2016 found that 38% had at least one incarcerated parent. The population and geographic area targets for this program are Cecil County families where at least one parent is incarcerated in the CCDC.

• Cecil County Detention Center
• Cecil County Sheriff's Office
• Cecil County LMB

• During the reporting period no mediations occured however, we know that:
• Recidivism rates for those who mediate decline from 1 in 3 reoffending (31 % ) to 1 in 5 reoffending (21 %). Mediating prior to release will strengthen families by increasing the probability that the one parent will not reoffend and re-enter incarceration.

• 80% of those going to mediation agree they are more likely to not use violence to resolve their conflict and they would try to think things through before responding.

• The probability of arrest is reduced by 13 % for those who mediated compared to those who did not. The number of sessions is also a significant factor - with each additional mediation session, the probability of arrest is reduced by 8%.

• The probability of conviction is reduced by 15%, for those who mediated compared to those who did not. With each additional mediation session, the probability of conviction is reduced by 9%.

 Performance in 2018 did not meet expectations.  An agreement with the Detention Center was executed in Spring of 2018 to iron out staffing/security and procedural issues. 

Data is collected from this program monthly.  Where appropriate, measures are reported on each month, at the mid-year point or annually.  Tools include intake forms

Telephone survey