See Us, Support Us Guiding Principles
See Us, Support Us (SUSU) is a national awareness raising initiative about and an affirming community for children and young adults affected by parental incarceration. SUSU is guided by the following principles which were co-created with those whose parents are involved in the criminal legal system and SUSU Partners.
The criminal legal system should balance accountability and healing, while averting or minimizing family separation.
Oppression and dehumanization of Black, Indigenous and people of color is perpetuated by the criminal legal system. Policies and practices must be examined and new approaches rooted in healing and restoration enacted to achieve just treatment, equitable possibilities, and liberation.
Young people’s needs should be considered throughout the duration of their parents’ involvement in the criminal legal system, from arrest to reentry.
Young people should be free of the stigma and stereotypes that limit their future prospects and well-being. They should have access to affirming, inclusive spaces that create a sense of belonging.
Persistent patterns of oppression, racism, trauma, and poverty may result in the incarceration of family members across generations. We refrain from speaking about “breaking the cycle of intergenerational incarceration” because this narrative does not acknowledge these persistent patterns and largely places blame on families.
Approach young people with empathy and compassion, not judgment and pity. Recognizing the emotional challenges they may be experiencing due to their parent’s incarceration shows our capacity for understanding and providing support.
Young people must have accessible and cost-free ways to maintain contact with their incarcerated parents. Contact visits, phone calls, packages, letters, email, and video conferencing, can promote young people’s well-being, and support active parenting and successful reentry.
Young people must be co-creators in developing programs, policies, and practices that affect them.
Young people thrive and succeed despite challenges when provided with support and opportunities.
Thank you to SUSU and youth with lived experiences for creating these!
www.susu-osborne.org/guiding-principles
1 in every 28 children in the United States has an incarcerated parent.*
In North Carolina, more than 18,000 children have a parent in prison. According to The Annie E. Casey Foundation, an estimated 160,000 children in the state have experienced parental incarceration and the resulting consequences.
Our Children’s Place of Coastal Horizons Center is a statewide program committed to the well-being of these children through advocacy, education, and outreach.
In order to support children with an incarcerated parent and help them persevere through such a challenging experience, Sesame Workshop launched the Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration initiative. The bi-lingual (English/Spanish) resources include videos and a storybook for children to help support and comfort them, videos and guides for parents and caregivers to help them find the language to talk about incarceration with their children, and a resource for the incarcerated parent that highlights the importance of communication.
For more information, visit the Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration website or contact Our Children's Place.
A Bill of Rights for the Children of Incarcerated Parents
The San Francisco Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (SFCIPP) created this downloadable bill of rights. Click either link below to download your copy.
During National Volunteer Week, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible volunteers who give their time, energy, and compassion to support Coastal Horizons.
Whether you help make our signature fundraisers like Duck Derby, Power of the Purse, and our Annual Luncheon a success, provide dinner for the children staying at our Open House Youth Shelter, offer support through our Rape Crisis Centers, or serve in countless other ways—you are making a meaningful difference every single day.
Your generosity helps us provide hope, healing, and critical services to children, families, and individuals across our communities. Because of you, lives are changed.
Thank you for showing up, stepping in, and standing beside us. We simply could not do this work without you.
#NationalVolunteerWeek #ThankYouVolunteers #CoastalHorizons #StrongerFamilies #safercommunities #HealthierLives
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Our Children's Place is sending out a big "Thank You!" to our amazing volunteers during Volunteer Appreciation Week! These wonderful folks serve on our Advisory Board, help with Parent Day, staff our hat market tables, and provide much-appreciated support, offer to helps, and thoughtful insight throughout the year. Thank you!
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Thanks Durham County Government Local Reentry Council (LRC) for inviting Our Children's Place to be a panel participant last evening! It was a great opportunity to hear from those with lived and professional experience, reconnect with those we haven't seen in awhile, and make some new connections!.
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We travel the state educating North Carolinians about the children of incarcerated parents. Have we been in your neck of the woods? Click here to find out! If you'd like us to visit you next, let us know!
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