Evaluation of Support for Children with an Incarcerated Parent and Their Non‑incarcerated Caregivers
It is currently possible for children (aged 6–13 years) and non-incarcerated caregivers to participate in the project. Click the button to register your interest. You will then be contacted by the project team.
Why is this research project needed?
Children who have a parent in prison or remand custody may be strongly affected by the situation and struggle with difficult thoughts and emotions. Research also shows that children who have, or have had, a parent in prison may experience long‑term and wide‑ranging difficulties, such as negative emotions or challenges at school. Support is therefore important for the children’s overall wellbeing. The child’s non-incarcerated caregiver may also experience distress, for example due to having a partner in prison, and may need support both for their own wellbeing and to be able to support the child.
A support programme has now been developed so that, in the long term, all children and caregivers can receive equivalent support regardless of where in the country they live. It is important to evaluate new programmes scientifically to ensure that they work as intended.
The project has been approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (Reg. No. 2025‑05014‑01).
What does the research project involve?
The aim of the project is to scientifically assess the effects of the new support programme on psychosocial health.
Children and caregivers receive one of two support alternatives, depending on what the service offers: either the usual support according to what the unit has provided previously or the new support programme. Both alternatives are intended to offer information about common thoughts, emotions, and questions that may arise when a parent is in prison or remand custody, as well as ways of managing these experiences. The support a family receives depends on what is offered by the service unit where the family seeks help.
To understand how helpful the different support alternatives are, children and caregivers complete questionnaires on four occasions over the course of one year and may be invited to an interview with researchers.
As a thank‑you for participating, families receive gift cards.
Who is conducting the evaluation, and where can I get more information?
The evaluation is being conducted by researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University.
If you have questions please contact the project group at baff-cns@ki.se , phone: 0703039987 or Principal Investigator Åsa Norman, Docent, asa.norman@ki.se , phone: 0739204270
How do I sign up?
Scan the QR code or use the button at the top of the page.
