IV 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 623 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 15, 2017 Mr. Carson of Indiana submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce RESOLUTION Recognizing the importance of providing services to children of incarcerated parents.

Whereas the number of children with an incarcerated parent has increased nearly 80 percent in the past 20 years; Whereas an estimated 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 children have a parent in State or Federal prison, yet few resources exist to support young children and families coping with this life-changing circumstance; Whereas studies suggest that 30 to 50 percent of incarcerated fathers do not see their children while they are in prison; Whereas research suggests that children of incarcerated parents may struggle more with academic achievement and behavioral problems than their peers who do not have a parent in the criminal justice system; Whereas children of incarcerated parents are 6 times more likely than their peers to be incarcerated themselves at some point throughout their lives; Whereas children of incarcerated parents need guidance on how to express emotions related to absent parents, while their caregivers need help maintaining routines and establishing age-appropriate communication around incarceration; and Whereas providing children with coping strategies and additional emotional resources, such as mentors, trained teachers, skilled counselors, and strong foster families can help them feel comforted and secure throughout this difficult time: Now, therefore, be it