One of the constant challenges for family members of prisoners is overcoming the stigma of having a loved one incarcerated. This stigma can make adult and children family members feel ashamed and isolated, which adds to the trauma of the family disruption caused by incarceration. Extended Family shares skills and coping mechanisms to remove those feelings with lessons like, “You Don’t Have to Do Their Time.”
Recently, Extended Family staff members attended a workshop and heard Dr. Larrell Wilkinson, Associate Professor in the Department of Human Studies at the UAB School of Education, and Program Director for the Community Health & Human Services Program, who spoke about solutions for reducing stigma in the healthcare setting. The same tools can be applied to helping families struggling with the stigma of having an incarcerated loved one.
Overcoming stigma begins with understanding what it is and how it affects each individual. One way we help diminish feelings of stigma in family members is to help them understand that they are not alone. People in communities everywhere share the experience of having someone they care about spend time in jail or prison. Knowing this helps ease the feeling of shame and isolation.
After identifying the problems caused by stigma, we can begin trust-building activities, using participatory learning to develop skills to create an identity independent of that of the incarcerated family member. This involves learning to make good choices which promotes better emotional, mental, and physical health.
Most importantly, we can help alleviate stigma by using an “empowerment approach,” teaching family members to recognize the power that they have over their own lives and decisions, like the people they choose to trust, what they will and won’t take into their bodies, their attitudes, the amount of effort they exert in what they do, and their reaction to whatever happens. Helping family members see the things that they can control empowers them as they work to make good choices, set goals, and achieve them.
Lastly, we want to teach family members to set values that build others up, which involves recognizing the usefulness in not only making choices to create a better life for themselves, but also for their family members, friends, and others in their community. Many times, the most impactful thing a person can do is share their story, which helps lessen their stigma and helps others feel less alone. Not only is this empowering, but it also promotes healing.
By reducing stigma in family members of the incarcerated, Extended Family is fulfilling our mission “to offer help and inspire hope.” For more information about us and our programs, visit our website, www.extendedfamilyhelp.org.