Davian Reynolds, our 16-year-old video columnist from Brooklyn, NY describes how he dealt with the separation from his mother during holiday season while she was in prison.

Family Life Behind Bars previously interviewed Dr. Harland Kessaris, a psychologist who specializes in re-entry of incarcerated individuals back into family and society, who provided some insight on how to cope with the absence of a loved one during the holiday season.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: What tips do you have to deal with separation during the holiday seasons?

[Use the comments feature below or call (646) 867-1891 to leave an audio message.]

Click on the player above or download this video here. (iPhone cellular version)

Outgoing President George W. Bush showed his inner “community organizer” on Tuesday by praising the volunteers who mentor the children of people who are incarcerated.

“These youngsters got ambitions and goals. They want to go to college. They want to make a difference,” the president said after meeting privately with a small group of volunteers and children at Big Brothers and Big Sisters’ Youth Focus Program in Greenboro, N.C. “Oh, it takes some time, it takes a little bit of extra love, but by helping a child, you can really help the country.”

President Bush appears in recent weeks to be on a farewell tour, trying to salvage his tattered ratings by reminding people of some of the charitable initiatives he launched as president. On Monday, he spoke about his efforts to battle the AIDS epidemic—an effort that even his most bitter rivals praise. And today, he tried to remind Americans that he initiated and funded an effort in 2003 to help children of people in prison.

About 2 million children and youth in the United States have at least one parent in a Federal or State correctional facility, according to Bureau of Justice Statistics.

These kids don’t just have to deal with separation from their parent, but must struggle with the economic, social, and emotional burdens associated with their parent’s incarceration.

At the same time, research shows that mentoring programs aimed at this group can make a big difference, reducing their first-time drug and alcohol use, improving their academic performance, and reducing the likelihood that they will be involved in violence. Mentoring programs can also help them develop a trusting relationship with a supportive adult and provide them with a stable environment.

The holidays are traditionally a time for families to be together. That message is in the songs, the movies, and even displayed in storefront windows. What happens when your family is separated by more than distance but by the physical and psychological barriers imposed by incarceration? How then do you cope with the holidays?

We recently sat down with Dr. Harland Kessaris to talk about how to cope with the absence of a loved one during the holiday season and other questions asked by you. As a psychologist who specializes in re-entry of incarcerated individuals back into family and society, he was able to provide some insight into handling this potentially alienating time of year. (more…)

In this video column, Davian Reynolds, our 16-year-old video columnist from Brooklyn, reflects on why Barack Obama’s victory in the 2008 presidential election means so much for kids like him who have or have had or might wind up having a parent who is incarcerated. (more…)

[This interviewed was rescheduled for Monday, Nov. 10. You may submit your questions through Nov. 9.]

The holiday season is meant to be a time for joy and celebration. But for many, it is difficult period when their separation from an incarcerated family member is magnified because of the relentless message that this is a time for families to be together.

Often people do not know where to turn to learn how to cope with this period. What do you tell your children when they are sad that their parent is not there? Do you engage them in this conversation or not? Who can you turn to? How do you express what you are feeling to your spouse or children? What is the best way for children to handle this period?

To answer some of those questions, I have arranged an interview with Dr. Harland Kessaris, a psychologist who specializes in helping families adjust to life when a member is in prison.

You have an opportunity to ask Dr. Kessaris your own questions to him. I’d like to hear from you - what questions do you want to ask Dr. Kessaris?

Submit them before Nov. 6 Nov. 9 and I’ll include them in the interview on Friday, Nov. 7 Monday, Nov. 10. You’ll be able to see the answers when we post the article on Monday Wednesday, Nov. 12.

You have three options:

1. Post a question in the comments section below,
2. Send an email to questions@livesinfocus.org,
3. Call (646) 867-1891 to leave a message.

REMINDER: DEADLINE TO ENTER IS DEC. 1, 2008

People who have an incarcerated family member naturally cycle through a range of difficult emotions as the years slowly pass. Some express their sadness, anxiety and fear or hope for the future through art, music or poetry.

To honor that great artwork, Family Life behind Bars is launching its inaugural Annual Arts Celebration & Competition.You are invited to enter the artwork you have produced that reflects the emotions you are feeling during your loved one’s incarceration. (more…)

If you are a child of someone who is incarcerated and you have a question for me, you have three options:

1. Post a question in the comments section below,
2. Send an email to questions@livesinfocus.org,
3. Call (646) 867-1891 to leave a message.

I also welcome questions from others who might simply be interested in knowing more about how the life of children is affected when a parent is incarcerated.

Click on the player above or download this video here. (iPhone version)

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: How has your parent’s incarceration affected your interest in staying in school?

[Use the comments feature below or call (646) 867-1891 to leave an audio message.]

In this video column, Davian Reynolds, a 16-year-old from Brooklyn, reflects on how children who have an incarcerated parent can face questions, scrutiny and mistrust from other students, teachers and the administration.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: How did your friends reacted when you told them you have a parent who is incarcerated? If your teachers know, how do you think they treat you differently?

[Use the comments feature below or call (646) 867-1891 to leave an audio message.]

Click on the player above or download this video here. (iPhone version)

Thirty-year-old Emani Davis has spoken out on behalf of young people whose parents have been incarcerated since she was 14 years old. Her own father has been imprisoned for more than a decade.

Meet Emani Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. (Link to mp3)

Earlier this year, she was named the director of Project Family Connect for New York’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Her focus is to make judges and attorneys more aware of how having a parent in jail impacts children and young adults. And, after years of struggle, she says that some in the court system are finally starting to listen.

In her monthly audio column, Davis will share her thoughts and experiences, and answers questions that you may have about how incarceration is affecting your own families.

If you have a question for Emani, you have three options:

1) Post a question in the comments section below,

2) Send an email to questions@livesinfocus.org,

3) Call (646) 867-1891 to leave a message.

Emani also welcomes questions from others who might simply be interested in knowing more about how the life of families is affected when a parent is incarcerated.

Lives in Focus is relaunching its monthly video column by 23-year-old Makeba Lavan, a young woman whose mother was incarcerated until late 2005.

If you are a child of someone who is incarcerated and you have a question for Makeba, you have three options:

1) Post a question in the comments section below,

2) Send an email to questions@livesinfocus.org,

3) Call (646) 867-1891 to leave a message.

Makeba also welcomes questions from others who might simply be interested in knowing more about how the life of children is affected when a parent is incarcerated.

Click on the player above or download this video here. (iPhone version)