Children with incarcerated parents are particularly vulnerable because not only are they faced with the trauma of loss, but also the myriad economic and social challenges that parental incarceration can bring. The goals of Annie E Casey Foundation's work in this field are to support and promote effective responses to these challenges.

The Kaiser Family Fund survey of state Medicaid directors finds that most states are facing the prospect of mid-fiscal year 2009 program cutbacks in this program that serves vulnerable families.

In 2007, 1.7 million children under age 18 had a parent in prison—an 82 percent increase 1991, disproportionately affecting children of color. Children of incarcerated parents are more likely to drop out of school, engage in delinquency, and subsequently be incarcerated themselves. This Sentencing Project brief evaluates Department of Justice data and offers policy recommendations to support parent/child relationships and minimize the harm to children.

Here’s a personal glimpse at the importance of local programs for children and families, as three stressed-out parents share how they found help and education in support groups. The California-based Children’s Advocate reports.

It�s a perennial struggle for military families, but one that is hitting home for more and more of them as soldiers rotate back to the home front from Iraq and Afghanistan: the sometimes painful adjustments that come with the return of a long-absent parent. Rebecca Freshour looks at some of the issues.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Connect for Kids has pulled together online resources for helping those affected. We’ve divided them into three sections: Emergency Guidelines for Helping Victims looks at how government agencies are developing procedures for helping the displaced; Giving & Getting Help is a compilation of information on donating and volunteering, also on help available to those affected; and Help with Healing offers information on supporting kids and families dealing with trauma related to Katrina. We expect to update this resource frequently.

As the war in Iraq and worries about terrorism at home continue to challenge our children's resilience and sense of safety, experts and organizations across the country are pulling together new resources on the Web to help. Here's our updated list of some of the best.

They do crafts. They sell cookies. And twice a month the girls in the Columbia River, Oregon Girl Scouts Beyond Bars troop spend a couple of hours at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility with their moms. Linda Baker explains how this growing program works to improve the odds for families divided by incarceration.

To increase awareness of Parental Alienation Syndrome and the effect it has for children, and to provide information, support, and resources for parents and children dealing with this disorder.