We Have Launched a New Project Focused on Children – the “Invisible Victims” of Incarcerated Parents

Prague, 24 July 2025

Since May 2025, we have been implementing a new project titled VOL Without Invisible Victims (reg. no. CZ.03.02.02/00/24_066/0004673), which focuses on supporting children whose parents are serving a prison sentence. The project will run until October 2027 and is funded by the Operational Programme Employment Plus (Call No. 066 OPZ+).

We are collaborating on this project with a number of partners: the Federation of Children’s Homes FICE CZ, the General Directorate of the Prison Service of the Czech Republic, individual prisons, the Yellow Ribbon organization, the Civic Education Teachers Association, the Czech Association of Social Workers, the Centre for the Integration of Children and Youth, and others.

Why This Project Was Created

We have long been working with families of incarcerated individuals and their children. As part of our ongoing project VOL for Families, we identified a number of unresolved issues and needs. Children of incarcerated parents often face:

• emotional deprivation

• alienation

• isolation and stigma

• uncertainty

• risk of social exclusion

These factors significantly affect their mental health, school performance, peer relationships, and self-esteem. Some children become withdrawn, others respond with aggression. Many do not know how to deal with the situation at all.

Cooperation with FICE CZ

Children of incarcerated parents often end up in children’s homes if no other solution can be found. The Federation of Children’s Homes (FICE CZ) had not previously addressed this issue independently, but thanks to our initiative, it began to focus on it more intensively. In June 2024, FICE experts conducted their first survey, the results of which were published in a professional journal (doi.org/10.33543/q.2024.14).

The findings were alarming – children and young adults in institutional care are often extremely psychologically affected by a parent’s incarceration. And there is no precise data – only estimates.

Research Speaks Clearly

According to the research project Parenting Behind Bars, the findings are:

1. Children’s wellbeing is significantly disrupted. Children of incarcerated parents are up to 4× more likely to experience trauma.

2. Systemic support is lacking. These children are not perceived as at-risk within standard social care.

3. Loss of a key relationship. Especially children over 12 are very vulnerable – incarceration often leads to a complete loss of contact.

What the Project Aims to Do

We aim to support at least 380 children and parents. The project focuses on strengthening parental competencies, supporting relationships, preventing alienation, and improving awareness. We also want to engage:

• at least 50 professionals in coordinated collaboration,

• civic education teachers and child-focused workers,

• the general public – to reduce prejudice against this target group.

We plan to establish long-term multidisciplinary cooperation and create a platform for sharing experience and knowledge.

Who the Project Targets

• Children of incarcerated parents (in institutional care, foster care, or extended biological families)

• Incarcerated parents

• Teachers and professionals working directly with children

What We Are Preparing First

We are already preparing working meetings with prison staff, children’s home staff, and social services (OSPOD). The aim is to jointly define the key issues. We are also preparing tailored topics for teachers (building on our cooperation with the Civic Education Teachers Association).

Starting in September, we will launch the first workshops:

– In children’s homes: topics such as Drug Prevention, Financial Literacy

– In prisons: topics such as Family, Communication, and more

Want to Get Involved?

We would be happy if you joined our initial joint workshop, which will take place on 23 October 2025 in Světlá.

The project "VOL Without Invisible Victims", reg. no. CZ.03.02.02/00/24_066/0004673, is supported by the Operational Programme Employment plus, which is co-financed by the European Social Fund plus.