‘I want them to be better than my mistakes in life’: New program helps incarcerated mothers stay close to their kids
Adelaide Women’s Prison inmates will be able to maintain their relationship with their children while incarcerated thanks to a new government program.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Sarah* knows that she has made mistakes that have led to her incarceration at the Adelaide Women’s Prison but getting home to her two young children keeps her motivated.
“I want them to be better than my mistakes in life,” Sarah said.
“My kids keep me going.”
Sarah is one of around 40 women currently involved in the Stronger Families program introduced by the South Australian Department for Child Protection and Department for Correctional Services at the women’s prison.
The project aims to assist incarcerated mums maintain contact with their children and increase chances of successful reunification after release.
While the program is only in its infancy, staff employed to support and engage with mothers at the Adelaide Women’s Prison and the Adelaide Pre-Release Centre are excited for its potential growth.
In Sarah’s case the program has provided her with more regular updates about her children, aged two and four months.
She currently sees her daughter once a week and her son every fortnight over a Zoom call.
These interactions last 55 minutes.
“It means everything to me to be honest,” Sarah said.
“It would be hard not being able to see them.
“(My daughter) comes here … runs amok on the slippery dip … they’re just by my side,” she said.
“The program has been great because it’s made me want to get out of here more.”.
The 23-year-old mum said receiving regular photographs of her children helped her feel more “connected” and “closer” to them during tough times.
“I have to be strong for my kids,” she said.
“(My daughter and I) always talk about when I come home.
“I want to take her shopping, to the beach, to the zoo.”
Sarah has been in prison since September, with her sentence ending in May.
While being away from her children, particularly with Christmas coming up, has been difficult she feels that the experience has been a “lesson” for her.
The Minister for Child Protection, Katrine Hildyard and Minister for Correctional Services, Dan Cregan met with Sarah on Thursday to discuss her involvement in the program.
“Even in the most challenging family circumstances, it is still so important that children are safely afforded the opportunity to grow up in a secure environment where they are loved, nurtured and supported to reach their potential, connected to their family,” Ms Hildyard said.
“This program represents another step in our government’s determination to tackle the most complex challenges children and their families face.”
Sarah is also involved in the Greyhounds As Pets program at the prison and helps train her assigned retired greyhound, Nanna.
“We feed her twice and day and take her for five walks and (during) those we do the training,” Sarah said.
“I know sometimes people can adopt them once they leave so I hope I can do that.”
*The person’s name has been changed to protect her identity.
More Coverage
Originally published as ‘I want them to be better than my mistakes in life’: New program helps incarcerated mothers stay close to their kids
‘Not-so-Magnificent 7’: Teen gang’s joy ride goes badly wrong
A group of seven children aged between 13 and 16 will face court on Thursday after police were forced to spike a stolen car and call in the dog squad.
Back to school: Humiliating lesson for ‘toxic’ Adelaide council
A “toxic” culture of bullies is running wild at one of Adelaide’s most affluent councils, lawyers have found – and its CEO agrees they need to learn a lesson.