CT Children with Incarcerated Parents (CTCIP) Initiative

Dedicated to improving the quality of support for children with incarcerated parents by leveraging data and insights to inform public policy and enhance practices.

a colorful logo for CTCIP

History

The CT Children with Incarcerated Parents (CTCIP) Initiative, funded by the Connecticut General Assembly since 2008, is the first legislatively funded statewide initiative in the United States to support children with incarcerated parents. CTCIP operates out of the Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy (IMRP) located at the University of Connecticut's School of Public Policy in Hartford, Connecticut.

Objectives

The CTCIP Initiative improves services, informs public policy, and enhances outcomes for children with incarcerated parents and their families through data analysis, rigorous research, strategic partnerships, and the development of valuable resources. As Connecticut’s primary resource center on children affected by familial incarceration, CTCIP provides statewide leadership by generating evidence-based insights and recommendations that guide policy and practice.

Current Initiatives

Our work connects data, practice, and lived experience and includes:

a father hugging two daughters

Child-Friendly Spaces in Correctional Facilities

We invested over $80,000 to create family-friendly visiting areas at Connecticut correctional facilities, supporting on-site improvements such as new furniture, paintings, books, toys, and other child-centered activities that allow a safe, comfortable space for family visits.

Eight CTDOC facilities are now are part of this partnership including:

  • York Correctional Institution
  • MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution
  • Osborn Correctional Institution
  • Carl Robinson Correction Institution
  • Corrigan Correctional Center
  • Cybulski Correction Institution
  • Cheshire Correction Institution
  • Manson Youth Institution

CTCIP funded the state’s first correctional facility playground at York CI, providing a safe outdoor space for children to play during visits.

Programs

CTCIP supports a range of educational, mental health, family engagement, and youth-focused programs that promote growth, acceptance, and connection for children with incarcerated parents. Through resources that strengthen literacy, conflict-resolution abilities, behavioral development, parent-child relationships, and community awareness, these programs help reduce the barriers young people often encounter and create supporting environments for them and their families.

Scholarship Fund

To date, CTCIP has awarded over $75,000 to undergraduate students impacted by familial incarceration. Scholarship recipients receive $1,500 per academic semester to reduce the financial barriers of post-secondary education and to support their ongoing academic success.

If you are interested in applying for the CTCIP scholarship, please email CTCIP@uconn.edu.

To make a donation to the scholarship fund, please visit our UConn Giving donation page at any time during the year.

Workshops and Trainings

We collaborate with educators, the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Children and Families to equip professionals with tools and knowledge to better support children and strengthen family connections.

Resources for Children

This resource on the CTCIP website is designed to help children understand the criminal justice system through clear explanations, interactive content, and age-appropriate activities.

Contact Us

For more information, reach out to the CIP Initiative: