Chris Payton supports Intro 453 referrals for children of incarcerated parents
Chris Payton of Exodus Transitional Community says children of incarcerated parents experience grief, loss, confusion, shame, and trauma. He says referrals to community mental health should be available for children visiting incarcerated parents and cites CDC research on adverse childhood experiences.
Good afternoon, Chair and members of the committee.
My name is Chris Payton.
I'm the Associate Vice President of Behavioral Health at Exodus Transitional Community.
I'm a licensed clinical social worker and have been practicing for about 11 years.
Along with this robust reentry trauma-focused programs, Exodus has the Genesis Clinic and Article 31 MOTAR's Mental Health Clinic in East Harlem, which I oversee.
I'm here today to speak about Bill Intro 453 to provide mental health services and referrals to children visiting incarcerated individuals in New York City jails.
Many of the patients we see at the Genesis Clinic are returning to society from incarceration, and many have children.
Anecdotally, our patients discuss the profound trauma.
Their children or those children they may have cared for prior to incarceration experienced because of their parents'caretakers'incarceration.
A child is deeply affected by their parents'incarceration.
As we know, when one person is incarcerated, it affects the entire family and community ecosystem.
When a parent is incarcerated, children can experience grief, loss, confusion, shame, financial hardship, family instability.
and the pain of having an important person in your life physically and emotionally absent.
For some children, visiting a loved one in jail may be the most difficult and traumatic experience in their life.
Trauma can show up as anxiety, depression, violence, anger, problems in school, distrusting others.
We know from the CDC's research of adverse childhood experiences that it can affect the developing child's brain immune system.
So referrals to mental health in the community should be available for children incarcerated parents.
Thank you.
Next, we'll hear from Sharon Content.
Sharon, are you still with us?
Sharon, we don't hear you.
If you are able to raise your hand to signal that you can hear us.
All right, Sharon, try speaking one more time.
We see your hand.