GSBB Attends Children of Incarcerated Parents Awareness Day
Girls from Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, a program of Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma, attended Children of Incarcerated Parents Awareness Day on March 4th at the Oklahoma State Capitol, joining advocates, state leaders including Governor Stitt, and community partners in raising awareness about the unique challenges facing children impacted by parental incarceration.
In Oklahoma, approximately 25,000–30,000 children have a parent in prison on any given day, and nearly 1 in 9 children will experience parental incarceration during childhood, compared to about 1 in 28 nationally. Parental incarceration is recognized as an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) and can lead to housing and caregiver instability, school disruption, mental and behavioral health challenges, and financial strain. The estimated two-year incarceration cost to the state and family exceeds $69,000, including incarceration, fees, communication, commissary, and visitation expenses.
Children are often the unseen impact of incarceration. When a parent is jailed or imprisoned, families may experience sudden changes in caregivers, housing, school stability, and emotional well-being. However, research shows children do better when stable adult relationships, mentoring, and coordinated family supports are in place.
Since 2002, Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma’s Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program has directly addressed these needs. The program facilitates visits between girls and their incarcerated parents, helping maintain and strengthen family bonds. By fostering connection, promoting healing, and providing consistent mentorship and support, Girl Scouts Beyond Bars works to break the cycle of intergenerational incarceration and empower girls to build bright futures.
By attending this important day at the Capitol, Girl Scouts Beyond Bars participants demonstrated courage, leadership, and advocacy — living out the Girl Scout mission to make the world a better place. Learn more about Girl Scouts Beyond Bars on our webpage.
