Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe how children in their early stages of development, ages five to nine, are affected by the stigma of having their mother incarcerated, as perceived by the foster parent, teacher, social worker, and counselor. In addition, it was the purpose of this study to identify and describe the impact of the mother's incarceration and how it affects child development, self-esteem, and socialization in schools. Methodology. The researcher used a case study type approach for a qualitative research with an ethnographic design. The research focused on the experiences of children ages five to nine who have incarcerated mothers. There were several interviews conducted with teachers, counselors, foster parents, and social workers. The population in this study includes nearly 20,000 children who are affected by having a mother who is incarcerated. There was a process of randomly selecting from those willing to participate who met the criteria of the study. After five cases were identified, there were interviews with those involved. Findings. The study found the following: (1) The majority of students were academically low. The emotional development seemed to be the biggest concern for the majority of respondents. (2) The majority of the students knew that their mother was incarcerated, and some had negative behaviors attached to their mother's incarceration. (3) Many of the students were able to make friends but only a small percentage could maintain friends. Many of the students initiated conflicts. Conclusions. Based on the outcomes of this study, further research should be done in the following areas: There must be satisfactory consideration paid to the social development and academic achievement of children. In addition, if educators can identify the unique behavior patterns of children in school, experiencing, shame, guilt, or stigma, they can overcome those barriers through interventions that promote socialization. Special attention must also be paid to the cognitive and behavioral implications of stereotypes or stigmas. It is imperative to pay close attention to the various effects of attachment in the early stages of childhood. The foster care system must also be a component of further research as well as resiliency. It would be insightful to do a comparison study of fathers versus mothers.