Description: Whilst the imprisonment of fathers is a harmful experience for children, many children’s resilience suggests that individual contexts may shape their experiences and needs. This project explores the experiences and needs of children with incarcerated fathers in Flanders, to unpick the conditions which either mitigate or contribute to their harm or resilience. Whilst the lived experiences of children with incarcerated parents per se have been studied, this has seldom been attentive to the specific effect of paternal incarceration. Moreover, in Flanders, reliable data and dedicated studies are absent. I address this by examining the lived experiences, needs, and resilience of children with incarcerated fathers to: (1) identify the number and characteristics of incarcerated fathers with children; (2) explore children's experiences and needs across different age groups; (3) analyze the contextual factors and mechanisms that shape their resilience and needs; and (4) identifying child centered actions and policy recommendations. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative surveys with observational and qualitative interviews with children using the tools available through Participatory Action Research. A unique study in Flanders, this project will provide critical insights into children affected by paternal incarceration, provide impactful findings for policymakers and practitioners, and underpin interventions for the effective support of children.
Promotors: An-Sofie Vanhouche, Bart Claes, Simon Venema, Janine Janssen
Researcher: Joyce Albrecht
Funding: PhD Fellowship Fundamental research Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO)
Duration: 2025 - 2029