Process Evaluation of a Prison Parenting Education Program for Women

Abstract

Most women experiencing incarceration are mothers, and concerns about their children are a primary focus. The aim of this paper is to describe the process evaluation of a parenting education program in a prison setting. The Mothers Matter parenting education program was co-designed based on the preferences of the women in an Australian prison. The program is strengths-based, with a trauma-informed approach and accommodates cultural diversity. Most women who participated in the program were positive about the program and reported increased connections with their children and family, releasing guilt after apologising to their children, using self-care techniques, and were wanting to continue learning. Program fidelity was assessed through observation of the program. A logic model of the short- and medium-term outcomes is presented as well as the mechanisms of impact that can be used to strengthen future parenting education programs and evaluations.

Keywords

• parenting education
• women
• mothers
• incarceration
• process evaluation