A LOCAL charity is providing more support for Bristol families where one of the parents is in prison.
Barnardo's South West has produced a special handbook to stop children of offenders suffering their own "hidden sentence".
Youngsters with a parent in prison are more likely to be at risk of developing anti-social behaviour or mental health problems, and more likely to live in poverty.
The publication is aimed at Sure Start children's centres which work with the parents and carers of under-5s.
Staff will be encouraged to identify and support affected families, reducing the impact of imprisonment.
It is estimated that at any one time, nearly 100,000 children are affected by parental imprisonment.
They are three times more likely to be involved in delinquent activity and more than twice as likely to experience mental health problems.
Research shows having a parent in prison increases the likelihood of family poverty or a child having to enter the care system.
Tim Carter, Barnardo's South West assistant director, said: "We are not excusing the actions of offenders or suggesting they shouldn't be punished. However, the children of prisoners are a highly vulnerable group and we must do what we can prevent them suffering their own 'hidden sentence', and break the cycle of offending from one generation to the next.
"Sure Start children's centres, with their combination of universal and targeted services, their base in the community and their potential for early intervention, are a key resource for meeting the needs of this group.
"We hope the handbook will have an impact on the way in these projects respond to the needs of families."
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