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Lawmakers Approve Bill To Pave Path Forward For Kids Of Incarcerated Parents

Dan Bannister
/
iStockphoto

Florida lawmakers are working on a measure they hope will help the children of incarcerated parents move forward faster. Fort Lauderdale Democratic Representative Patricia Williams has a bill she says would help to map out a plan for parents and their children.

“It does not change the law that protects the children, but it gives the incarcerated parent a possibility of becoming a better parent. While incarcerated they are able to take on an incarcerated case plan load. The child has a case plan and this gives the incarcerated parent a plan to follow while they’re incarcerated,” Williams says.

Officials say thousands of kids in foster care have parents in prison or jail. The goal is to help the kids find a permanent home as quickly as possible, either through re-unification with their parents or adoption.

Follow @Regan_McCarthy

Regan McCarthy is the Assistant News Director for WFSU Public Media. Before coming to Tallahassee, Regan graduated with honors from Indiana University’s Ernie Pyle School of Journalism. She worked for several years for NPR member station WFIU in Bloomington, Ind., where she covered local and state government and produced feature and community stories.

Phone: (850) 645-6090 | rmccarthy@fsu.edu

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