Missouri has launched a new prison nursery program at the Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic & Correctional Center in Vandalia, offering a hopeful future for incarcerated mothers and their babies. The program, which opened in January, allows mothers who are serving time to live with their newborns for a period, fostering a chance for bonding and caregiving in a supportive environment.
The idea behind the program is simple: provide mothers who are incarcerated a safe space to raise their babies during their time in prison, instead of having to give them up right after birth. Tara Carroll, one of the caregivers chosen for the nursery, knows firsthand how painful it can be to be separated from a newborn. She gave birth to her daughter in 2022 while serving a 22-year sentence. After giving birth, she had to leave the hospital and return to prison without her baby, which led to a difficult period of postpartum depression.
However, with the new program in place, women like Carroll are now able to be part of a solution. They can help other new mothers care for their babies, while also having the chance to improve their lives and make a positive impact on their children’s futures.
The nursery is located on the prison grounds but is separate from the main prison. This space is designed to be child-friendly, with soft floors for babies to crawl on and colorful artwork on the walls. There are seven rooms in the nursery, each with space for two women and two babies, allowing a total of 14 mothers and babies at a time. This setup gives women a chance to care for their newborns and bond with them—an opportunity that wasn’t available before, when mothers had to hand over their babies to family members or the state immediately after birth.
The program also helps prepare these mothers for life after prison. The Department of Corrections offers a year of support after the mothers are released, including help with baby supplies, finding housing, job preparation, and childcare. This extra support aims to reduce the challenges that come with re-entering society after serving time.
While not every incarcerated woman is eligible for the program, the ones who qualify must meet certain criteria. They must have fewer than 18 months left on their prison sentence and must not have committed violent sexual crimes or crimes against children. If they meet these requirements, they can move into the nursery after learning they are pregnant, creating a positive environment for both mother and child.
The prison nursery is part of a larger movement, with bipartisan support from both political parties. In fact, the bill to create this program was passed with overwhelming support in Missouri’s legislature, and it has already received interest from other states like North Dakota, Idaho, and Arkansas. Experts believe these programs can help reduce anxiety and depression in both mothers and children, providing them a better chance at a successful future.
The nursery program also offers a chance for rehabilitation and growth for the incarcerated mothers. Briana Johnson, one of the five caregivers in the program, shared her own struggles with substance abuse, which led her to prison and a separation from her three children. She was pregnant with her second daughter while incarcerated and was released just before giving birth. Her experiences have made her passionate about helping other women in similar situations. By offering support and advice to new mothers in the nursery, Johnson hopes to guide them on a better path and prevent them from repeating the mistakes that brought them to prison in the first place.
While the nursery program is still in its early stages, it is seen as a big step forward in addressing the needs of incarcerated mothers and their babies. Missouri’s efforts are paving the way for other states to consider similar programs, proving that there is common ground for solutions that help families, reduce stress for mothers, and give children the opportunity to grow up with their mothers by their side, even while their mothers serve time.
(Source : newsbreak.com)
