This is the final report of a three-phased formative evaluation of the Mothers with Babies (MWB) units, undertaken for the Department of Corrections (the Department) from late 2011 to early 2013.
Purpose
Why was the research of the Mothers with Babies (MWB) Units undertaken?
Housing very young children in a prison setting is a challenging and very unusual situation for Corrections staff. The Department sought an independent evaluation of its management of these special units, to provide assurance that everything possible was being done to ensure that the children were safe, that the mothers’ and the babies’ best interests were being protected, and that the children’s developmental needs were being met.
Methodology
The methodology for the Phase III evaluation included a review of relevant documents and literature regarding mothers and babies in prison, site visits to national office and the three women’s prisons to conduct interviews with mothers, staff and external providers, and telephone interviews with anyone unavailable during site visits.
2.1 Participants
A total of 35 people were interviewed. These included: mothers (n=13); Corrections staff (n=20); National Office staff (n= 1); and external service providers, (n= 1). As well, informal discussions were held with two National Office staff.
The staff that were interviewed included MWB unit staff, prison management staff, health services staff, case managers (CMs) for MWB units, and National Office staff. One external provider also provided information for this report.
At the time of the site visits (9 to 17 May 2013), there were thirteen mothers and children housed with their children in prison; six in Auckland, six in Christchurch, and one in Arohata. All these mothers were interviewed. Of the thirteen mothers, one was pregnant at the time of our visit, and the remaining twelve women had children ranging in age from five months to nearly two years, with one mother having two children of different ages.
2.2 Process
2.2.1 Document and Literature Review
A range of relevant documents were reviewed. These included previous evaluation reports, documents provided by interviewees, journal articles and commissioned research reports.
2.2.2 Interviews
Wherever possible, face to face interviews took place. Separate interview schedules were developed and approved by the Research and Evaluation Team for each of the four participant groups. Consent forms were completed and information sheets were also provided. Interview schedules included semi-structured questions across the following key areas: (i) the role of interviewees in relation to the MWB units; (ii) entry and referral processes to the MWB units; (iii) operations of the MWB units; (iv) transition and exit processes; (v) programmes; (vi) Department of Corrections processes; and, (vii) general information.
2.2.3 Participant Observation
During the site visits the evaluation team had some informal discussions with staff and as well undertook general observations of the MWB units.
2.2.4 Qualitative Analysis
All interview material has been analysed using standard qualitative approaches. Primarily this has involved coding, thematic organisation, and analysis.
2.2.5 Reporting
All the data collected and analysed from Phase III has been used as the basis for this report, which presents the findings relevant to the Phase III evaluation objectives.
Key Results
What were the main findings?
The overall conclusions were that the units have continued to develop, that positive advances have been made, and an underlying “best interests of the child” approach to decision-making was evident:
- The report summarised published research on mother with baby programmes in prisons, which consistently shows that mother with baby units do support development of secure attachment in the child and increased parenting skills and maternal sensitivity in the mothers; research also provides some evidence that mothers with baby units can help reduce re-offending
- A range of procedural issues were identified as having been addressed to ensure safety and well-being: for example, policies on who can pick up children and take them off-site, and role clarification amongst staff to improve consistency and co-ordination
- Further, operational changes were noted to have occurred in order to meet the needs of the units; for example, roster changes to increase staff coverage at MWB units, and making programmes more accessible to mothers
- Other issues noted as requiring further attention included having a mix of both male and female staff at MWB units, having dedicated unit staff, the frequency of parenting programmes, instituting alternative caregiver assessments, and shortening wait times for approval to enter the units
- Also recommended were further training of new staff, and improved national co-ordination of the units and the ways in which the mothers with babies policy is managed.