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Prison parent/family educator extraordinaire, Jan Walker, graced us with her presence today to talk about her newly published book. With 18 years of experience as a correctional educator for adult felons in medium custody prisons, Jan is no stranger to the struggles faced by children coping with a parent’s prison term. Welcome, Jan.

Irene: Jan, your book, “An Inmate’s Daughter,” is currently being launched. It sheds light on the experiences of children dealing with a parent’s incarceration. Can you give us the essence of your book?

Jan: The story revolves around Jenna MacDonald, a young girl who, along with her mother and younger brother, moves in with her grandparents near McNeil Island Corrections Center, where her father is serving his sentence. As Jenna starts attending a new middle grade school, she yearns to be part of the popular “in group,” a diverse group of girls who pique her curiosity about her Native American heritage and her living situation with her grandparents. These girls, who Jenna nicknames “The Snoops,” follow her home from school and even peek into her bedroom window.

Jenna’s mother enforces a “Don’t Tell” policy about her father being in prison. But Jenna loves her dad and wants to share his talent for art with those around her. Keeping such a secret becomes increasingly difficult, especially when Jenna’s rescue of a child who falls into Puget Sound during a family visit to McNeil Island draws unwanted attention to her and her family. This act of heroism comes naturally to Jenna, as she has protected her younger brother in similar situations during their time at a trailer park swimming pool.

Irene: What inspired you to write this book?

Jan: After spending 18 years in the correctional education system, teaching incarcerated parents, and developing curriculum and textbooks for them, I became deeply invested in the well-being of their children. These innocent children often face abuse or rejection in their communities, schools, and even within their extended families, despite having committed no crimes themselves.

When I left my position in correctional education to focus on writing, a friend and writing mentor encouraged me to write a book for children aged 9 to 15, who are most affected and confused by their parents’ incarceration. Although I initially had no experience writing for this age group, I learned as I went along, with my friend providing valuable feedback on the first draft. She sadly passed away before I found a publisher, but the dedication of this book serves as a tribute to her. Ultimately, “An Inmate’s Daughter” is my way of letting children of incarcerated parents know that I understand their struggles and value them enough to dedicate my time and effort to telling their stories.

Irene: You have been teaching parenting and family relationship classes to adult felons for 18 years. Can you tell us how and why you chose this career path?

Jan: In all honesty, this career chose me. I was teaching similar courses at a community college in Tacoma, WA, when the state legislature decided that prison education would fall under the community college system. I was asked to set up programs and teach at the women’s prison for a year, and during that time, I witnessed the immense need for courses specifically tailored to incarcerated individuals.

Irene: What kind of programs did you establish?

Jan: Initially, I taught a Home and Family Life Program that was previously at a high school level. I taught standard clothing construction and food and nutrition classes, but my main focus was on Positive Parenting, Child Development, and Family Relationships. The prison had a cooperative preschool called Pooh’s Corner, which welcomed children and parents from the community. A preschool teacher from a vocational-technical school led the program, while inmate students who were cleared to be around children served as teacher’s assistants. We discussed their interactions and observations in class. This program was already in place when I began teaching.

I started developing new curriculum that catered to the specific needs and profiles of incarcerated parents and “retired” the high school textbooks. The first book I published was titled “MY RELATIONSHIPS, MY SELF,” though it is now out of print. Prior to its publication, I focused on and taught the concept of “Parenting From a Distance.”

When I transitioned from the women’s prison to McNeil Island, a medium-custody male facility, I coordinated an orientation program called “Project Social Responsibility.” Every man who arrived at the facility had to participate in this program for a full week. We had 29 facilitators who assisted with the presentations, but I personally spent 8 hours of the 20-hour week with the men, developing specific parenting and family materials for them. This program is discussed in my memoir.

Irene: Who were the primary participants in your programs?

Jan: Many of the women I taught were mothers. Some had regular visits with their children, while others were unable to see them due to abuse, typically at the hands of a partner, though occasionally the women themselves were the abusers. Most took the classes because they wanted to maintain positive involvement in their children’s lives. Some attended due to court orders or the possibility of having their parental rights terminated. I was often subpoenaed for such cases. A few lost all rights and contact, but still managed to receive occasional updates or photos.

When I transferred to McNeil Island, I encountered similar situations with the fathers. Some attended voluntarily to learn, some were mandated by the court to take parenting classes, and some visited the “Open Door,” a lab-like setting where they could create items to send to their children. I wrote letters to courts and the office of support enforcement on behalf of men who were illiterate and had never written a business letter before. I learned to guide them in placing their signature and praised their efforts, even if their signature was simply joined printing they were learning in an adult basic education classroom.

Additionally, I offered parenting and family handouts, as well as craft items, to any incarcerated individuals who requested them. Office staff occasionally helped me make copies since I often exceeded my copying budget.

Irene: You wrote “Parenting From a Distance” a few years ago. How different are the two books from each other?

Jan: “Parenting From a Distance” was initially written as a textbook for a class I taught at the women’s prison, addressing the needs of incarcerated parents. I revised and reissued it in December 2005. It solely focuses on the rights and responsibilities of parents separated from their children. “An Inmate’s Daughter,” on the other hand, is a work of fiction that provides a child’s perspective on having an incarcerated parent. The incarcerated father in this story has taken parenting classes while in prison and understands the challenges faced by children like Jenna.

Irene: Have any of the inmates you teach read your books? If so, what were their reactions?

Jan: “MY RELATIONSHIPS, MY SELF” was a textbook for a family class at the women’s prison, so all the students read it and completed the accompanying worksheets. Many more read “Parenting From a Distance.” I often shared snippets of my other writings with my students, as I used writing extensively in my classes. I even taught Creative Writing at McNeil Island.

Allow me to say one last thing…
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Ihab Salloum