I can still be their mom from a distance: understanding the experiences of incarcerated mothers in a faith-based parenting program in a United States prison

ABSTRACT This study examines the experiences of incarcerated mothers who participate in a faith-based parenting program at a women’s prison in the United States. Thirty-three women participated in four focus groups. Using a grounded theory framework, four major themes emerged from the analysis, including building foundations, guilty mom, on the mend, and opening the lines of communication. Overall, the findings highlight numerous benefits of the program for incarcerated women’s relationships with their children, their ability to reframe the experience of motherhood, and their personal growth. A theoretical model for others who must parent ‘from a distance’ is proposed.