Gender-responsive research reveal fundamental differences between female and male offenders. Previous local research also showed that compared with two drug-abusing parents, having a drug-abusing mother increases the risk of child offending by 4.1 times (Loh, Ch’ng, & Cheng, 2020).
With this backdrop in mind, this is a needs analysis study on the health, social and psychological needs of Incarcerated Mothers (IM), their children, and caregivers in Singapore. This is a mixed method study involving three non-randomised groups of participants: (A) IM who have young children aged 0-6 years old, (B) the young children (aged 0-6 years old) of IM, and (C) the corresponding community caregivers of said children.
The key findings include the high prevalence rate of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in IM as well as a significant correlation between number of ACEs experienced by the mother and child, children of IM are at risk of social-emotional delay, and caregivers experienced several challenges relating to emotional struggles, strained relationships between caregiver and IM, as well as a lack of caregiver resources and support needs. Community initiatives and family-based interventions, particularly in trauma-informed practice and parent-child relationship are recommended for greater outreach and engagement of these families.
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Fann Jiang
Assistant Director / Lead Psychologist, Singapore Prison Service, Ministry of Home Affairs Singapore
Fann graduated from the Singapore Management University (SMU) with a degree with honours in Psychology. She received a scholarship from the Ministry of Home Affairs Singapore to complete her Masters in Forensic Psychology from the University of York, United Kingdom. She has worked in Singapore Prison Service for the past 12 years, in departments that designed and conducted psychological-based interventions for violent and sexually violent offenders, as well as offenders with drug abuse and mental health struggles.
She is currently an Assistant Director in the Correctional Research Branch in Singapore Prison Service with a concurrent appointment in the Home Team Psychology Division as a Lead Psychologist. Her work includes researching on topics relating to desistance and minority issues, as well as conducting risk assessments and interventions for offenders.
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Dr Li Ming Ong
Paediatric Consultant, KK Women's and Children's Hospital Singapore
Dr Ong Li Ming graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) with a degree with honours in Pharmacy. She later furthered her studies with the Duke-NUS Medical School and completed her pediatric residency training in Singapore. With more than 10 years of Pediatric Medicine experience, she is currently a consultant in KK Hospital for Women and Children, the largest public hospital specializing in healthcare for women and children in Singapore.
Dr Ong’s key interests include child advocacy and safeguarding, community paediatrics and general paediatrics conditions. Actively involved in undergraduate and junior doctor medical education, Dr Ong is a clinical lecturer with the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School as well as a faculty member of the Singhealth Paediatric Residency Programme in KK Hospital.
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Christine Chua
Principal Medical Social Worker, KK Women's and Children's Hospital Singapore
Christine graduated from NUS with a BA in Social Work. She later completed an MSc in Social Work Research at the University of Bristol, UK. With more than 15 years of experience as a paediatric social worker at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, she currently develops research capabilities within the Medical Social Work Department by providing guidance and oversight in research projects, and also is involved in the planning and conduct of her own research projects within the department.
Christine’s research interests include the use of qualitative methods in research; the impact of paediatric chronic illness and disability on the lives of families; and enhancing family resilience.
