Home / Life stages / Early childhood: ages 0 to 3 / Child custody: early childhood / Children with incarcerated parents

Children with incarcerated parents

Having a parent in prison can have a significant impact on a child’s mental and behavioral health. These children often face challenges, including changes in family structure, financial instability, shame and social stigma. To help reduce the risk for negative outcomes, such as depression, substance use and criminal behavior, it is important for communities to wrap around children with incarcerated parents.

Child safety & support

Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health

Services to reduce risk factors and increase resiliency:

Case management
Diagnostic mental health assessments
Medication management

4641 Fulton Dr. NW
Canton, OH 44718

Phone: 330-433-6075

Phone: 330-433-6075

OhioGuidestone

Providing counseling, support, advocacy, and education with a focus on prevention and treatment in the home, community, office, or telehealth. Additional Program: The Prevent Relapse Occurrence Team with Enhanced Case management and Treatment (Protect) works with juveniles who have shown sexual behavior problems who are not incarcerated or are returning to the community following separation. PROTECT services are designed to work specifically with individuals who have been identified as participating in “sexting” behavior or other minor-related sexual behavioral issues.

4579 Everhard Rd NW
Suite A
North Canton, OH 44718

Phone: (440) 260-6466

Phone: (440) 260-6466

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Mon.

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Tue.

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Wed.

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Thu.

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Fri.

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Stark County Job & Family Services

Report child abuse: 330-455-KIDS / 1-800-233-5437 Partner with our customers, community and other service providers to protect children and vulnerable adults, stabilize and strengthen families, and encourage self-sufficiency and personal responsibility. Cash assistance Food assistance Medicaid & Medical Non-emergency transportation Child care services Work experience program Foster care & adoption Kinship care Child support services

221 3rd St. SE
Canton, OH 44702

Toll free: 1 (888) 698-6893

Toll free: 1 (888) 698-6893

Local: (330) 452-4661

Local: (330) 452-4661

TDD: (330) 451-8879

TDD: (330) 451-8879

Email: [email protected]

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Mon.

8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Tue.

8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Wed.

8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Thu.

8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Fri.

8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Stark Community Support Network

Community safety net linking families to resources and social services.

1221 Harrisburg Rd. NE
Canton, OH 44705

Phone: (330) 455-2260

Phone: (330) 455-2260

Hot meal programs

Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank

Network of food pantry and hot meal sites.

350 Opportunity Pkwy.
Akron, OH 44307

Phone: (330) 535-6900

Phone: (330) 535-6900

Community Harvest

Excess food donations for Stark County residents in need.

4915 Fulton Dr. NW
Canton, OH 44718

Phone: (330) 493-0800

Phone: (330) 493-0800

Meals on Wheels: North Canton

Delivers prepared meals to North Canton residents in need.

7707 Market Ave. N
Canton, OH 44721

Phone: (330) 494-0366

Phone: (330) 494-0366

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Mon.

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Tue.

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Wed.

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Thu.

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Fri.

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Meals on Wheels of Northeast Ohio

Provides food donations to individuals who are homebound due to age, illness or disability, with no eligibility requirements.

2363 Nave Rd. SE
Massillon, OH 44646

Toll free: 1 (800) 466-8010

Toll free: 1 (800) 466-8010

Local: (330) 515-5605

Local: (330) 515-5605

Email: [email protected]

Salvation Army of Canton

Serving the Canton community: Hot meal program Food pantries Clothing Shelters Rent assistance Utility assistance Programs for adults and youth 2023 Christmas Sign-Ups begin October! The Salvation Army Canton Citadel will take the first 30 Christmas phone applications from 1pm-3pm on the following date: October 4th-6th October 11th-13th October 18th-20th October 25th-27th Please call to apply 330-453-0158

420 Market Ave. S
Canton, OH 44702

Phone: (330) 453-0158

Phone: (330) 453-0158

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Mon.

8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Tue.

8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Wed.

8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Thu.

8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Fri.

8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Salvation Army of Massillon

Serving the Massillon community: Hot meal program Food pantries Clothing Shelters Rent assistance Utility assistance Programs for adults and youth

315 6th St. NE
Massillon, OH 44646

Phone: (330) 833-6473

Phone: (330) 833-6473

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Mon.

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Tue.

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Wed.

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Thu.

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Fri.

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Salvation Army of Alliance

Serving the Alliance community: Hot meal program Food pantries Clothing Shelters Rent assistance Utility assistance Programs for adults and youth

57 West Main St.
Alliance, OH 44601

Phone: (330) 823-5188

Phone: (330) 823-5188

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Mon.

9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Tue.

9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Wed.

9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Thu.

9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Fri.

9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Stark County Hunger Task Force

Network of more than 30 food pantries throughout Stark County Emergency food pantry at the Goodwill Community Campus 408 9th St SW Canton, OH 44707 Monday: 9:15am - 2:25pm Wednesday: 9:15am - 3:35pm Friday: 9:15am - 1:35pm

408 9th St. SW
Suite 1637
Canton, OH 44707

Phone: (330) 455-6667

Phone: (330) 455-6667

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Mon.

9:15 am - 2:25 pm

Wed.

9:15 am - 3:35 pm

Fri.

9:15 am - 1:35 pm

Homeless & housing

Stark County Homeless Hotline

24/7 Hotline: 330-452-4363 For referrals to free community shelters and other local housing programs. Please allow enough phone time for specialists to conduct an initial assessment review to find information and programs that work best for your needs. The homeless hotline number is a part of Stark County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery.

24/7 Hotline: (330) 452-4363

24/7 Hotline: (330) 452-4363

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Mon.

8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Tue.

8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Wed.

8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Thu.

8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Fri.

8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Legal advocacy & guidance

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)/ Guardian Ad Litem (GAL)

Representing the rights and interests of abused, neglected and dependent children in Stark County.

110 Central Plz. S
Suite 436
Canton, OH 44702

Phone: (330) 451-7914

Phone: (330) 451-7914

Mediation Services

Coordinator serving as a liaison between families and the court.

110 Central Plaza S
Suite 670
Canton, OH 44702

Phone: (330) 451-7435

Phone: (330) 451-7435

Stark County Bar Association

Referrals for people who have questions or need legal advice but do not know where to turn for a lawyer.

116 Cleveland Ave. NW
Suite 400
Canton, OH 44702

Phone: (330) 453-0685

Phone: (330) 453-0685

Attorney referrals: (330) 453-0686

Attorney referrals: (330) 453-0686

Stark County Family Court

Legal services for child custody, behavioral health and domestic relations cases. Visit their website for more information.

110 Central Plz. S
Suite 670
Canton, OH 44702

Phone: (330) 451-7415

Phone: (330) 451-7415

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Mon.

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Tue.

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Wed.

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Thu.

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Fri.

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Medical health resources

Akron Children’s Hospital: North Canton

Pediatric health provider for children in Stark County:

Primary care
Home care
Surgical services
Clinical services
Financial services

6046 Whipple Ave. NW
Building B
North Canton, OH 44720

Phone: (330) 433-1777

Phone: (330) 433-1777

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Sun.

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Mon.

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tue.

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Wed.

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Thu.

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Fri.

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Sat.

8:30 am - 12:00 pm

American Red Cross: Stark and Muskingum Lakes Chapter

Health and safety services for Stark County families.

408 9th St. SW
Canton, OH 44707

Phone: (330) 453-0146

Phone: (330) 453-0146

Aultman Physicians Center Clinic

Aultman-affiliated office providing internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecological care.

2600 7th St. SW
Canton, OH 44710

Phone: (330) 363-6235

Phone: (330) 363-6235

Canton Community Clinic

Medical services provided on a free and sliding scale.

2725 Lincoln St. E
Canton, OH 44707

Phone: (330) 454-2000

Phone: (330) 454-2000

Canton Family Medicine

Residency-based, family medicine office caring for patients of all ages.

2600 7th St. SW
Canton, OH 44710

Phone: (330) 438-6211

Phone: (330) 438-6211

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Mon.

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Tue.

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Wed.

8:30 am - 7:30 pm

Thu.

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Fri.

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Shipley Child Health Clinic

Community health service programs and comprehensive health care for children.

919 2nd St. NE
Canton, OH 44704

Phone: (330) 453-3386

Phone: (330) 453-3386

Stark County Health Department

Serves the public health needs of more than 250,000 people in Stark County:

Emergency preparedness
Environmental health
Health education
Kids safety

7235 Whipple Ave. NW
North Canton, OH 44720

Phone: (330) 493-9904

Phone: (330) 493-9904

Hide Hours Show Hours

Mon.

8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Tue.

8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Wed.

8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Thu.

8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Fri.

8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Resources & guides

Youth.gov

Find support for parents, teachers, law enforcement, case workers, clinical professionals and more as they care for children with incarcerated parents.

Child Welfare Information Gateway

Learn strategies to reduce negative outcomes for children with a parent in prison, including poverty, poor academic performance, aggression, depression, delinquency and substance use.

Sesame Street Incarceration Toolkit

The incarceration of a loved one can be overwhelming for children and caregivers. It takes special effort to start important conversations and answer kids’ questions. This toolkit can help you comfort children through these difficult moments.

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