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Though the research is based in the USA, the findings are relevant to the UK. This mixed-methods study considered how the situations of kinship carers and home / family environments mitigated the effect of maternal imprisonment on the intellectual outcomes of children. 60 children between the ages of 2 and 7 years were involved in the study during their mothers' incarceration. Data was collected from the children, their mothers, and the children's nonmaternal caregivers, primarily grandmothers. Results indicated that most children experienced multiple risks across contextual levels. Cumulative caregiver sociodemographic risks predicted children's cognitive abilities, although quality of the home and family environment mediated this relation. The results are used to make some general recommendations for policy and practice including the need for increased monitoring, service delivery, and longitudinal research with children of incarcerated mothers and their families.
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