1. GIRLS DON’T SING THE
JAILHOUSE BLUES
WISCONSIN FAMILY TIES-
CHILDREN COME FIRST
CONFERENCE
WI DELLS 2016
KALI PETERSEN
MISHELLE O’SHASKY
NOVEMBER 2016

2. Previous research has
found connections
between parental
incarceration and
childhood health
problems, behavior
problems, and grade
retention. It has also
been linked to poor
mental and physical
health in adulthood
•More than five million children, representing
seven percent of all U.S. children, have ever
had a parent who lived with them go to jail
or prison. This proportion is higher among
black, poor, and rural children.
•More than five million is almost certainly an
underestimate, since it does not include
children with a non-residential parent who
was incarcerated.

3. MOM
 Born January 15, 1974
 2000 – 2001 (2 Years)
 2004 – 2006 (2 Years)
 2006 – 2010 (3 ½ Years)
 Probation, Parole, or Extended Supervision
14 years
 7 ½ years incarcerated
Grand Total = 22 ½ years
ACE SCORE = 8
 Born October 8,1996
 2001 Began Grade School
 2011 Began High School
 2012 Obtained Driver’s License
 2011 Started First Job
 2015 Began College
Grand Total = 20 years
ACE SCORE = 2
KALI

4. ACE
ADVERSE CHILDHOOD
EXPERIENCES

5. 1. Did a parent or other adult in the household often …
Swear at you, insult you, put you down, or humiliate you?
or
Act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt?
2. Did a parent or other adult in the household often …
Push, grab, slap, or throw something at you?
or
Ever hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured?
3. Did an adult or person at least 5 years older than you ever…
Touch or fondle you or have you touch their body in a sexual way?
or
Try to or actually have oral, anal, or vaginal sex with you?
4. Did you often feel that …
No one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special?
or
Your family didn’t look out for each other, feel close to each other, or support each other?

6. 5. Did you often feel that …
You didn’t have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes, and had no one to protect you?
Your parents were too drunk or high to take care of you or take you to the doctor if you needed it?
6. Were your parents ever separated or divorced?
7. Was your mother or stepmother:
Often pushed, grabbed, slapped, or had something thrown at her?
Sometimes or often kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, or hit with something hard?
Ever repeatedly hit over at least a few minutes or threatened with a gun or knife?
8. Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic or who used street drugs?
9. Was a household member depressed or mentally ill or did a household member attempt suicide?
10. Did a household member go to prison?

7. ACE’S AND POSSIBLE
RESULTS
 The study’s researchers came up with an ACE
score to explain a person’s risk for chronic
disease. Think of it as a cholesterol score for
childhood toxic stress. You get one point for
each type of trauma. The higher your ACE score,
the higher your risk of health and social
problems
https://acestoohigh.com/got-your-ace-score/

10. THE POWER OF PROMOTING POSITIVE
COMMUNITY NORMS
Step one: Planning, Engaging, Educating
Step two: Assess Norms
Step three: Establish a common understanding and prioritize opportunities
Step four: Develop a portfolio of strategies
Step five: Pilot test, select, refine
Step six: Implement portfolio of strategies
Step seven: Evaluate effectiveness and future needs

11. To This Day…

12. KALI’S TIMELINE
2001
2004
2006
2010
2016
5 YEARS
8 YEARS OLD
10 YEARS OLD
14 YEARS OLD
20 YEARS OLD

13. 9 Months AFTER RELEASE - 2011

14. Trevor-26 years old, Correctional Officer, Dodge County Sheriffs
Department
Aria-22 Years old,
UWSP Arts Major, and Employed
Kali-20 years old,
Renewable Energy Student, and Employed
Casey-17 years old, Senior in High School
Today 2016
MOM
State Wide Network Coordinator –
Grassroots Empowerment Project
Vice – Chair WCMH
Chair – WCMH Criminal Justice Committee
Committee Member – CJCC TAD Court

15. For more information, citations, or if you’re interested in having Mishelle and Kali
to present on their lived experiences to your organization, contact us!
Kali Petersen
715-252-3744
petersenkali@gmail.com
Mishelle O’Shasky
715-423-2280
mishelle@grassrootspower.org
www.grassrootspower.org
Thank you!