>> Sreenivasan: THE UNITED

STATES INCARCERATES MORE PEOPLE,

PER CAPITA, THAN ANY OTHER

COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN THAT

OFFENDERS LEAVE BEHIND WHEN THEY

ENTER PRISON?

FOR THEM, THE EXPERIENCE CAN

LEAD TO INSTABILITY AND PROFOUND

EMOTIONAL CONSEQUENCES.

IN PART TWO OF OUR REPORT FROM

INDIANA ABOUT INCARCERATED

PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN,

NEWSHOUR WEEKEND'S MEGAN

THOMPSON PROFILES A FAMILY THAT

IS TRYING TO COPE, AND HOW

THEIR COMMUNITY IS TRYING TO

HELP.

THIS STORY IS PART OF OUR

ONGOING SERIES ABOUT POVERTY AND

OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA, CHASING

THE DREAM.

>> Reporter: EVERY OTHER TUESDAY

EVENING IN KOKOMO, INDIANA, A

GROUP OF KIDS GATHERS FOR

ACTIVITIES AT A LOCAL CHURCH'S

REC CENTER.

THERE'S BASKETBALL, ARTS AND

CRAFTS AND GAMES.

IT'S A CHANCE FOR THE KIDS TO

SOCIALIZE AND BLOW OFF SOME

STEAM.

BUT THIS ISN'T ANY ORDINARY

YOUTH GROUP.

>> YOU BEEN FEELING OKAY?

>> Reporter: THESE KIDS SHARE A

COMMON, AND DIFFICULT,

EXPERIENCE.

THEY EACH HAVE A PARENT IN

PRISON.

>> LET'S GO, PLAY BALL!

>> Reporter: RICK WILSON HAS RUN

THE NEW LEAF MENTORING PROGRAM

SINCE IT STARTED EIGHT YEARS

AGO.

>> WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL OF THE

KIDS IN THE PROGRAM-- OVER HALF

THEIR LIFE.

AND I'VE BEEN A PART OF THEIR

LIVES FOR OVER HALF THEIR LIFE.

IT'S LIKE A BIG FAMILY.

>> Reporter: 10-YEAR-OLD DEVON

RUSH HAS BEEN IN THE PROGRAM FOR

SIX YEARS.

HIS MENTOR IS JOSH ROLLER, A

LOCAL COLLEGE STUDENT.

DEVON'S SISTER NATALYA'S IN THE

PROGRAM, TOO.

>> YOU READY FREDDIE?

>> NOT YET.

>> Reporter: THEIR FATHER IS IN

PRISON, SERVING A 30-YEAR

SENTENCE FOR DEALING COCAINE.

THEIR MOTHER JENNIFER HAS ALSO

BEEN TO PRISON THREE TIMES, ALSO

FOR SELLING COCAINE, AND

VIOLATING PROBATION.

>> MY KIDS SUFFERED BIG TIME.

BIG TIME, THESE BABIES SUFFERED.

>> Reporter: JENNIFER GOT HOME

FROM HER LAST STINT IN PRISON IN

2015.

NOW SHE'S PURSUING DEGREES IN

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND

BUSINESS.

>> I'VE MADE A LOT OF MISTAKES.

BUT LIKE, I GO TO SCHOOL FULL

TIME.

I'M REALLY WORKING ON THESE

DEGREES.

>> Reporter: AND SHE SWEARS

SHE'S CHANGED FOR GOOD.

BUT THE EXPERIENCES HER KIDS

HAVE BEEN THROUGH ARE STILL

DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO TALK

ABOUT.

WHAT DO YOU MISS?

>> I MISS DADDY.

>> THAT WE CAN PLAY EVERY DAY.

>> Reporter: DO YOU GUYS

REMEMBER WHEN MOMMY WASN'T HERE?

>> IT'S NOT FUN.

>> I LOVE HER SO MUCH.

I JUST DON'T WANT HER TO LEAVE

AGAIN.

>> Reporter: WHAT WAS THE

HARDEST PART ABOUT WHEN SHE WAS

GONE?

>> WE DIDN'T HAVE A MOMMY.

MY BROTHER WAS THE ONE WHO

MOSTLY TOOK CARE OF ME.

>> Reporter: DEVON AND NATALYA

ARE AMONG THE 177,000 CHILDREN

IN INDIANA WHO HAVE HAD A PARENT

IMPRISONED AT SOME POINT DURING

THEIR LIVES.

THAT'S 11% OF THE KIDS IN THE

STATE, ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES

IN THE COUNTRY.

EXPERTS SAY IT CAN BE EXPLAINED

IN PART BY THE STATE'S HIGHER

THAN AVERAGE RATE OF

INCARCERATION.

>> WE OFTEN THINK OF THESE

CHILDREN WHO ARE LEFT BEHIND AS

INVISIBLE CHILDREN.

>> Reporter: ANGELA TOMLIN IS A

PSYCHOLOGIST AND EXPERT IN

CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AT THE

INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF

MEDICINE.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 5 MILLION

AMERICAN KIDS WHO'VE HAD A

PARENT INCARCERATED.

AND TOMLIN SAYS THEIR NEEDS ARE

OFTEN FORGOTTEN.

>> WE FOCUS ON THE PERSON WHO IS

INCARCERATED, WE FOCUS ON HOW

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THEM ALONG

IN THE CORRECTION SYSTEM.

WE SPEND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS

OF DOLLARS DOING THAT.

AND WE-- I FEEL THAT WE DO NOT

ATTEND TO THE OVERALL EFFECT ON

THE FAMILY, AND IN PARTICULAR ON

CHILDREN.

>> Reporter: TOMLIN SAYS THOSE

EFFECTS CAN BE PROFOUND.

>> LOSING A PARENT HAS THE

POTENTIAL TO BE A TRAUMATIC

EXPERIENCE, AND THE CHILD CAN

HAVE BEHAVIORAL REACTIONS AND

DEVELOPMENTAL CONCERNS.

>> OKAY, IT'S TURNING PURPLE

HONEY.

>> Reporter: ONE OR BOTH OF

DEVON AND NATALYA'S PARENTS HAVE

BEEN LOCKED UP FOR ALMOST THEIR

ENTIRE LIVES.

DURING IT ALL, DEVON AND NATALYA

LIVED IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT

PLACES.

FIRST, WITH JENNIFER'S MOTHER,

MICHELLE.

>> MY MOM, SHE HAS PARKINSON'S.

AND SHE WAS TAKING CARE OF THEM.

AND SHE-- IT GOT SO BAD, HER

PARKINSON'S DID.

IT JUST GOT TOO MUCH FOR HER.

>> Reporter: SO A PRISON

MINISTRY FOUND THEM A FAMILY TO

LIVE WITH IN SOUTHERN INDIANA,

FAR FROM THE FAMILIAR

SURROUNDINGS OF KOKOMO.

AT ONE POINT, THE KIDS' FATHER

GOT OUT OF PRISON FOR ABOUT

SEVEN MONTHS, SO THEY LIVED WITH

HIM.

BUT HE WAS CAUGHT WITH DRUGS

AGAIN.

THE KIDS ALSO LIVED TEMPORARILY

WITH A TEACHER FROM SCHOOL.

AND THEN, LAST YEAR DEVON WAS

HOSPITALIZED FOR BLOOD CLOTS IN

HIS BRAIN.

JENNIFER BELIEVES IT'S ALL HAD

LASTING EFFECTS.

>> HE HAS ABANDONMENT ISSUES

REALLY BAD.

AND THEN HE'S HAD A LOT OF

DEPRESSION.

HE USED TO GRIN EAR TO EAR.

AND THEN IT'S JUST LIKE HE GOT

REALLY SAD.

AND YOU SEE HIM SOMETIMES.

HE JUST SPACES OUT SOMETIMES.

AND YOU JUST SEE HE'S JUST

REALLY SAD AND DEPRESSED.

AND I HATE TO SEE THAT BECAUSE

IT KILLS ME.

>> Reporter: RUSH SAYS DEVON HAS

A.D.H.D. AND A SPEECH IMPEDIMENT

AND WAS HELD BACK A GRADE IN

SCHOOL.

NATALYA WAS ALSO HELD BACK IN

SCHOOL BECAUSE OF HER MATURITY

LEVEL.

>> SHE SHAVED BOTH SIDES OF HER

HEAD.

SHE THRIVES FOR THAT ATTENTION,

JUST TRYING TO, LIKE, "HEY,

HERE I AM."

AND I THINK THAT HAS A LOT TO DO

WITH WHAT ME AND HER FATHER PUT

THEM THROUGH.

>> Reporter: RUSH SAYS NATALYA

ONCE ASKED TO NAME THE FAMILY

DOG "PAPI," AS IN DADDY.

>> SHE SAID, "CAN WE NAME HIM

PAPI?

BECAUSE I JUST WANT A DADDY

WHO'LL PLAY WITH ME AND BE THERE

FOR ME."

AND IT JUST BROKE MY HEART.

SO I'VE BEEN TRYING TO PLAY

MOMMY AND DADDY.

BUT I-- I CAN'T.

>> Reporter: THE RUSH FAMILY'S

STORY ISN'T ALL THAT UNCOMMON IN

THIS MANUFACTURING CITY OF ABOUT

60,000.

BUT YOU WOULDN'T NECESSARILY

KNOW IT.

KOKOMO IS DOING WELL.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS LOWER

THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE,

THANKS IN PART TO A HUGE

CHRYSLER PLANT.

>> IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE.

>> Reporter: CHUCK McCOSKEY IS A

LIFELONG RESIDENT OF KOKOMO.

HE'S A DRUG ADDICTION COUNSELOR

AND FORMER PROBATION OFFICER

WHO'S SEEN FIRST-HAND HOW

INCARCERATION AFFECTS FAMILIES

HERE.

HE SAYS AT THE SAME TIME THE

CITY'S ECONOMY IS THRIVING, SO

ARE DRUG CRIMES.

>> DRASTIC INCREASES IN TERMS OF

THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE, DRUG

TRAFFICKING, DRUG CHANGING, YOU

KNOW, TO NEW DESIGNER DRUGS.

>> Reporter: LAST YEAR, THE

KOKOMO AREA HAD 44 OVERDOSE

DEATHS, ALMOST DOUBLE THE NUMBER

DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE PUT IN JAIL

HAS INCREASED 18% OVER THE LAST

TWO YEARS.

LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SAY ALMOST

EVERYONE THEY ARREST HAS ISSUES

WITH DRUGS.

>> AND WHEN THEY'RE ARRESTED AND

TAKEN TO JAIL, D.C.S., THE

DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SERVICES,

COMES IN AND TAKES OVER THE

CHILDREN, AND TRY TO FIND HOMES

FOR THEM, WHETHER IT'S WITH

THEIR RELATIVES OR THEY HAVE TO

FIND FOSTER HOMES.

SO YOU GOT A LOT OF DISPLACED

CHILDREN.

AND IT'S HORRIFIC.

YOU KNOW, IT JUST DESTROYS THE

FAMILY.

AND I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE

KOKOMO'S THE ONLY PLACE.

BUT IF YOU FOLLOW THE NEWS, IT'S

EVERYWHERE.

IT'S HAPPENING EVERYWHERE.

>> ARE WE UP FOR A GAME?

>> Reporter: LOCAL CHILDREN'S

ADVOCATES SAY THE DEMAND FOR

THEIR SERVICES IS HUGE.

>> WE COULD HAVE A TREMENDOUSLY

LARGE PROGRAM IF WE HAD MORE

VOLUNTEERS.

>> Reporter: THE TUESDAY-EVENING

HANG-OUTS THAT RICK WILSON

ORGANIZES GIVE CHILDREN LIKE

DEVON AND NATALYA RUSH A CHANCE

TO HANG OUT WITH OTHER KIDS WHO

HAVE SIMILAR STORIES, SOMETHING

THEY DON'T OTHERWISE GET A

CHANCE TO DO.

>> THEY GO TO A CATHOLIC SCHOOL.

IT'S A WONDERFUL SCHOOL MOST OF

THE PARENTS, THEY'RE LAWYERS,

DOCTORS, POLICE OFFICERS.

THEY DON'T HAVE, MOM AND DAD'S A

DRUG DEALER, OR MOM AND DAD'S

THIS, YOU KNOW?

>> HERE YOU GO DEVON, HERE.

I'LL HELP YOU OUT.

>> Reporter: AND WILSON SAYS THE

MENTORS HERE PROVIDE THESE KIDS

STABILITY.

>> THE ROLE PRIMARILY IS SOMEONE

THAT THEY CAN TALK TO, SHARE

THEIR FEELINGS.

SO WHATEVER ISSUES MAY OR MAY

NOT BE GOING ON WITH THE CHILD,

THE MENTOR'S THERE TO HELP.

>> A MENTORING PROGRAM, OR ANY

PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS A CHILD TO

HAVE AN ADULT WHO THEY CAN SEE

ON A REGULAR BASIS, WHO CAN GIVE

THEM SOME TIME, TO SHARE WHAT

THEIR EXPERIENCES HAVE BEEN, AND

WHO CAN REALLY BE EXPERIENCED BY

THAT CHILD, AS RELIABLE AND

CONSISTENT, AND A PERSON TO BE

COUNTED ON, CAN BUILD UP

STRENGTH IN A CHILD.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PRETTY GOOD

AT TIC TAC TOE.

>> I AM.

>> Reporter: DEVON'S BECOME

EXTREMELY CLOSE TO HIS MENTOR,

JOSH ROLLER, WHO'S WORKED AT A

LOCAL GROCERY STORE TO HELP PAY

HIS WAY THROUGH SCHOOL.

DEVON'S GRANDMA USED TO TAKE HIM

THERE TO SEE JOSH WORKING.

>> JOSH, HE WORKS.

HE GOES TO SCHOOL.

THAT SHOWS SO MUCH.

AND THAT-- THAT IS BEING THE

INFLUENCE THAT HE NEEDS.

>> I WANT THIS CIRCLE RIGHT

THERE.

>> JOSH IS LIKE HIS BIG BROTHER

AND BEST FRIEND.

AND IT'S JUST-- IT'S NICE THAT

AT LEAST MY SON HAS SOMETHING

STABLE IN HIS LIFE.

>> ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS, SHOOT.

>> Reporter: JOSH AND DEVON HANG

OUT ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK.

>> IT TOOK A WHILE FOR ME TO

KIND OF GET HIM TO OPEN UP TO ME

BUT AS HE GOT TO KNOW WHO I AM

AND GOT COMFORTABLE AROUND ME HE

OPENED UP AND WAS ABLE TO JUST

SHARE WHATEVER HE WAS FEELING.

AND THE CAR RIDES GOT A LITTLE

LOUDER.

>> I'VE BEEN WORKING ON A BOOK

REPORT, WHILE THIS WEEK.

>> WOULD IT MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER

IF I TOLD YOU I HAD TO DO

HOMEWORK ON SPRING BREAK TOO?

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

>> Reporter: NATALYA'S MENTOR

GABBY VAN ALSTINE IS AN

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE

NEARBY BUSINESS SCHOOL.

GABBY TAKES NATALYA AT LEAST

ONCE A WEEK TO DO SOMETHING

SPECIAL: GO TO THE MALL, GET

THEIR NAILS DONE, OR GET

SOMETHING TO EAT.

>> SHE'S A STRONG, INDEPENDENT

WOMAN.

SHE TRAVELS.

SHE HAS A WONDERFUL JOB.

SHE HAS A JOB THAT SHE LOVES.

>> OPEN NOW, OPEN NOW, OPEN NOW.

>> NATALYA, SHE CAN BE AN

INDEPENDENT WOMAN, LIKE GABBY

IS, YOU KNOW?

>> YOU KNOW SOMETIMES I TAKE HER

WITH ME ON ERRANDS JUST REALLY

TO SPEND TIME WITH HER AND HELP

HER AND ENCOURAGE HER.

>> THAT'S BEAUTIFUL, NATALYA.

I THINK YOU HAVE A FUTURE AS A

FASHION DESIGNER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

THEN YOU COULD LIVE IN NEW YORK,

OR SOMEWHERE BIG.

>> I DON'T WANT THEM TO GO DOWN

THE LIFE I WENT DOWN.

I DON'T WANT THEM TO CHOOSE WHAT

I CHOSE.

AT LEAST THEY CAN SEE THAT I'M

TRYING MY BEST TO CHANGE.

AND I REALLY WANT TO DO

SOMETHING.

BUT THEY CAN ALSO SEE THE OTHER

SIDE THAT YOU CAN DO STUFF

WITHOUT GETTING IN TROUBLE.

AND THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE ARE

HERE TO HELP.