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Prenatal exposure to maternal incarceration and infant and toddler health and development

Award Number: F32HD117535
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2025
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/10/2026

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Prenatal exposure to maternal incarceration and infant and toddler health and development - PROJECT SUMMARY ABSTRACT The U.S. has the highest women’s incarceration rate in the world, with significant racial and economic disparities. Approximately 3-4% of women enter prison or jail pregnant. Those who give birth during incarceration are usually separated from their newborns, who live with another caregiver during the mother’s incarceration. Although few studies have examined prenatal exposure to maternal incarceration in relation to child health and development, emerging research suggests less optimal birth outcomes. Prenatal exposure to incarceration is hypothesized to be detrimental to child development through several pathways including a) antecedents of incarceration, including maternal substance abuse and chronic mental health conditions, b) prison or jail conditions that are suboptimal for maternal and fetal health, c) characteristics of postnatal non- maternal caregiving environments, and d) insecure attachment relationships due to unstable caregiving. Preliminary data show that caregivers of children exposed prenatally to maternal incarceration frequently report poverty, food insecurity, and mental and physical health issues. In addition, caregiving relationships are often unstable over time, with one-third of infants experiencing a change in caregiving in the first year of life. The proposed research analyzes data from the Birth Beyond Bars Study, a mixed-methods longitudinal study of infants exposed prenatally to maternal incarceration. Mixed methods analyses will assess mothers’ retrospective reports of environmental experiences both before (e.g. prenatal substance exposure and maternal mental health) and during incarceration that may threaten fetal development. Qualitative data will be analyzed to characterize the mother-caregiver relationship and links to caregiver instability and mother-child reunification. Analysis of quantitative data will examine predictors of children’s cognitive and social emotional development. Training objectives include a focus on early childhood development and developmental assessment, advanced qualitative data analysis, quantitative analysis of family data, and translation of research for policy and practice.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = -$13,828 )
2026	2025	PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE	1033 MASSACHUSETTS AVE STE 3	CAMBRIDGE	MA	02138	MIDDLESEX	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	2/10/2026	NEW	-$13,828
														Subtotal = -$13,828

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $80,332 )
2025	2025	PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE	1033 MASSACHUSETTS AVE STE 3	CAMBRIDGE	MA	02138	MIDDLESEX	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	002	1	7/30/2025	NEW	$1,224
2025	2025	HARVARD COLLEGE PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF	677 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	1/28/2025	NEW	$79,108
2025	2025	PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE	1033 MASSACHUSETTS AVE STE 3	CAMBRIDGE	MA	02138	MIDDLESEX	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	1	1/28/2025	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $80,332

Grand Total All Awards = $66,504

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Prenatal exposure to maternal incarceration and infant and toddler health and development

Award Number: F32HD117535

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2025

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/10/2026

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