Ann Adalist-Estrin, MS
Senior Consultant

Ann Adalist-Estrin is a nationally known and respected expert on children and families of prisoners. She currently serves as director of the National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated for the Family Corrections Network . She is also a Senior Fellow of the Child Welfare League of America, and consultant for hundreds of mentoring children of prisoners (MCP) programs. Ann has been a child and family therapist for more than twenty five years, currently practicing at BRIDGES/Samaritan Counseling Centers in Jenkintown, PA.

Ann is an author, speaker, and consultant to a variety of agencies serving children and families. Her seminar topics span a wide range of interests and ages and are popular internationally, with parents and professionals alike. Her work has also included consultations to communities, government and non-government agencies, and faith and community-based organizations on developing plans for supporting children and families impacted by incarceration. Her work with the Boston University Medical School supported the development of the “Healthy Steps for Young Children” pediatric training program. Ann teaches a graduate course, “Those Left Behind: Addressing the Needs of Children of Incarcerated Parents,” for Bob Randall Associates at Philadelphia’s Gratz College.

Widely published in the field of mentoring, Ann authored pieces such as Supporting the Match: A Training Guide for Mentoring Children of Prisoners Program Staff (2006); and Mentoring Children of Prisoners: A Curriculum for Training Mentors (with Arlene Lee, 2004). Ann has conducted research and published several guidebooks that deepen the understanding of the special needs of children and families of the incarcerated. Since 2004, Ann has used her Mentoring Children of Prisoners curriculum to train agencies and Master Trainers all over the country.

Ann supports Dare Mighty Things’ training efforts for the Mentoring Children of Prisoners Technical Assistance Center, funded by the U.S. Department of HHS. She plays a prominent role as a speaker and trainer at national MCP training conferences and regional workshops where her consistently highly rated training sessions incorporate adult learning methodologies that engage learners in an interactive, outcomes-based training experience. She makes creative use of a variety of exercises, powerful movie clips, small group experiences, and role playing to help participants deepen their knowledge of the population; identify personal, programmatic, and organizational challenges and strengths; solve problems; build on strengths; and improve their programs. Ann has been pivotal in assisting DMT to significantly improve the quality of mentoring programs.

Ann has a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Temple University and a Master of Science in Counseling and Human Services from Villanova University.