Date
8-29-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Kelly Gorbett
Keywords
ableism, cascading effects, intergenerational incarceration, autism, adverse childhood experiences, ACEs, Christian ministry, disability church inclusion, trauma-informed ministry, children of incarcerated parents, justice involvement
Disciplines
Christianity | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Vasquez, Julia Frances, "The Christian Church’s Inclusion of Children with Autism Who Experience Parental Incarceration: A Phenomenological Examination of Christian Ministry Leaders’ Experiences" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7433.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7433
Abstract
The United States has the highest incarceration rate worldwide. Parental incarceration increases children’s susceptibility to adverse childhood experiences and often results in the transmission of criminal behavior. Research on children of incarcerated parents and separate findings on the experiences of children with autism reveal that these children endure bitter societal stigma, even within the church. Stigma toward disability erects barriers to much-needed spiritual support. There is a gap in the literature concerning Christian outreach and spiritual community support for children with autism who experience parental incarceration. Understanding effective ministry support for these dually marginalized children and the barriers preventing access to church communities is needed. This phenomenological study explored the lived realities of Christian ministry leaders to lift the voices of these doubly marginalized children in Christian churches. Eleven ministry leaders participated in semi-structured interviews; one participant completed the optional anonymous digital journal submission. Interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) was conducted for all data. The purpose of this study was to shed light on the ministry needs, church experiences, and structural and cultural barriers facing these children and their families. Findings revealed key challenges, including limited awareness, unmet training needs, and church cultural expectations that often exclude children with developmental and behavioral differences. Participants emphasized the need for trauma-informed education, disability consultation, and a theological shift, recognizing every person as an image bearer of God. This study contributes to the understanding of how Christian churches can transform exclusionary practices and effectively support children with autism with histories of parental incarceration and their families.
