Mentoring Prisoner's Children Send To Printer | Close Window

By Angela M. Hess, Caregiver's Choice

America has a higher incarceration rate than any other country in the world—a recent study from The Pew Center on the States revealed that the United States has just become the first nation with one of every one hundred adults in jail or prison.¹ The untold story is that many of the men and women behind bars are also fathers and mothers; more than two million children have a parent in state or federal prison.² Although these children are full of potential, they are faced with a wide range of difficulties tied to their parents’ incarceration, including unstable living situations, strained finances, and the stigma that often accompanies this issue—and all these things potentially lead to emotional and behavioral struggles.³

A New Initiative: Mentoring Children of Prisoners – Caregiver’s Choice

One initiative to support these children is Caregiver’s Choice, a one-year-old federal initiative administered by MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership. It is a unique project that empowers incarcerated parents and the child’s caregiver to connect their children to quality mentoring programs in their geographic area.

During its first year, the Caregiver’s Choice team, including Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, founder of Amachi, has conducted nationwide outreach to mentoring programs, correctional facilities, and organizations serving individuals affected by incarceration to discuss the program with incarcerated parents. Dr. Goode alone has visited nearly 20 state and federal prisons to share Caregiver’s Choice with inmates who are parents. As a result of these efforts, more than two thousand mothers and fathers were excited to make the positive, empowered choice to help their children become matched with a mentor. From there, caregivers have been consulted regarding the opportunity to have the child in their care matched with an additional responsible adult and have chosen to enroll them in the initiative.

What can Mentoring Offer a Child Whose Parent is Incarcerated

Mentoring benefits both children and families. Children with an incarcerated parent are a diverse group of children with a shared experience. They can benefit from mentoring in a variety of ways. Many children benefit from an additional adult who can help them with their homework and encourage them in school. Other children may enjoy playing games and sports with their mentor. Often times, mentors can provide an objective ear and support as children struggle with their parents’ incarceration.

When children spend time with their mentors, it can open up free time for either caregivers or parents. For busy caregivers with work commitments, mentors may provide peace of mind: knowing their child is with a trusted adult for activities and outings. Also, some research indicates that children with mentors have better relationships with parents and peers, are less likely to skip school, and are more likely to feel confident about the quality of their schoolwork.

How Can my Program Become Involved in this Initiative?

If your program works with incarcerated parents or families impacted by incarceration, you are in a unique position to help spread the word concerning this valuable new resource. The Caregiver’s Choice team is standing by to answer your questions and work with you to introduce this program into your community. The team can send you brochures for distribution, provide information for your Web site, or connect you with additional resources to learn more about the power of mentoring.

Caregiver’s Choice is working hard to create the possibility that every child with a parent in prison will have access to a mentor who will help them in their journey to adulthood. By approving mentoring programs nationally and building their capacity to serve these children, and by matching children with approved programs near them, the project aims to create 20,000 mentor/mentee matches within the three-year pilot project.

To learn more about the Caregiver’s Choice program, or to inquire as to how you can share it with the individuals and families you work with, visit www.mentoring.org/caregiverschoice, call 877-333-CHOICE (2464), or e-mail caregiverschoice@daremightythings.com.

¹ One in 100: Behind Bars in America 2008. The Pew Center on the States.
² Broken Bonds—Understanding and Addressing the Needs of Children with Incarcerated Parents. The Urban Institute Justice Policy Center. February 2008.
³ Ibid.