Mentoring Children of Prisoners - Breaking the Cycle, Modeling Behavior, Strengthening Families

As the number of men and women in our prison system grows steadily, another population also increases in our midst - the innocent children of prisoners.  When parents are incarcerated, their children struggle to find their way, often without the benefit of a stable or consistent adult in their lives, and that’s where Volunteers of America Mentoring Children of Promise steps in.   Ask Krystal.

Volunteer to be a mentor, download our application materials.

The sobering facts facing children of prisoners

These children are seven (7) times more likely than their peers to become incarcerated at some point in their lives.  In fact, research by the Child Welfare League of America suggests that children who experience a parent’s incarceration also are at increased risk for:

• poor academic achievement
• early pregnancy
• substance abuse
• delinquency
• truancy
• gang involvement

Countering that is information that shows mentoring programs can:

• reduce first-time drug and alcohol use
• increase regular school attendance
• enhance grades
• improve relationships with peers and adults

Breaking the cycle, modeling behavior, strengthening families

Mentoring Children of Promise breaks children out of the potentially dangerous situation by matching them with adults who serve as mentors.  We help strengthen the concept of family, both for youth and their extended families through mentors that model safe and trusting relationships, healthy lifestyles and appropriate social behavior.  Mentors also encourage increased participation in community activities and raise the child’s interest in literacy and academics.

We look at the big picture.  Mentoring Children of Promise serves the whole family, including siblings, the caregiver, and when appropriate, the imprisoned parent.  Services are available in King, Kitsap, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom Counties, and utilize the nationally known Big Brothers Big Sisters model to match youth to long-term adult volunteers.  Our qualified staff carefully screens, interviews, and matches volunteers with youth, and additionally offers support to participating families and mentors.

If the opportunity to make an impact is tugging at you, please consider support in any of the following ways:

• Become a mentor
  Read answers to frequently asked questions in our mentor brochure [216kb], or just download our Volunteer Application Materials [75kb] , fill it out and mail to us today (address below).
• Refer a child with an incarcerated parent
  Read about eligibility requirements in our youth recruitment brochure [303kb], which also includes an information form you can fill out and send to us (address below).  You could be changing the course of their life, not unlike the story of our match between Krystal and her mentor Brandi.
• Donating financially makes a great impact too!
  Its hard to put a price tag on a child inspired, on a life changed.  Find out the many ways your financial donation can help.

Our mailing address is:
Volunteers of America
Mentoring Children of Promise
PO Box 839
Everett, WA  98206-0839

For more information, email us or call 425-259-3191 x2312 or x2486.