7.3 Million children in the us have a parent in 7.3 Million children in the us have a parent in prison or who has left the systemprison or who has left the system

70% of these children end up in jail unless a 70% of these children end up in jail unless a caring adult intervenescaring adult intervenes

Children of inmates are prone to act out in Children of inmates are prone to act out in school or drop outschool or drop out

2.3 Million men and women are incarcerated in 2.3 Million men and women are incarcerated in state and federal prisonsstate and federal prisons

One in eight American children have had a One in eight American children have had a parent in prison at some point in their lives.parent in prison at some point in their lives.

65% of female inmates have children65% of female inmates have children

6% or more of female inmates are pregnant 6% or more of female inmates are pregnant

In most cases 93% of children of In most cases 93% of children of prisoners have fathers who are in jailprisoners have fathers who are in jail

49% of inmates with children are African 49% of inmates with children are African AmericansAmericans

Children of prisoners are seven times Children of prisoners are seven times more likely than their peers to be more likely than their peers to be incarcerated and six times more likely to incarcerated and six times more likely to be incarcerated in their life timebe incarcerated in their life time

Developmental issues hardships- Developmental issues hardships- socially, emotionally, psychologically, and socially, emotionally, psychologically, and spirituallyspiritually

PovertyPoverty Labeling and social stigmasLabeling and social stigmas Community and church expectationsCommunity and church expectations

Impaired developmentImpaired development Low self-esteemLow self-esteem Anger and depressionAnger and depression Emotional numbering and withdrawal Emotional numbering and withdrawal

from friends and familyfrom friends and family Feeling of abandonment, loneliness, Feeling of abandonment, loneliness,

shame, guilt, and resentmentshame, guilt, and resentment

Eating and sleeping disordersEating and sleeping disorders

Diminished academic performanceDiminished academic performance

Inappropriate or disruptive behavior at Inappropriate or disruptive behavior at home and in schoolhome and in school

StressStress Family instabilityFamily instability Financial strainFinancial strain Strife and abuseStrife and abuse Stigmatization from their peersStigmatization from their peers Stigmatization from their teachersStigmatization from their teachers Stigmatization from societyStigmatization from society

The assumption that they too will go to The assumption that they too will go to prisonprison

Shame and rejectionShame and rejection

To embarrassing to talk to friends, To embarrassing to talk to friends, teachers etc about their parents teachers etc about their parents incarcerationincarceration

Made in image of GodMade in image of God Known by GodKnown by God The fatherless and orphanedThe fatherless and orphaned Forgotten by societyForgotten by society Most likely to become prisonersMost likely to become prisoners Special opportunities to break the cycleSpecial opportunities to break the cycle

Violence as a way of achieving justice is Violence as a way of achieving justice is both impractical and immoral – M L Kingboth impractical and immoral – M L King

Violence self destructsViolence self destructs The old law an eye for an eye leaves The old law an eye for an eye leaves

everybody blindeverybody blind Violence humiliates an opponent rather Violence humiliates an opponent rather

than win his understandingthan win his understanding

Violence annihilates rather than convertsViolence annihilates rather than converts

Violence strives on hatred rather that Violence strives on hatred rather that lovelove

Violence creates bitterness in the Violence creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers survivors and brutality in the destroyers

Children have numerous needsChildren have numerous needs They need care takers to provide for their They need care takers to provide for their

physical and medical needsphysical and medical needs They need to be told the truth about their They need to be told the truth about their

parents situationparents situation They need the companionship of others They need the companionship of others

who share their circumstanceswho share their circumstances

They don’t need to be judged or They don’t need to be judged or stigmatized because of their parents stigmatized because of their parents situationsituation

They need to be treated with respectThey need to be treated with respect

They need to be offered opportunities They need to be offered opportunities that are offered to othersthat are offered to others

They need to be recognized as having They need to be recognized as having potentialpotential

It helps to make successful transitions to It helps to make successful transitions to adulthood.adulthood.

Supportive adult mentoring result in a Supportive adult mentoring result in a significant decrease in drug and alcohol significant decrease in drug and alcohol abuse among youthabuse among youth

Supportive adult mentoring decrease physical Supportive adult mentoring decrease physical violenceviolence

Mentored youth improve in school attendanceMentored youth improve in school attendance

Mentored youth improve in academic Mentored youth improve in academic achievement and have a sense of self worthachievement and have a sense of self worth

Mentored youth improve in peer and family Mentored youth improve in peer and family relationshipsrelationships

By establishing and effective one-to-one By establishing and effective one-to-one relationshiprelationship

Meet with the youth once a week Meet with the youth once a week

If possible call at least once a weekIf possible call at least once a week

Always be available for the youth to talk to you Always be available for the youth to talk to you if situations warrants your counselif situations warrants your counsel

Involve the youth’s parents or guardiansInvolve the youth’s parents or guardians

Provide structure the youth to engage with the Provide structure the youth to engage with the mentormentor

Conduct mentoring activities outside schoolConduct mentoring activities outside school

Take the youth on outings mall, restaurant, Take the youth on outings mall, restaurant, park, etc…park, etc…

Teach the youth to be patient with him / herselfTeach the youth to be patient with him / herself

Teach them how to be honest and truthfulTeach them how to be honest and truthful

Teach them core values, dignity, respect, work Teach them core values, dignity, respect, work ethics, social and spiritual values, etc…ethics, social and spiritual values, etc…

Teach the importance of trusting in God, Teach the importance of trusting in God, Prayer, Faith, and Personal relationship Prayer, Faith, and Personal relationship through study and devotionthrough study and devotion

Teach abstinence from substance abuse Teach abstinence from substance abuse and risky sexual behaviorand risky sexual behavior

Teach them how to respect authority and Teach them how to respect authority and how to avoid engaging in activities with how to avoid engaging in activities with peers that culminate in criminal activitiespeers that culminate in criminal activities

Teach them how to choose friends and Teach them how to choose friends and how to avoid gang relationshipshow to avoid gang relationships

Teach them how to build self esteem and Teach them how to build self esteem and to increase self worthto increase self worth

Teach them how to have a positive Teach them how to have a positive attitude and how to believe in themselvesattitude and how to believe in themselves

Increase self confidence and to believe Increase self confidence and to believe that all things are possible through Christthat all things are possible through Christ

Teach them that they can be anything in life Teach them that they can be anything in life that they want to be that they want to be

Teach them that their dreams can be reached Teach them that their dreams can be reached and that they don’t have to conclude that and that they don’t have to conclude that prison is the ultimate conclusion for themprison is the ultimate conclusion for them

Acquaint them with all of the spiritual, social, Acquaint them with all of the spiritual, social, and physical resources that they need to be and physical resources that they need to be successful, productive, law abiding citizens in successful, productive, law abiding citizens in the communities of their choicethe communities of their choice

Finally, teach them that prison is Finally, teach them that prison is not an option for them – not an option for them –

THE CURSE STOPS HERE!THE CURSE STOPS HERE!

Made in the image of GodMade in the image of God Known by GodKnown by God The fatherless and orphaned The fatherless and orphaned Forgotten by society labeled by societyForgotten by society labeled by society Most likely to become prisonersMost likely to become prisoners Special opportunity to break the cycleSpecial opportunity to break the cycle