 7.3 Million children in the us have a parent in prison or who has left the system  70% of these children end up in jail unless a caring adult intervenes  Children of inmates are prone to act out in school or drop out

 2.3 Million men and women are incarcerated in state and federal prisons  One in eight American children have had a parent in prison at some point in their lives.  65% of female inmates have children  6% or more of female inmates are pregnant

 In most cases 93% of children of prisoners have fathers who are in jail  49% of inmates with children are African Americans  Children of prisoners are seven times more likely than their peers to be incarcerated and six times more likely to be incarcerated in their life time

 Developmental issues hardships- socially, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually  Poverty  Labeling and social stigmas  Community and church expectations

 Impaired development  Low self-esteem  Anger and depression  Emotional numbering and withdrawal from friends and family  Feeling of abandonment, loneliness, shame, guilt, and resentment

 Eating and sleeping disorders  Diminished academic performance  Inappropriate or disruptive behavior at home and in school

 Stress  Family instability  Financial strain  Strife and abuse  Stigmatization from their peers  Stigmatization from their teachers  Stigmatization from society

 The assumption that they too will go to prison  Shame and rejection  To embarrassing to talk to friends, teachers etc about their parents incarceration

 Made in image of God  Known by God  The fatherless and orphaned  Forgotten by society  Most likely to become prisoners  Special opportunities to break the cycle

 Violence as a way of achieving justice is both impractical and immoral – M L King  Violence self destructs  The old law an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind  Violence humiliates an opponent rather than win his understanding

 Violence annihilates rather than converts  Violence strives on hatred rather that love  Violence creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers

 Children have numerous needs  They need care takers to provide for their physical and medical needs  They need to be told the truth about their parents situation  They need the companionship of others who share their circumstances

 They don’t need to be judged or stigmatized because of their parents situation  They need to be treated with respect  They need to be offered opportunities that are offered to others  They need to be recognized as having potential

 It helps to make successful transitions to adulthood.  Supportive adult mentoring result in a significant decrease in drug and alcohol abuse among youth

 Supportive adult mentoring decrease physical violence  Mentored youth improve in school attendance  Mentored youth improve in academic achievement and have a sense of self worth  Mentored youth improve in peer and family relationships

 By establishing and effective one-to-one relationship  Meet with the youth once a week  If possible call at least once a week

 Always be available for the youth to talk to you if situations warrants your counsel  Involve the youth’s parents or guardians  Provide structure the youth to engage with the mentor  Conduct mentoring activities outside school  Take the youth on outings mall, restaurant, park, etc…

 Teach the youth to be patient with him / herself  Teach them how to be honest and truthful  Teach them core values, dignity, respect, work ethics, social and spiritual values, etc…

 Teach the importance of trusting in God, Prayer, Faith, and Personal relationship through study and devotion  Teach abstinence from substance abuse and risky sexual behavior  Teach them how to respect authority and how to avoid engaging in activities with peers that culminate in criminal activities

 Teach them how to choose friends and how to avoid gang relationships  Teach them how to build self esteem and to increase self worth  Teach them how to have a positive attitude and how to believe in themselves  Increase self confidence and to believe that all things are possible through Christ

 Teach them that they can be anything in life that they want to be  Teach them that their dreams can be reached and that they don’t have to conclude that prison is the ultimate conclusion for them  Acquaint them with all of the spiritual, social, and physical resources that they need to be successful, productive, law abiding citizens in the communities of their choice

 Finally, teach them that prison is not an option for them – THE CURSE STOPS HERE!

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