Mentoring Children of Prisoners
Although the federal Mentoring Children of Prisoners (MCP) grant will soon disappear due to federal budget cuts, Chatham County Together!’s MCP program will carry on to meet the needs of these Chatham County youth. Since October 2010, CCT! has matched 30 youth with caring, adult mentors.
"Mentors do not need have some fancy job title, counseling experience, or tons of free time. Studies show that a caring, supporting adult with a consistent presence in the life of a child greatly enhances the child's ability to be successful.
We are asking volunteers for an average of one hour a week. Fifty-two hours in one year will make a huge difference."
“When the program began, we knew there were a number of children with incarcerated parents living in the county. How many? We weren’t sure. But as the program got underway, the number of youth referrals kept increasing and the positive feedback from the schools, parents, mentors, and community members showed us that this program has a valued place at CCT! and is an investment in the future of Chatham County,” explain Justin Lana, CCT!’s MCP Volunteer Coordinator.
So much of the program’s success lies in the quality of the mentors. Mentors spend, on average, 1 hour per week with their youth. Recent activities reported by mentors include making strawberry short cake, having a birthday party for the family pet, signing up for the summer reading program, and shootin’ hoops at the local park.
According to current mentor, Maggie Skiles, the impact of mentoring can be felt almost immediately. “My mentee is always ready to go when I come to pick her up – a huge smile on her face and bigger hug in tow. We like to go to the park and Dorashea loves to swim. But sometimes our best moments come while we watch TV or walk through the farmer’s market. It is here that she tells me about her favorite food, favorite teachers, and when I’m lucky, her goals for the future.”
Program Director Shirille Lee explains further, “The chance for many of these youth to get extra attention, receive assistance with school work, or to participate in group activities to the planetarium, local museums, or movie theater has profound effects on their self-esteem and exposes them to so many new things. Our kids quickly learn that they can take a different path in life than their incarcerated parent. They are learning that they have the support to be successful.”
CCT! is always looking for individuals willing to include a child in their life an hour each week. If interested, please email Justin or call him at 663.0116.
