FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 21, 2003
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Department of Health and Human Services
Contact: ACF Public Affairs, 202-401-9215 |
Grants Available for Mentoring Children of Prisoners |
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The Department of Health and Human Services today announced that $10
million will be made available to qualified organizations to train adult
volunteers as mentors to children whose parents are incarcerated. These
grants are part of President Bush’s initiative to provide mentors
for disadvantaged youth who are making the critical transition from
childhood to adolescence.
"To develop into healthy, productive adults, children need the
influence of b adult role models, but children with incarcerated
parents often lack such role models, at least temporarily," said
Tommy G. Thompson, secretary of Health and Human Services. "This
new program will create many new opportunities to match children with
loving, encouraging mentors who will help them through a difficult time
in their lives."
Between 1991 and 1999, the number of children with a parent in a federal
or state correctional facility increased by more than 100 percent, from
about 900,000 to about 2,000,000. Further, fewer than 50 percent of
prisoners receive regular visits from their children, either because
the caregiver chooses not to visit or lacks the resources to make the
sometimes-long trip. In addition, the consequences for children whose
parents are imprisoned can be devastating: studies show that they have
seven times the chance of becoming incarcerated as the general population.
Community and faith-based organizations, prison systems, and tribal,
state and local governments are eligible to apply for the grants. Grantees
will respond to referrals from a variety of sources--parents, caretakers,
schools, courts, social service agencies or religious congregations.
The mentoring organization will set up and monitor the matches between
mentors and children. These mentors must have received training and
will be overseen and supported by the organization as challenges arise.
The mentoring organization must make sure that all potential mentors
have been screened for child and domestic abuse and other criminal history.
Each mentor will be required to make at least a one-year commitment
with, at a minimum, once weekly contact with the child with whom he
or she is matched.
"This initiative targets one of the most underserved and most disadvantaged
groups among us," said Wade F. Horn, Ph.D., assistant secretary
for children and families. "As a society we now have a real opportunity
to intervene with children who face great risks and make a lasting difference
in their lives."
The deadline for application is July 15, 2003. Information on how to
apply for a grant and whom to contact for more information can be found
at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb.
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