News Release

HHS Awards $11.2 Million for Mentoring Children of Prisoners

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today awarded approximately $11.2 million to 76 organizations to train adult volunteers to mentor children and youth whose parents are incarcerated. The grants are part of mentoring children of prisoners program introduced by President Bush in his 2003 State of the Union address.

“With these grants, we are helping train mentors and match them with children in need, because every child needs an enduring relationship with a caring adult,” HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. “This program will provide more children and youth of incarcerated parents with an opportunity to grow in hope and make the right life choices.”

Grantees will use the funds to train mentors and match them with children and youth aged four to 18. Potential mentors will be screened for child and domestic abuse and other criminal history. Mentors will receive training and will also be required to commit to a one-on-one relationship and meet at least once a week with the child. Grantees will monitor and assist the mentors on an ongoing basis.

“These grants will enable more volunteers to have a positive and lasting impact in the lives of disadvantaged children,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, Wade F. Horn, Ph.D. “They will help more children and youth of incarcerated parents develop into responsible adults.”

Nearly 2 million children in the United States have an incarcerated parent. Studies have shown children with incarcerated parents who have mentors are less likely to use drugs or alcohol and initiate violence and are more likely to attend and perform well in school. Since this program began in 2003, approximately $158 million has been awarded to grantees to provide new mentors to children and youth of incarcerated parents. Over 33,000 mentors and children have been matched so far, on track with the target of 100,000 matches by fiscal year 2008.

On Sept. 28, President Bush signed the Child and Families Services Improvement Act of 2006 into law. The legislation reauthorizes the Mentoring Children of Prisoners Program and includes the President’s proposal to allow program vouchers to expand access to mentoring services nationwide.

For more information on the mentoring children or prisoners program, go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/youthdivision/programs/mcpfactsheet.htm.

To view a complete list of the awards, go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2006/mcpp_06_awards.htm.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last revised: January 20, 2009