Local Mentoring Group Gets Funds to Help Kids With Jailed Parents

By WYDaily Staff Monday, January 24, 2011

Big Brothers Big Sisters has been awarded almost $440,000 for a new mentoring program for kids with parents or caregivers who are incarcerated.

The funding is part of grants from the federal government, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Office of Juvenile Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human services. The agencies awarded nearly $900,000 to be divided between BBBS of the Greater Virginia Peninsula, which offers both in-school and community-based mentoring for at-risk kids, and Hand and Hand, Inc., which offers support services and technical assistance to nonprofits.

According to BBBS Executive Director Elizabeth Chisolm, the funds will be used for a new community-based mentoring program for children who have a parent or caregiver who is in prison.

“These children go through so much, especially around birthdays, holidays, and other special events,” says Chisolm. Kids with parents who are incarcerated are often dealing with anger and other emotional issues, she says, and can benefit from connection with a trained mentor.

Mentors in the new program will not only get traditional training provided by the organization but they will also get additional guidance on the unique issues children in this program face. BBBS will be taking referrals from the Department of Corrections, social services from all the localities, and school systems.

The new funds will allow for an extra 65 mentor/child matches at BBBS in the ‘Mentoring Children of Prisoners’ program on top of the approximately 400 matches the organization already supports each year.

BBBS is currently seeking community residents who are interested in becoming mentors for this program, and for their other programs as well. Visit their website for details or call (757) 253-0676.