Welcome to Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver’s Choice

What is Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver’s Choice?

First and foremost, Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver’s Choice is about mentoring relationships. MENTOR’s role is to bring mentoring programs and children with incarcerated parents together to facilitate quality new mentoring relationships.

Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver’s Choice makes it possible for many more kids across the country to have mentors, and for many more families to enjoy all the benefits of mentoring. This program is unique because it gives the child’s caregiver the power to choose—to look at the possibilities and decide on the best mentoring program to meet their needs and the needs of the child.

Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver’s Choice takes the guesswork out of finding a mentoring program. Because all the programs in Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver’s Choice must be approved, caregivers can feel comfortable choosing a program based on their needs, knowing all the programs meet standards for safety and quality.

For Mentoring Programs

Are you looking for ways to expand your reach and serve more children?

If so, please consider joining Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver’s Choice!

Through Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver’s Choice, you can:

Access funding to serve more children;
Tap into federal funds;
Manage your participation level;
Leverage national efforts to recruit children of prisoners; and
Benefit from cutting-edge training and tools.

Mentoring programs must apply to participate in Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver’s Choice. Programs that meet quality standards created by experts—in mentoring and working with families of the incarcerated—will be selected to take part in Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver’s Choice. Caregivers and parents will then choose the approved mentoring program that best meets their needs and redeem their voucher. Mentoring programs will receive $1,000 in four installments over a twelve-month period, linked to key milestones in the mentoring relationship.

Program enrollment has now begun. For more information about the eligibility requirements, please contact Janet Forbush.

We will also be holding monthly conference calls to allow mentoring programs learn more and ask questions about Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver’s Choice.

If you have additional questions, please contact caregiverschoice@mentoring.org.

For Caregivers and Parents

Are you caring for a child whose parent is incarcerated?

Are you looking for new ways to help your child succeed?

Have you thought about mentoring?

Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver’s Choice is designed to assist children faced with the challenge of having an incarcerated parent by providing access to mentoring relationships. Mentoring benefits both children and their families. Many families report that mentoring-when added to core support services-results in a variety of positive changes for young people facing unique challenges.

Because children with incarcerated parents are a diverse group, they benefit from mentoring in a variety of ways. For example, mentors can provide an objective ear and support as children struggle with their parents' incarceration. When children spend time with mentors, it can also open up free time for the child's caregiver or parent.

To learn more and see if Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver’s Choice is right for you and your child, please take a look at the following resources:

Brochure for caregivers and parents
English | Spanish (PDF)
Informational insert for incarcerated mothers
English | Spanish (PDF)
Informational insert for incarcerated fathers
English | Spanish (PDF)

To apply to join Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver’s Choice, call 877-333-CHOICE [877-333-2464] toll-free or click here. You will be asked to fill out a short application with your information, information about your child, and your mentoring preferences.

About MENTOR

MENTOR leads the national movement to connect America's young people with the power of mentoring. As a national advocate and clearinghouse for mentoring resources, MENTOR is dedicated to delivering the research, policy recommendations, and practical performance tools that mentoring organizations need to effectively serve young people and make mentoring a reality for more of America's young people in need. MENTOR collaborates with Mentoring Partnerships throughout the country and with more than 4,100 mentoring programs nationwide.

For more information, contact caregiverschoice@mentoring.org.

Caregiver's Choice

Welcome to Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver’s Choice

What is Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver’s Choice?

For Mentoring Programs

For Caregivers and Parents

About MENTOR