Mentoring Children of Prisoners (MCP)

As the number of men and women in our prison system grows steadily, another population also increases -- the innocent children of prisoners. When parents are incarcerated, their children struggle to find their way, often without the benefit of a stable or consistent adult in their lives, and that’s where Big Brothers Big Sisters steps in.

Research shows that 70 percent of children of incarcerated parents will themselves at some point be incarcerated – unless they have positive adult intervention.That is why mentoring children of prisoners is a key component of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ goal to reach more kids, especially those who may face significant risk factors. Mentoring Children of Prisoners helps break children out of their potentially dangerous situation by matching them with adults who serve as mentors.

For more information about enrolling a child, or volunteering to mentor, in the Mentoring Children of Prisoners program, contact Yvonne Sigrist, Enrollment Specialist, at ysigrist@bbbsicr.org or 217-753-1216 x 210.