Long-Term, Trauma-Informed, Equity-Centered, Evidence-Based Mentoring for Children of Incarcerated Parents

Give Something Back (“Give Back”) proposes to implement the OJJDP FY24 Mentoring for Children of Incarcerated Parents program. The purpose is to provide transformative group and one-on-one community-based mentoring services that promote family engagement and community connectedness to Children of Incarcerated Parents who have been historically underserved, marginalized, adversely affected by inequality, and disproportionately impacted by crime, violence, and victimization, including Black, Indigenous and People of Color who have experienced the child welfare system, homelessness, traumatic crimes, and/or other significant adversities (four or more Adverse Childhood Experiences). Give Back operates in sites across the country that have high concentrations of Children of Incarcerated Parents, including the greater Bridgeton, New Jersey community that houses 30% of the state’s incarcerated population. Give Back will provide long-term, trauma-informed, equity-centered, evidence-based mentoring, with youth and family partnerships ensuring that young people and their families play a central role in collaboratively developing solutions to their challenges. Give Back's programming helps Children of Incarcerated Parents to mitigate the internalized and externalized effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences, develop economic stability (financial literacy, employability and professionalism, and career and postsecondary pathways); build resiliency (independent living skills, character skills, physical and mental wellness); and relational wealth (peers, schools, and the global community), leading to extraordinarily high rates of graduating high school and postsecondary education, and getting a job with a path to a family-sustaining wage in their chosen profession.