Mentoring Children of Purpose

People for People, Inc. (PFP), the community service arm of the Greater Exodus Baptist Church, is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) faith-based organization in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. PFP proposes a comprehensive and proven approach to providing critical mentoring services to Philadelphia children who have incarcerated parents. The PFP will implement the 'Mentoring Children of Purpose' program which works with key community leaders, faith-based and community organizations in an extensive coalition. During the three years of the program, PFP will partner with 15 local congregations, four businesses and government entities to serve 1,000 children ages 4 to 18 years old. The approach for 'Mentoring Children of Purpose' is based on the Amachi model. The Amachi model is based on a strong partnership with congregations in the neighborhoods where children of prisoners live, through which mentors are recruited. Also, the Amachi model allows a firm commitment to Positive Youth Development and offers children an atmosphere that focuses on their strengths and does not look down on them or their incarcerated parents. PFP is expanding this concept to include businesses and government offices. Services that will be provided by Mentoring Children of Purpose include identifying children of prisoners in Philadelphia County, recruiting and training mentors, matching children with mentors, and providing support for quality, long-term one-on-one mentoring relationships. Youth will be engaged constructively, obtaining skills to make good choices and to reach their potentials. The mentoring relationships will reduce the likelihood that children of prisoners will become involved in crime, modeling another way of life that can be reached by making better choices. The methods to evaluate program performance against stated quantitative outcomes are designed to provide continuous feedback and permit periodic assessment. CA/NCF