The New York Times recently reported on the growing trend of parents in prison and how it is affecting their children. In the United States, roughly 1.5 million children have a parent in prison.
How it affects poor urban children…
- 6% chance of becoming homeless
(versus 3% without a parent in prison) - More aggressive behavior like hitting others and destroying objects
(49% of 5-year-old boys versus 38% without a parent in prison) - More likely to experience feelings of depression, isolation, or anxiety
(35% versus 28% without a parent in prison)
Prison statistics claim that 1 in 99 Americans are in prison. We cannot forget that prison ministry is not simply about reaching those in prison but reaching their families, particularly their children, as well. Angel Tree is an example of one ministry that is serving these kids.
For Discussion:
- What are some other effective ministries or methods that you have seen reach prisoners’ families?
So am I reading it wrong, or is that 1 in 4 19-year-old black kids had a parent in prison at some point?
1 in 4 is correct, Stephen.
Kent,
I work at The Salvation Army in Kansas City, MO and we have a very active prison ministry. Every summer we also hold a camp for those children of incarcerated parents. Throughout the camp they work with their counselors in team building exercises and play games. On the last Sunday of camp, they come to their chapel service only to find their counselors were off-duty police and probation officers who volunteered their time. This tries to help establish a positive view of law enforcement in the mind of a child who might not see them so kindly.
Here’s a link, just in case you were interested: http://www.usc.salvationarmy.org/usc/www_usc_kan.nsf/vw-sublinks/4D7301F77AC988E6862575620057A6C4?openDocument
If you are interested in helping prisoners you must learn about what Catherine Rohr and her team @Prison Entrepreneurship program or PEP are doing to live out the gospel.
Visit http://www.pep.org
She s training them to use their gifts for good not evil. Helping them graduate, start a business, learn marketable skills, and encourages them with family reunification programs.
I learned about this ministry while attending the GodChicks conference in Pasadena.
“Learning to Sing in a Strange Land: When a Loved One Goes to Prison” has been review favorably by prisoners and their family members along with some prison ministry groups. The book, published by Wipf and Stock Publishers, is written out of the personal experience of having a loved one in prison for over 8 years in Texas. Thank you, Wesley Stevens