Just about every summer I participate in the
government ‘s discretionary review process of programs proposed by non-profit organizations
and faith-based institutions seeking Federal funding. Most recently, I
spent a week in the Nation’s Capital–just six blocks up from the
Obama’s–reviewing applications from agencies planning to or already
operating mentoring program for children directly affected by parental
incarceration. Now there’s something you don’t think about every day, unless you are directly affected by it.
It’s a big problem with lasting repercussions. If you think about it, you probably know
someone who has been to jail or has a brother/sister/uncle/cousin that’s done some
time. It’s very likely that whoever went to jail left a child behind when
they did. I’m not going to spew stats, but trust me when I say there are
definite socioeconomic AND emotional consequences in a child’s life when one
of their parents gets locked up.
The breadth of these programs vary. Some will match 50 children of prisoners with mentors in the next three years, others, like Big Brothers Big Sisters, aim to match more than
1,000 eligible youth. Some will get five digits of support from the Feds,
others will get hundreds of thousands. What evens out the playing field, is
that they will all be looking for positive, progressive, dependable adults
who can commit to spending time regularly with their mentee. The minimum commitment these relationships require is one year , meeting for at least five hours a month—preferably once a week.
This kind of commitment doesn’t work for everyone and I stress that if you aren’t in it for the long haul, don’t bother. These kids already have enough abandonment issues to deal with.
There are other ways to help. Next week I’ll be in D.C. again to review grant applications for Basic Centers. Basic Centers are safe places for homeless and runaway youth to spend time; bathe (in some cases); get referrals for physical and mental health issues and drug/alcohol dependency; get a meal and perhaps begin the journey to a more stable lifestyle. Basic Centers require a more relaxed commitment. If you can’t spend time regularly, you can drop in when you are able or you can donate clothing, personal hygiene products and snack foods. You’d be suprised how grateful a street youth is when given a toothbrush, lotion, a pack of baby wipes.
So yes, your tax dollars do do more than just bail out companies that threaten bankruptcy one quarter, then post billion dollar earnings the next. Why not give your buck a boost by lending a hand at one of the countless non-profit organizations in your area doing great work for much more meager earnings.
Two great place to look for organizations that need your help are http://www.volunteermatch.org/, and http://www.serve.gov/.
government ‘s discretionary review process of programs proposed by non-profit organizations
and faith-based institutions seeking Federal funding. Most recently, I
spent a week in the Nation’s Capital–just six blocks up from the
Obama’s–reviewing applications from agencies planning to or already
operating mentoring program for children directly affected by parental
incarceration. Now there’s something you don’t think about every day, unless you are directly affected by it.
It’s a big problem with lasting repercussions. If you think about it, you probably know
someone who has been to jail or has a brother/sister/uncle/cousin that’s done some
time. It’s very likely that whoever went to jail left a child behind when
they did. I’m not going to spew stats, but trust me when I say there are
definite socioeconomic AND emotional consequences in a child’s life when one
of their parents gets locked up.
The breadth of these programs vary. Some will match 50 children of prisoners with mentors in the next three years, others, like Big Brothers Big Sisters, aim to match more than
1,000 eligible youth. Some will get five digits of support from the Feds,
others will get hundreds of thousands. What evens out the playing field, is
that they will all be looking for positive, progressive, dependable adults
who can commit to spending time regularly with their mentee. The minimum commitment these relationships require is one year , meeting for at least five hours a month—preferably once a week.
This kind of commitment doesn’t work for everyone and I stress that if you aren’t in it for the long haul, don’t bother. These kids already have enough abandonment issues to deal with.
There are other ways to help. Next week I’ll be in D.C. again to review grant applications for Basic Centers. Basic Centers are safe places for homeless and runaway youth to spend time; bathe (in some cases); get referrals for physical and mental health issues and drug/alcohol dependency; get a meal and perhaps begin the journey to a more stable lifestyle. Basic Centers require a more relaxed commitment. If you can’t spend time regularly, you can drop in when you are able or you can donate clothing, personal hygiene products and snack foods. You’d be suprised how grateful a street youth is when given a toothbrush, lotion, a pack of baby wipes.
So yes, your tax dollars do do more than just bail out companies that threaten bankruptcy one quarter, then post billion dollar earnings the next. Why not give your buck a boost by lending a hand at one of the countless non-profit organizations in your area doing great work for much more meager earnings.
Two great place to look for organizations that need your help are http://www.volunteermatch.org/, and http://www.serve.gov/.