Mentoring Children of Promise's Annual Picnic!

On Saturday, October 2, our Mentoring Children of Promise program hosted its annual picnic in Metairie’s Lafreniere Park. The Mentoring program provides adult mentors who offer young people of incarcerated parents support, friendship, reinforcement, and a constructive example. Orleans Parish Sheriff's Marlin Gusman and Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand (pictured) were in attendance and handed out Junior Deputy Sheriff Certificates to the mentees at the picnic. Approximately 350 mentees and 350 mentors attended the event, which included snowballs, face painting, a spacewalk, rock climbing, sack races and lots of food. Thanks so much to our mentors, Orleans Parish Sheriff’s office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s office, and to Lafreniere Park for hosting the event!

If you'd like to become a mentor to a child with an incarcerated parent, please contact Sherlyn Hughes at 504-836-8700.

Special Supporters & Fox 8 Film PSA for Mentoring Children of Promise Program

Watch our new Mentoring Children of Promise commercial starring Mandy and Zach Strief (Black and Gold #64), pictured! Our Mentoring Children of Promise program provides adult mentors who offer young people with incarcerated parents support, friendship, reinforcement, and a constructive example. We're currently seeking mentors...for more information, contact Sherlyn Hughes, Program Coordinator, at 504-836-8700, or shughes@voagno.org.

Be a mentor for a child in need.

Mentoring Children of Promise (MCP), a program of Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans in collaboration with local churches in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes, was created in response to the need of children with incarcerated parents to have stable, caring adults in their lives. Children are matched with a positive adult volunteer.

Louisiana is second in the nation in the number of people incarcerated. Almost a third (31.5%) of Louisiana's adult inmate population and almost half (41.3%) of the juvenile inmate population come from Orleans and Jefferson parishes. Unfortunately, records show that half of Louisiana's former inmates return to prison within four to six years after they are released. An ominous prediction for the future is the national estimate that 70% of the children with a parent in prison will one day find themselves behind bars.

We need you to help make a difference in the life of a youth in your community. MCP has boys and girls between 4-18 years of age residing in Orleans and Jefferson Parish.

What can you do to become a mentor? It's quite simple. Here are our mentor requirements:

- You must be at least 18 years old.
- A person with a sincere desire to be involved with a young person
- Be a caring and consistent adult in the life of a young person.
- Meet with your mentee for at least 8 hours a month for a minimum of one year
- Adherence to background checks for the safety of children
- Have fun!

Studies show that children in mentoring programs feel better about themselves, do a better job at resisting peer pressure and make better grades in school.

If you're ready to make a difference in the life of a mentee in need, call Sherilyn Hughes, Program Coordinator, at 504-836-8700 or 504-239-0234 or e-mail shughes@voagno.org.