Given the crime rate in Philadelphia, it's not surprising that there are plenty of children in our fair city with a parent (or two) behind bars. Since children often model their behavior after what they see their elders doing, we could be in for a heap of trouble. According to New York Amsterdam News, children of incarcerated parents are six to 10 times more likely to end up in prison than the average young person.

Mentoring can help stave off the cycle of perpetual drug abuse, violence and more by showing children of offenders that there are other ways to live their lives, thus discouraging them from emulating the illegal and dangerous behaviors they've witnessed. But many families caring for the children of prisoners either aren't aware of mentoring programs or don't have the resources to participate.

MENTOR works to expand the world of quality mentoring by helping children and teens in need of mentoring services find the right service. The program is uniquely positioned to provide needed mentoring for the children of incarcerated parents, while also helping programs receive funds for their current mentoring programs.

The MENTOR Caregiver’s Choice program is currently and actively recruiting 200 Philadelphia children who have one or both parents in a state or federal prison. Families of children between ages 4 and 18 will receive a $1000 voucher to choose an approved mentoring program. Recruitment Day for Philadelphia will be held on Sunday, June 8, 2008, at 1:30 PM at Revival Hill Oasis of Faith (17th & Venango Sts. in Philadelphia).

Image Credit: Flickr user the_kid_cl