Mentoring Program - Our Mentor Program was designed to bring hope for the future to children of incarcerated parents by helping them establish relationships with caring adult. Our mentors also work with the caregivers of these children which establishes a supportive "circle" of positive relationships in the lives of our youth. We are continuing to develop relationships with nationally affiliated organizations, statewide networks of existing mentoring organizations, and community-based mentoring opportunities to achieve this goal.
Character Development - Character development skills are provided to build self-esteem, proper etiquette, moral values, appropriate manners, and nonaggressive behavior. We provide workshops and resources to cultivate respect, responsibility and caring. These concepts provide a "moral compass" for students, guiding them in their choices of behavior and attitudes.
"Kids Helping Kids" Peer Mentors - Trained high school, college students and SKIP "graduates" are taught to work with children of incarcerated parents and will serve as their mentors. Children of inmates will feel less conspicuous or self-conscious knowing that they have the support of their peers. Our peer mentors are able to share their stories of success with younger Skippers which gives hope for a brighter future to our students.
Educational and Social Enrichment Program - The purpose of this program is to enhance learning by teaching students essential basic knowledge--verbal and writing skills, problem-solving, creative arts, and techniques for good family living. These skills are taught through educational learning games, therapeutic and hands-on activities. Family living skills such as cooking, washing clothes, ironing, grocery shopping, paying bills, making change, and etc. are taught within the classroom setting to provide real life experiences for our participants. Handwriting and creative writing is emphasized in all sessions to stimulate an interest in children to write to their inmate parent(s). This is done to create a positive bond between these children and their parents. Library referencing and research skills are taught on-site at public libraries. In this setting, our children gain improved abilities to include listening and following directions, reading maps, newspapers, magazines, recipes, television guides and books. Specific books are selected for children of incarcerated parents that provide a positive outlook these children. Health and safety education is provided to enhance the childrens understanding of physical growth and development, health prevention, proper hygiene care, and safety. Enrichment activities include monthly cultural and recreational field trips and Family Game Nights. Speech and drama, arts and crafts and a variety of activities are designed to provide our students ways to express his or her feelings and to bring out their individual talents.
Career Development - Career development is provide to each student to help them understand that they can make choices toward their future and career goals by furthering their education. Training (i.e., filling out job applications, work ethics, etc.) is provided and practiced for the purpose of encouraging students to pursue future opportunities to earn money in their communities while they are going to school.
Counseling - All students receive support and encouragement from the instructors within our program to help them deal with separation from their parents. For extensive, professional counseling services, we refer school-aged children to their school counselor, who will schedule personal time with individual students. Skippers Group Support and Parent/Guardian Counseling sessions are scheduled with professionals within the community on an as-needed basis. Family Resource Services Assistance - This organization serves as a networking referral agency to caregivers. We provide information to caregivers related to public assistance for children of inmates and their families, educational grants, and other social and civic services within their communities.