The Quiet Forgotten: Providing Scholarships, Mentors, and Hope to Children of Incarcerated Parents
Governor Jeb Bush hosted a luncheon on Thursday, August 7th to thank business and community partners for supporting the Governor's Mentoring Initiative and Take Stock in Children's Children of Prisoners: Children of Promise project. Seventy children of incarcerated parents will be selected to receive four-year tuition scholarships and adult mentors through the Take Stock in Children program. Take Stock in Children is the premier mentoring and scholarship program in the state of Florida.
(PRWEB) August 11, 2003
TALLAHASSEE, FL (PRWEB) August 7, 2003 – Take Stock in Children, Florida’s premier college scholarship and mentoring program, has partnered with the Governor’s Mentoring Initiative, the Florida Department of Corrections, and Prison Fellowship Ministries to provide scholarships, mentors, and hope to children of incarcerated parents. Florida’s Children of Prisoners: Children of Promise project seeks to break the cycle of violence, poverty, and academic failure that afflicts children when a parent goes to prison.
On Thursday, August 7, Governor Jeb Bush hosted a luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion in appreciation of those who have recognized the vast potential of the Children of Prisoners: Children of Promise project. Governor Bush stated, “It’s an honor to host such a fine group of individuals and corporate executives that truly want to help Florida’s most vulnerable children obtain academic and personal success.”
Project partners thanked the sponsors of the initiative, including executives of ARAMARK Correctional Services, Wexford Health Services, PRIDE Enterprises, Prison Health Services, Bridges of America, Veridian Corporation, Pro-Tech Monitoring, and The Windsor Group.
The Children of Prisoners: Children of Promise project asked prisoners at two state facilities to recommend their middle and high school-aged children for admission to the Take Stock in Children program. Children must meet financial, academic, and behavioral requirements to be considered for scholarships. Take Stock in Children will select 70 students who meet the eligibility criteria and provide them with the scholarships, mentors, and hope that characterize the mission of Take Stock in Children.
With the help and support of caring adults and the promise of a college scholarship, children who once were the quiet forgotten will begin to realize unimagined successes. The historic partnership between Take Stock in Children, the GovernorÂ’s Mentoring Initiative, the Florida Department of Corrections, and Prison Fellowship Ministries gives children of incarcerated parents hope for a better future.
Since 1995, Take Stock in Children has impacted the lives of more than 7,000 students in the state of Florida. Students admitted to the program experience dramatic improvements in their academic attitudes and develop meaningful relationships with adult mentors. Within six months of high school graduation, 80% of Take Stock in Children students are enrolled in college, compared to 56% of all Florida high school graduates. A recent survey found that 97% of Take Stock in Children mentors feel they have positively influenced the lives of their students, and 93% of students surveyed wish to continue meeting with their mentors.
