Mentoring Programs

Statistics show that children whose parents are incarcerated are six times more likely to end up in prison than their peers, and if children cannot read by the Fourth Grade and both parents are incarcerated, then 94% of these children will end up in prison.We need to break this cycle!

Prison ministry works with the Essex County Jail. The children are appointed by the courts to work in the PATCH Program (Parents and their Children).

Visits to the Jail

Staying close to an incarcerated mom or dad is very important for the emotional and social welfare of the children. We support the family's health by offering visits to the jail. These are supervised visits held in a specially designed PATCH (Parents and their Children) room filled with books, comfortable seating and games. Volunteers are needed to ride the bus and support the visits.

Special Parties and Outings

It is a special treat for the PATCH children when a congregation holds a party or special activity, such as holiday parties, BBQ, and enrichment programs, for them. You congregation will be blessed by the experience. We will help you plan the event or program to ensure that a good time is had by all.