Parenting With Purpose

The mentoring for life change (mlc) program is a one-on-one and group focused program created to break the intergenerational cycle of criminal behavior in youth affected by parental incarceration. Since july 1999, mlc has made inroads in strengthening family relationships; improving or maintaining good behavior and academic progress in school; increased community service and career awareness in the lives of at-risk youth. Mlc program focuses on the expansion of services parenting with purpose (pwp) provides to children and families affected by incarceration. This program is developed in response to a specific inmate need for assistance to restore and strengthen family relationships and to reduce and prevent the cycle of child abuse and neglect in families with an incarcerated parent. This expansion includes more intense services to children and their families. Pwp believes that as a family is strengthened, they will be greater assets to our communities. The strengthening we believe is holistic, including living a healthy lifestyle by maintaining regular check-ups for children and adults, eating healthy, exercising regularly, and learning skills to reduce stress. In addition, parenting with purpose has added a school-based support group for students affected by the incarceration of a loved one. Pwp is currently at park center high school and osseo area learning ctr. The expected outcomes of mlc program are as follows: to improve relationships with youth of incarcerated parent and their guardian(s). To improve academic and school behavior for program participants. To improve the physical health and emotional well-being of children, youth of incarcerated parents, and their parents by increasing awareness in different areas of their lives. To reduce criminal activity in the children/youth of incarcerated parents. In 2024, the following accomplishments were achieved: 1) weekly support services (rides, support group and home visits) to 34 children, age 5-25, who have or had an incarcerated or released parent. 2) in the lives of the 34 children and teens that are involved in the mlc program, 100% were not involved in any criminal behavior throughout their year involvement with parenting with purpose. 3) 99% of the children who were actively involved with pwp were able to remain in contact with their parents who were incarcerated or released. 4) 96% of the families involved in the mentoring for life change program reported/showed improvement in family relationships. 5) 98% of the children and teens regularly involved with pwp have continued to attend school. 95% have shown improvement or maintained their academics or continued good behavior at school.