Children who have an incarcerated parent are more likely to develop problem behavior

By Staff Writer

A mentoring program in Missouri was recently awarded $600,000 in federal grants to help serve children who have a parent in prison.

According to news affiliate KY3, children who have one or more parent behind bars are seven times more likely to spend time in prison than those without an incarcerated parent. The program director of the mentoring group said that adolescents who have a parent locked up are also susceptible to drug abuse or self harm.

Many kids who are missing one or both parents are unaware that their behavior is detrimental because they do not have proper guidance in their everyday lives.

There are currently 45 mentors who work one-on-one with kids at the program. The news provider reports that 25 children are on the waiting list, but the federal funds will allow the program to add more staff and more kids. The organization hopes to accept 15 more adolescents before the end of October.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, violence prevention programs for younger adolescents should include efforts to prevent or reduce troublesome behavior in school and poor academic performance.