Two bills, S.F. 744 and H.F. 963, are under consideration by the State Legislature. If passed, they will provide financial support for mentoring children with an incarcerated family member.
For six years, the MCOP program has provided an adult’s support and friendship to 732 Minnesota children with an imprisoned parent. The Omnibus Crime Bill passed in 2007 by the Minnesota State Legislature directed $375,000 a year for two years to support BBBS’ MCOP program. BBBS was awarded the grant to operate this program for Minnesota children through a competitive process by the Minnesota Department of Corrections. BBBS has collaborated with the Council of Crime and Justice, Search Institute, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Minnesota and others to address the needs of participants in this program.
Through MCOP, BBBS is building a stronger society by breaking the cycles of violence, chemical abuse and school drop-out rates. Current State funding ends on June 30, 2009, and renewed funding from the State of Minnesota will enable Big Brothers Big Sisters to serve hundreds of the more than 7,600 Minnesota children who have a parent or significant family member incarcerated. While it costs $40,000 a year to incarcerate a juvenile, it costs only $1,400 a year to support a mentoring relationship.
The bill’s chief authors are Senator Ron Latz (DFL – District 44) and Representative Debra Hilstrom (DFL – District 46B). Co-authors of the Senate bill are Senators Linda Higgins (DFL – District 58),Mee Moua (DFL – District 67), Leo T. Foley (DFL – District 47), and Bill G. Ingebrigtsen (R – District 11). Co-authors of the House bill are Representatives Michael Paymar (DFL – District 64B), Larry Hosch (DFL – District 14B), Carolyn Laine (DFL – District 50A) and Rob Eastlund (R – District 17A).
As the largest and longest operating mentoring organization in the country, BBBS is building a stronger society one child at a time. The organization has seen firsthand the difference a caring adult makes in the life of a child with a family member in prison. Young people involved in the MCOP program showed the following improvements in positive, youth asset development:
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Confidence: 96.6 percent of MCOP-eligible Little Brothers and Sisters had improved or maintained their Confidence, as measured through their self-confidence, ability to express feelings and make decisions, their personal hygiene and their sense of the future.
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Competence: 93.1 percent of MCOP-eligible Little Brothers and Sisters had improved or maintained their competence, including:
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91 percent have maintained or improved academic performance;
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92.6 percent have maintained or improved classroom participation;
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90.1 percent have maintained or improved their avoidance of delinquency;
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93.5 percent have maintained or improved their avoidance of early parenting;
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96.7 percent have maintained or improved their avoidance of substance abuse.
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Capacity for Caring: 95.3 percent of MCOP-eligible Little Brothers and Sisters had improved or maintained their capacity for caring, through their ability to show trust, respect other cultures and have positive relationships with family, peers and other adults.
