Mentoring Children of Prisoners Program

The Seton Youth Shelters Mentoring Children of Prisoners (MCP) program matches a youth, aged 4-18, who has an incarcerated parent, with a trained adult mentor. Mentors and mentees commit to a minimum of one year and meet for a minimum of one hour per week. Mentoring time can be spent doing educational, recreational, or cultural activities. Scheduling is flexible, to meet the needs of mentors, mentees, and caregivers.

Our program was featured on

WAVY TV's Wednesday's Child.

To become a volunteer mentor, you must be willing to commit to one year and one hour per week mentoring a child. Minimum requirements include the following:
- Age 20 or older
- Have access to reliable transportation
- Have a valid, current driver's license
- Have proof of auto insurance
- Be able to pass a criminal background check, Child Protective Services check, DMV record check, and sex offender registry check.

Benefits of mentoring include:
- The rewarding feeling that comes from helping a child
- Being able to be a 'big kid' when you are with your child
- Adding volunteer experience to your resume
- The ability to adapt your volunteer time to your personal schedule, including evenings and weekends
- Do what you enjoy doing anyway, while having a positive impact on a child

Interested in becoming a mentor? Have questions?
- If you live in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, or Suffolk, please contact Kim Foreman, Director, Mentoring Children of Prisoners program, at (757) 306-1840 or kforeman@setonyouthshelters.org.
- If you live in Hampton or Newport News, please contact Odessa Thompson, Peninsula Program Coordinator, at (757) 310-6157 or othompson@setonyouthshelters.org.

Download our Mentor Application here

Caring for a child with an incarcerated parent has many challenges. The MCP staff is sensitive to those challenges, and is always available to provide a listening ear and to assist with accessing resources. We strongly appreciate and respect the hard work that caregivers do.

How the MCP Program works:

Mentors are screened through a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services check, a DMV record check, and a sex offender registry check. Mentors must complete an individual interview and a training class, and must provide three personal references prior to becoming a mentor. Mentors must also provide proof of automobile insurance and a valid driver's license.

The Mentoring Children of Prisoners program is free of charge. "Mentees" must be between the ages of 4 and 18, and must have an incarcerated parent (including a step parent or sibling's parent). Children and caregivers are not pressured to talk about the incarceration if they do not want to. Mentors will provide regularly-scheduled, individual attention to their mentee. This time may include participating in recreational, educational, or cultural activities, including helping with homework. Mentors and mentees commit to spending a minimum of one year with the program and will see one another a minimum of one hour per week.

Do you know a child who could use a mentor? Have questions?
- If you live in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, or Suffolk, please contact Kim Foreman, Director, Mentoring Children of Prisoners program, at (757) 306-1840 or kforeman@setonyouthshelters.org.
- If you live in Hampton or Newport News, please contact Odessa Thompson, Peninsula Program Coordinator, at (757) 310-6157 or othompson@setonyouthshelters.org.