Mentoring is a proven potent force for improving youth outcomes.

A trusting relationship with a caring and compassionate adult will provide stability and often a profound, life-changing effect on the child. Everyone benefits from the mentoring process: the mentees and their families, the mentors and the community at large.

The On Track Mentoring Children of Prisoners (MCP) program is designed to provide hope, guidance and services to children
of prisoners throughout Orange County who have one or both parents incarcerated in a Federal, state or local correctional facility. Research has found that children of incarcerated parents
are 7 times more likely to become involved in the juvenile
and adult criminal justice systems. Witnessing and living
with the arrest and incarceration of a parent is devastating for
children and families.

The process of finding and identifying a child of a prisoner,
as well as the process of recruiting a qualified mentor, doing
a criminal background check, and training and monitoring
the mentors is a complex process. However, once the On Track mentor/mentee match has been made and the mentoring process
has begun, it is truly a win/win opportunity for the families, the communities and everyone involved.

On Track provides seminars and parenting classes to the caretakers (parent or relative) and conflict resolution training to the children. Once the mentors/mentees are matched, On Track stays in contact through activity notes, calls, e-mails, and special events. Mentors, mentees and their families are encouraged to attend the special
events sponsored by On Track throughout the year.


The results of matching a caring, trained On Track mentor
with the child of a prisoner have been life changing and heartwarming. Parents are thrilled to have a mentor for their
child, and the children love having a reliable, compassionate mentor. Many teachers and principals have informed On Track
that they are pleased with the positive changes in attitude,
behavior, and grades of the mentored children.
Everyone benefits!
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