The numbers don't lie. Seven out of ten children with family members in prison will follow the family tradition to a cell of their own. It's like the punishment for the crime falls first on the guilty and then on their children and their children's children. In Dallas/Fort Worth alone, there are 70,000 children who are exactly at this risk. Fortunately, you have the opportunity to support ministries and programs that mentor children.
Through mentoring, these children are:
Please invest in these ministries and programs by mentoring the ones who are most at risk.
Texas Sports Reach is a ministry commited to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to prisoners through sports and to provide them with opportunities for spiritual growth. It is made up of individuals who are commited to Jesus Christ and want to share him using sports as a tool.
Texas Sports Reach was started in 1998 and its primary focus is prison ministry. We have played softball in 8 different states and over 50 different prisons, including state, federal and private units. We have also played in numerous local sporting events where God’s love has been shared with men who would not ordinarily attend a traditional church service.
McNeil Island Correctional Center - Steilacoom, WA
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, approximately 2.2 million children age 17 and younger have a parent in prison. That's about 2.8% of all minor children in our country. A majority of the children with an incarcerated parent (58%) are under the age of 10 and the effects on their lives are profound. These children are typically impoverished and are behind in school. Up to 40% suffer neglect and physical abuse. All suffer from the social stigma of having an incarcerated parent. Some sources estimate that children of inmates are up to seven time more likely to end up in prison themselves.