BREAK THE CYCLE

Break the Cycle/Amachi of New Jersey is a movement that is aimed to lend to the development of children with one or both parents in prison. The mentoring program seeks mentors aged 55 and older to serve in their local communities. This program is sponsored by RSVP programs throughout the State of New Jersey.  NORWESCAP is proud to support this project throughout the State of New Jersey with the support of the Corporation for National Services (http://www.nationalservice.gov/)  and the Americorp VISTA project.

Break the Cycle/Amachi works with volunteers who have a wealth of life experience, skills and talents that allow them to learn first hand how their contributions can change their local communities. These volunteers are willing to commit to supporting, guiding, and being a friend to a child for one hour a week for at least one year. Mentors receive a comprehensive screening process and are required to: undergo criminal background checks, provide personal and professional references, and attend professional mentor training classes.

According to Public & Private ventures of Philadelphia, children of prisoners are six times more likely than other children to be incarcerated at some point in their lives. While there are many programs that assist those incarcerated, very little concentration is placed on the children of inmates and the directions that their lives are taking. Without effective intervention strategies, it is estimated that as many as 70% of these children will become involved with the criminal justice system. A positive mentoring relationship can result in improved school performance, self-confidence, and greater hope for the future.

Our belief is that the devoted attention of an adult spending quality time with a child of an incarcerated parent will strengthen the lives of children, their families, and our local community.  Break the Cycle/Amachi collaborates with many local organizations to better serve the children of incarcerated parents by developing sustainable partnerships with secular and faith-based organizations to provide a sound mentoring program for children of incarcerated parents.

Services

Professional Mentor Training

Comprehensive Screening Process and Match Process

Volunteer Match & Ongoing Volunteer Supportive Service

Eligibility

Volunteers that have had a criminal background check and are interested in mentoring a child for a minimum of one hour per week for one year.

Also, individuals interested in the AmeriCorps VISTA, a national service program designed specifically to fight poverty, should contact NORWESCP at 973-784-4900, ext. 109 or visit here:  http://www.americorps.gov/about/programs/vista.asp 

Information:

NORWESCAP

Morris, Sussex, Passaic & Somerset

230 Diamond Spring Road, 2nd floor

Denville, NJ  07834

973-784-4900, ext. 109/114

1-888-387-9830

Fax:  973-784-4904

NORWESCAP 

Warren & Hunterdon

540 Marshall Street

Phillipsburg, NJ 08865

908-387-9830

1-888-387-9830

Fax: 908-454-2968

Additional Counties

Mercer County

1985 Pennington Road

Ewing, NJ 08618

609-883-2880

609-883-2024 (FAX)

Email: btcmercer@gmail.com

Website: www.contactofmercer.org

Middlesex County

287 Handy Street

New Brunswick, NJ 08903

732-249-6330

732-545-3606 (FAX)

Si usted necesita esta enformacion en español por favor mande un email a baakmanm@norwescap.org