Thursday, April 19, 2007

Religious youth ministries should reach out to kids with incarcerated parents

I thought this artwork was an interesting choice for a religious Texas youth camp:
The event isn't aimed at kids of incarcerated parents and really doesn't have anything to do with prison as far as I can tell (see their promo video on YouTube), but it got me thinking. I went to church camp as a kid, and for the most part remember the experiences fondly. A quick tour around the web shows quite a few churches sponsor them still, typically with parents paying $160 - $185 for a week of peace and quiet while their kids are gone out in the woods.

I wonder if many churches offer scholarships to such events for children of incarcerated parents? It seems like it'd be a good idea, both to reach out to kids who may not get such opportunities and also as a first step toward integrating youth ministries with prison ministries. I get the impression that a lot more churches focus on ministering to the ex-offender once they're out than they do their families while they're in - IMO both are important.

UPDATE: Longtime prison rights activist Joan Burnham lets us know in the comments:
There is a camp program that is specifically for children of incarcerated parents, sponsored by the Episcopal Dicoese of Texas, called Camp Good News at Camp Allen, Navasota, TX. (July 29-August 3,ages 10-15). It is an outstanding program and has been operating for several years. There is no charge to families. I worked with the program while the ED of TIFA and continue to do so in my current role (chair) of the Austin/Travis County Reentry Roundtable. Check out the TIFA website (www.tifa.org) for more info/application form and/or Dr.Ed Davi, Camp Coordinator at (936) 291-3153.

5 comments:

  1. Scott, that's a great idea.. I'll work on it. Several roadblocks immediately come to mind - the prison system is incredibly frustrating to work in. Just getting in to visit a guy that no one has seen in 30 years is hard. I imagine that it would have to be some type of non-system registry. And then there is the problem of getting churches to put their youth on the front line. Yeah, I know, sounds funny but it is oh so true. Anyway, thanks for the idea.

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  2. Thanks, David! A non-system registry is definitely what I had in mind - TIFA could help, I bet, or many local newspapers and radio stations would probably do PSAs. I bet it wouldn't be hard to fill up scholarship slots.

    As for putting "youth on the front line," I'd say on the one hand it's the parents who committed a crime, but on the other it's reasonable to expect some such kids to have special needs or potential trouble fitting in with unfamiliar kids and to require extra attention. I don't deny that could be an issue to plan ahead for, though not a huge one. They're still kids - take 'em to camp and most would just enjoy themselves like everybody else.

    That said, I would remind any fearful parents of two things Christ said: "Even as you have done unto the least of these, you have done it unto me," and "suffer the little children to come unto me." Then ask them WWJD? best,

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  3. Yep. Prisons are a lush recruiting haven for Islamic fundamentalism and all sorts of Christian feel good religions. Dogmas of self-justification are easy substitutes for the designer [designed by criminals to be more addictive and profitable than they were when they were legal] drugs on the street.

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  4. Scott, there is a camp program that is specifically for children of incarcerated parents, sponsored by the Episcopal Dicoese of Texas, called Camp Good News at Camp Allen, Navasota, TX. (July 29-August 3,ages 10-15). It is an outstanding program and has been operating for several years. There is no charge to families. I worked with the program while the ED of TIFA and continue to do so in my current role (chair) of the Austin/Travis County Reentry Roundtable. Check out the TIFA website (www.tifa.org) for more info/application form and/or Dr.Ed Davi, Camp Coordinator at (936) 291-3153. We work to get the word out to churches and other organizations. Joan Burnham

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  5. Scott: The Episcopal Diocese of Texas has been running a camp for children of the incarcerated for six years at Camp Allen near Navasota Texas. The dates are July 29-August 3. The Episcopal Diocese of North West Texas has camp for these at-risk children in June of each year near Amarillo. Both camps are free. For more info Contact Dr. Ed Davis at edsalpc@yahoo.com or Rev Roland Rose at dnrose@suddenlink.net.

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