Supporting Children of Incarcerated Parents
Filed by Michael Cross in Feature, Local News, News.
October 12, 2011
State House Speaker Kris Steele was awarded the first ever Big Brothers Big Sisters Governor’s Award at an event at the state Capitol on Wednesday.
Speaker Steele is getting the award for his work as the Big Brother of a 7th Grade Shawnee Middle School student and support of a program which helps children of incarcerated parents.
Steele says children who have parents in prison face countless challenges including the risk of ending up behind bars as well.
“Big brothers and big sisters exists I believe to make sure that every child in Oklahoma has the opportunity to succeed.”
The Amachi project in Oklahoma has helped 2,600 children over the last six years by providing mentors to offer support at least once a week.
The Oklahoma Kids Count Factbook estimates there are more than 27,000 children in Oklahoma who have a parent in prison.
events
