Amachi Training Institute Gears Up for Year Two

This month marks the one-year anniversary for the Amachi Training Institute. In December 2003 the Institute was created to assist organizations across the country in the establishment of mentoring children of prisoners (MCOP) programs. Between December 2003 and November 2004, the Institute held 20 sessions, during which 554 people, from 149 organizations in 93 cities in 32 states, were trained.

During the intensive one-and-a-half-day training sessions, participants learned best practices for contacting pastors and recruiting volunteers. Participants had the opportunity to hear from area pastors, who discussed their experiences with Amachi Philadelphia. Rose Orta, mentoring area coordinator for One by One Leadership, said she feels prepared to reach out to ministers in her area after participating in the “hands-on” workshop with pastors. She now knows how pastors prefer to be approached and which points she needs to cover during her explanation of the Amachi program. “I feel more comfortable that I actually heard what [the pastors] felt,” said Orta.

In addition to educating participants on partnering and maintaining relationships with congregations, the Institute trains organizations how to recruit children. Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode Sr. emphasizes the importance of recruiting volunteers prior to recruiting children. Children of incarcerated parents have been repeatedly disappointed throughout their lives, and therefore it is crucial that they be matched as soon as possible once they sign up for Amachi.

Institute attendees visit a Philadelphia correctional facility and witness Rev. Goode meeting with inmates to explain Amachi and recruit their children for the program. It was beneficial “getting to know the mothers,” said Orta. She said the visit was extremely helpful and that she left the correctional facility with “more of an understanding of the people we’re going to be helping.”

The prison visit “was necessary for us to see the seriousness of what we’re doing,” said Keith Norman, director of mentoring for Metro Atlanta Youth For Christ. “Those ladies felt [Rev. Goode’s] sincerity and his passion.”

Once Institute attendees have learned how to effectively recruit pastors and children, they learn efficient strategies for making and maintaining matches and data collection. Participants are given numerous sample forms and materials to use during the formation of their MCOP program. Some of the past Institute attendees have included administrators of Amachi programs, pastors of partner Amachi churches, representatives from local Prison Fellowship agencies and AmeriCorps*VISTA members who are working with local Amachi programs.

“The training that the VISTAs have been given through Amachi was wonderful, and it provided a sound basis for them to continue their service and gave them that enthusiasm and that shot in the arm that they needed,” said Jornia Ahmed, Pennsylvania State director for the Corporation of National and Community Service.

The majority of the Institutes are held in Philadelphia. Occasionally, an Institute is held off-site near a local Amachi program if a specific region has a number of participants who need training. The Institute expects to conduct two trainings per month during the first half of 2005.

Although Norman was already passionate about helping children, he said by attending the Institute, “you see the urgency” of the need for mentors of children of incarcerated parents. He said he would quickly recommend the training to others. “It will inspire you,” said Norman.

Winter 2004