Our Solution

  • Encourage

    We initiate contact with the inmate through the warden.

    We encourage the incarcerated parent to become part of the child’s life.

    We help define the roles and responsibilities of the incarcerated parent.

  • Engage

    We help restore the foundation of the family unit through mending the relationship.

    We engage the parent through restorative activities.

    Both the parent and child commit to the program.

  • Educate

    We provide the child with financial support for post-secondary education until they graduate from college or the like.

    Child continues to excel educationally, emotionally and relationally.

  • Empower

    We promote accountability and offer academic mentoring.

    Child maintains a good educational standard in school.

    Child is influenced by parental encouragement and support.

Proverbs 226, is a ministry which is aimed at fighting one of the most dangerous trends in America: the uncontrolled incarceration of children.

Here are the staggering statistics that face US, at present:

  • If a child has a parent in prison today, there is an 82% PROBABILITY that the child will end up in prison.
  • In 2014 estimated spending on prison population was $74 Billion / year.

Lack of Education:

  • 1 out of 8 children in the US drop out of school. Today’s at-risk population of potential drop outs is 6,680,625.
  • 75% of the crime in the US is committed by high-school dropouts.
  • 78% of the prison population lacks post-secondary education (compared to 49% of general population).
  • Studies show that graduating from college programs can decrease recidivism by 72%.
  • A 2007 study estimated that society can save @ $209,000 in cost for every potential dropout who completes high school.

Young Offenders:

  • Every day we send @ 4,500 children (below the age 18) to prison in the US!!!
  • Over 10,000 children are serving time in prisons. 3,000 of those are children below the age 13 serving time for life without parole.
  • A handful of these kids are spending time in supermax solitary confinement with no human contact for 23 hours per day.
  • Due to the increasing population of young offenders going into prison, the average age of inmates in US is decreasing.

Proverbs226 Solution:

  • Proverbs 226 is a nonprofit 501(c)3 committed to making a “Generational Impact” by making a difference in the life of a child, one child at a time.
  • The vision is to impact one million children with an incarcerated parent in the next 10 years by providing college scholarships, mentoring and restoring broken relationships in communities.
  • If we can stop one million children from going into prison between now and 2033, we can save tax payers close to $254b, ultimately saving $.25 cents for every dollar spent by the federal government.
    • Proverbs 226 work will save the country $1 million for every 5 children that go to college.
    • 1200 of these kids going to college will save the US $254m.
    • The goal is to save 1 million children.
    • Change the lives of these children and reduce the $billions a year we are throwing away.

Overall Assessment:

If these trends continue, it is estimated that we will send as many as 8 million children to state and federal facilities in next 10 years. By 2022 it is estimated that America will spend as much as $300 Billion / year on this problem.

Growth Pattern in the last 3 years

  • In 2012 we had 120 children in the program.
  • In 2013 we increased to 450.
  • In 2014 the number increased to 1300.
  • In 2015 the estimate is 5000 children connected through 10 prisons.
  • The number of inmates signing up to have their children added to visitation has increased over 800% – in the end, lives are changing!