A group of locals want to help make the future better by giving children of inmates a caring hand.

The Adams County Coalition for Children and Youth recently received a $182,000 grant to train mentors. Those mentors will then create a relationship with a child whose parent is in jail.

“If they can’t talk to that parent, it’s an opportunity to have someone to lean on,” said Chuck Mayfield, project director for the Children of Prisoners mentoring grant.

The program will pair an adult mentor with a youth and help strengthen the relationship for one year. After that, it’s up to them.

Mentoring is proven to be helpful, Mayfield said.

Roughly 70 percent of those who have a parent in prison wind up there themselves, case manager Alethia Lawrence said. Mentoring can change that.

“It gives them hope and lets them know they don’t have to repeat the cycle,” Lawrence said. “It plays a role in being something positive in these kids’ lives.”

The only federal grant of its kind to be awarded in the state, the money will help pay to train volunteers.

The coalition is bringing in some experts to help with the training. One Hundred Black Men has extensive experience with mentoring, so members of the Jackson chapter will help train future mentors.

And the coalition is looking for volunteers. It doesn’t take much, Mayfield said.

To qualify, a volunteer must be at least 21 years old, complete a background check, have personal references and commit to a one-year mentoring relationship.

“(The program) will include all races, religions and genders,” Mayfield said. “Mentors should be people who care about their community and the future of their community, which these children are.”

The coalition is holding a kickoff event to answer questions about the program.

The event will be held at 10 a.m., Feb. 23 at Abundant Life Church, 147 Lower Woodville Road.