CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED PARENTS INITIATIVE

Description

C.O.I.P.I. has partnered with many outside groups to address the unmet needs for children of incarcerated parents. Our partners include Reach A Youth-Teach A Youth, Angel Tree Network, 144 Urban Farms LLC, Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, Central State University.

COIPI has created the Hamilton County Inner City 4-H Initiative. Gathering a network of small farms and resources, COIPI recruits and engages community volunteers to serve as club advisors for the 4-H Initiative. Currently there are 28 club advisors recruited by COIPI throughout Cincinnati.

We have formed a 4-H remote controlled boat and car racing club, complete with the Mallory Maintenance Recovery Team and Buchy Mechanic & Repair Shop. Through this and other 4-H STEM programs it is our goal to instill problem solving, creative and critical thinking characteristics in young people.

COIPI believes that the inner cities have been ignored by STEM and agricultural opportunities for too long. We are working hard to bring hands-on activities to engage the youth in values-based learning. COIPI and our partners support Central State University Extension an HBCU in growing the 4-H presence in the city.

C.O.I.P.I. believes that in order to strengthen and grow our communities we have to be strong within them first. These programs will also allow children to take pride in knowing how to provide for themselves, and even give them access to rural farming experiences.