The Optimistic Futurist: Removing bars to success

I am often asked how I can be optimistic when I spend so much of my time studying problems facing society. The answer is that no matter how big or scary the problem, I can find someone, someplace, who has figured out a way to solve it in a manner the rest of society can imitate.

In past columns I have discussed the importance of what we call “role models” in the creation of a better future for individuals and society as a whole. For example, a month or so ago I wrote that younger sisters of girls who have an unplanned out-of-wedlock pregnancy are virtually certain to imitate their big sisters and become out-of-wedlock teen mothers themselves. I also told you of the existence of successful programs to head that off, by offering alternative role models. (You can see the column and others in the library of past columns at www.TheOptimisticFuturist.org).

Here is another challenge: 1 in 30 United States citizens has been found guilty of breaking some law and is in some way involved in our justice system, such as through probation or parole. At any one time, 1 out of every 100 of our citizens is behind bars — the highest percentage of any nation in the world.

And according to the Department of Justice, these people behind bars have children just like the rest of us who look to their parents as role models; 1 in 28 children have a “role model” parent behind bars. ... Hmmm. What kind of future does that indicate we are headed for?

Research done as far back as 2000 tells us that unless something is done, about 70 percent of the children of people who go behind bars wind up involved with the corrections system themselves. Digest that a moment — around three of every four children of a prisoner will themselves become a criminal. Unless something is done.

In 2000, three people — John DiIulio, professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania; Judy Vredenburgh, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America; and Rev. Dr. Wilson Goode Sr., former mayor of Philadelphia — met to discuss the dilemma of children with a parent in prison. Working together, they started recruiting mentors from 42 church congregations in Philadelphia, and the Amachi program was created.

Due to its success in its early years, the program attracted the support of churches, politicians (President G.W. Bush was an enthusiastic supporter), and many other institutions. Although funding is now eliminated from the federal budget, it received federal taxpayer support between 2003 and 2011.

There are now more than 250 versions of this program working in various parts of the United States, drawing thousands of adult volunteers from many churches and other organizations.

One good example is the Amachi Program located in Texas. Begun in 2006, it places children of prisoners in a special “Big Brother” program to have a second, more positive, role model. In some cases, the “little brother” or “little sister” will be paired with a fireman, and during visits to the fire station, the child is “adopted” by the whole fire crew. The program works with children starting at 6 years of age (the oldest you can be to join is 14), and the average child stays in the program with their “big brother” for 23 months. The results are astounding.

When kids act up badly in school in Texas, they are sent to a special classroom or school so they don’t disturb the other kids. Under the Amachi program, there has been a documented 88 percent reduction in the Amachi kids in the program being removed from the regular classroom. As far as imitating their parents, fewer than 1 in 50 of the children of prisoners has entered the criminal justice system — again, less than the national average. Better yet, 96 percent are promoted to the next highest grade — well above the promotion rate of the “normal” kids.

Due to its success at salvaging lives and lowering taxpayer costs for incarceration, the Amachi Program has spawned imitations in almost all 50 states.

As a futurist, I worry about the unfolding impact of modern society on the quality of our air, water, food, fuel and health. I also worry about the future safety of our citizens. Since the early 1980s, we have quadrupled the number of our citizens behind bars, without making significant steps to reduce the impact this has on the next generation. Fortunately, Amachi and similar programs are showing us that we can invent a better, safer and cheaper society.

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Francis P. Koster, Ed. D., lives in Kannapolis. For more information, visit his website: www.TheOptimisticFuturist.org.