No More Victims

 

Today it costs taxpayers $56,000.00 per child per year to be housed in a Texas prison. NMV kept hundreds of children from going to prison for almost the same amount.

Since the year 2000, NMV has served 700 students at M.D. Smiley High School where nearly 70 percent of the students are econom-ically disadvantaged. The school is located in one of the poorest communities in the Houston area. Since the NMV program was accepted by the high school not a single student who came for assistance has been arrested after graduating.Gang violence at the school has declined 70%, and arrests on campus have declined 75%.

 

COCI is honored to support NO MORE VICTIMS, INC. (NMV), Advocacy Agency for Newborns and Children of Incarcerated Parents in Houston, Texas. In 1993, we responded to the connection between children who have an incarcerated parent and those who end up in the justice system themselves. In the United States, there are 2.1 million children who have a parent who is incarcerated, and 8 out of 10 with at least one parent in jail will later end up in prison, making them twice as likely as other children to experience abuse and display violent disruptive behavior.
 

NMV focus is to assist risk children in preventing the continuing cycle of addiction, abuse, violence and incarceration by providing a safe facility for them to go.  Since the beginning of the program, we have found that by supporting the high school age children, they are better able to positively help their younger siblings. Since the year 2000, 700 students have graduated, attended college, joined the military or attended vocational school. There is no doubt that NMV is making a huge difference in the lives of these vulnerable children, and contributing to a more stable community. Student participation in the program has greatly improved behavior, grades and attendance creating an overall safer school environment.

 

 

 

Graduation Celebration, 2007, NMVI Students, M.D. Smiley High School

 

In 1993, Marilyn Gambrell established NMV, Inc. while serving as a parole officer with the criminal justice system. She was shocked and moved when she became aware that there are 2.1 million children who have a parent who is incarcerated, that 8 out of 10 with at least one parent in jail will later end up in prison themselves, and that these children are twice as likely as other children to experience abuse and display violent disruptive behavior. These children are likely to be beaten, raped and molested. Some engage in illegal activities and self-mutilation.

Living Smart #204: Healing At Risk Children
27 min - Jul 13, 2006
Guest marilyn gambrel talks about healing the at risk children of incarcerated parents
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=555909220741570562

Watch video here - Related videos