The IMCOP Project initiative, a partnership between Illinois Department of Human Services and Chicago Area Project seeks to foster positive, long term, one-on-one relationships between mentors over age 19 and school-age children (ages 4 – 18) of incarcerated parents.  

This effort is intended to promote positive childhood/adolescent development and, thereby, reduce risk-taking behaviors and potential involvement in the criminal justice system.  The ultimate goal is to afford children relationships that have the capacity to build trust, promote positive self-regard, and enhance their capacity for attachment. 

Mentors are recruited through partnerships with faith-based and community-based organizations in targeted communities then screened, matched and supervised by CAP.