Amachi Pittsburgh

We seek to empower, nurture, and protect those most vulnerable to the criminal justice system. We work to amplify the voices of youth & families; activate a community of support; and advance policy & practice to drive equity and justice.

Amachi Pittsburgh raises awareness and delivers services to give children a fighting chance in Allegheny County-- when the community is knowledgeable about the challenges that they face, children have the support they need to thrive. This awareness creates policy-level change so that youth are unburdened from a system that has made them more vulnerable to the criminal justice system. Our service model is holistic and encompasses a variety of resources and services. Since our creation in 2003, Amachi is the only organization in the region of our kind with a focus specifically on children with incarcerated parents, especially with our focus on family and youth. Considering there are approximately 8,500 children in Allegheny County that have at least one incarcerated parent, the need for our programs is vast, and the resources for them are tiny.

Amachi addresses these challenges by recognizing that youth cannot be effectively served in isolation, particularly considering the trauma and compounding challenges encumbering this population, and our proven, outcomes-based programming integrates family strengthening support. This unique, integrated model of complementary programs for teens addresses a broad spectrum of needs and offers a holistic approach consisting of:
• Mentoring to reduce the likelihood of young people perpetuating the intergenerational cycle of imprisonment. Based on the strengths, needs, and interests of our teens, mentoring pairs establish goals and commit to meeting a minimum of four hours per month for at least a year, engaging in activities conducive to positive youth development. Typically, 70-80% of matches extend their commitment beyond one year and the average match lasts three years.
• Family strengthening and reunification support to bolster family ties that help increase healthy family functioning as well as reduce trauma for children and recidivism when parents re-enter society. Workshops, resources and other activities are provided.
• Amachi Ambassadors youth leadership development program to empower teens to champion their own cause, become civically engaged and impact systems level change by using their powerful voices and compelling stories. Youth participate in monthly training/workshops and are equipped with tools to raising public awareness, educate policy makers, identify pressing issues and develop youth-led solutions.

Amachi's excellent track record has been documented through evaluation by university partners. Program participants routinely demonstrate positive decision making, they thrive socially and academically, exhibit self-control, are better equipped to solve problems, feel important and are themselves breaking the intergenerational cycle of incarceration. Specifically, while statistics suggest that youth will follow the path of their parents behind bars, Amachi's youth have proven otherwise with at least 92% of mentees avoiding any involvement with the justice system.