Friends of the Children is the only mentoring program in the nation that employs paid, professional mentors who provide preventative, frequent, consistent, and sustained support to our country’s most vulnerable children. Each child is paired with a paid, professional Friend who spends a minimum of 16 hours each month of one-on-one time with him or her for the next twelve years of that child’s life. This model enables a child to form a trusting, caring, and sustained relationship with an adult that can truly change his or her life for the better.

Because our program is comprehensive, preventative, and holistic, we are able to catch children who fall through the cracks of other mentoring organizations:

• We intervene early. A Friend enters a child’s life by the kindergarten year, before negative behaviors have become ingrained. Early intervention enables a Friend to model and instill positive behaviors while there is still opportunity for growth.
• We commit for the long-term. We are committed to providing a Friend for our children from kindergarten through their high school graduation date. We keep this commitment to them unconditionally even when they move or change schools within our service area.
• We provide continuity in children’s lives. Friends permeate all areas of children’s lives: visiting their homes, collaborating with their families, supporting them at school, and accompanying them in their communities. Friends are therefore able to provide continuity in these often-unstable environments and to serve as a link between the different facets of the child’s life. Friends also help children navigate difficult transitions and challenges in their lives.
• We employ professional mentors. Friends are full-time, trained, paid professional mentors who are hired for their experience and talent for working with high-risk children. Friends are educated, experienced, and have completed a thorough interview and screening process. Friends receive extensive training (both initial and ongoing) and close supervision and support from staff at Friends of the Children. Many Friends have previous experience working in the social work and teaching professions.
• We are more than just a mentoring program. Friends connect children and their families to other social services organizations that can meet their needs. Because Friends of the Children is a holistic, comprehensive program, we are actively involved in our children’s physical and mental health and development. A Friend can help a child buy school supplies or fix broken glasses, attend to illness or teach essential hygiene skills.