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At Friends of the Children, we are now serving more children and families than ever before! Over the past decade, Friends of the Children has expanded from 5 to 41 locations nationwide. This growth spans rural, Indigenous, suburban, and urban communities across 22 states, including partnerships with Sovereign Tribal Nations: the Oglala Lakota Nation, the Confederated Salish-Kootenai Tribes, and the Klamath Tribes.Our national network collaborates with community leaders, school systems, government agencies, foundations, and families nationwide to ensure every child who needs a Friend has one. Together, we are breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty, increasing access to mental health supports, and preventing youth from entering the foster care system.
Our model is both scalable and sustainable. We have built a national network of Friends – paid, professional mentors – who are changing the story for thousands of youth. We work with local champions to raise seed funding and provide technical assistance to launch each chapter. From hiring staff to establishing accounting procedures, and implementing the model with fidelity, we set each chapter up for success from the start.
We take our model to communities that see us as an answer to a unique challenge. Whether it's a solution to preventing gun violence in Chicago, providing a "life navigator" in Charlotte or filling a gap for parents transitioning out of foster care in Los Angeles, we listen to the community and demonstrate how our model can address their challenges.
We have 30 years of data to prove that our innovative model works. That's because we set goals that are fueled by our entrepreneurial spirit. We know what works, and we continue to adjust along the way so that we can address each community's unique challenges. We're taking an innovative approach in these specific areas:
Our sustainable, scalable and data-driven model has the potential to reach youth in every city that needs us. If you are interested in bringing Friends of the Children to your community, click the Learn More button below to read our New Chapter Foundational Elements presentation.