In 2024, Friends of the Children will begin serving youth and families in Coachella Valley! Our vision is that one day, every child in Coachella Valley who is at highest risk of the long-term effects of childhood adversity, like foster care, will have a Friend – a long term, salaried professional mentor who stays with them from pre-school through high school graduation, 12+ years, no matter what.

Each child enrolled in the Friends – Coachella Valley’s program will be paired with a paid, professional mentor called a Friend. For 12+ years, from ages 4 to 6 to high school graduation, Friends work with their youth in schools, at home, and in the community for 3 to 4 hours each week to build skills like problem-solving, perseverance, and self-management. These skills empower youth to pursue and achieve their goals in school and in life. Simultaneously, leveraging our two-generation approach, Friends will empower parents and caregivers to build their own skills as parents, advocate for themselves and their children, and increase connectedness to community resources that improve family stability.

Karrie Schaaf
Executive Director, Friends of the Children - Coachella Valley

MEET KARRIE SCHAAF

Executive Director, Friends of the Children - Coachella Valley

Karrie Schaaf comes to Friends of the Children with over 25 years of experience in youth and family advocacy, grant writing and nonprofit management. She moved to California’s Coachella Valley in 2018, coming from the Minneapolis area where she was a fierce advocate for youth experiencing homelessness. She is committed to driving positive change through intentional collaborations, community empowerment, and advancing systemic change.

Karrie’s son is her biggest pride and joy; second to him is co-founding HOPE 4 Youth, a thriving nonprofit serving youth experiencing homelessness throughout Anoka County, Minnesota. She assisted the Emma B. Howe YMCA in creating youth outreach and housing services in her community, while also working with area school districts in the development of their McKinney-Vento programs, which identified and served students and families experiencing homelessness. Most recently Karrie was the Executive Director of a Tribal TANF program which serves Native American families by promoting self-sufficiency and family strengthening activities.

Karrie received her Bachelor of Arts in Family Studies and Community Violence Prevention from Metropolitan State University. Karrie has received the Above and Beyond, Woman of Who Impact, and Community Hero Awards. In her free time, Karrie enjoys creating new plant-based recipes, hiking with her grand-dog, and advocating for others, including animals.

FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN OUTCOMES

92% of youth go on to enroll in post-secondary education, serve our country or enter the workforce.

83% of youth earn a high school diploma or a GED.

93% of youth remain free from juvenile justice system involvement.

98% of youth wait to parent until after their teen years.