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In 2025, Friends of the Children will begin serving youth and families in Stockton, CA! Our vision is that one day, every child in Stockton 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.
Stay tuned - More to come!
Each child enrolled in the Friends – Stockton’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.
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.