Staff: Jennafer Butland

Jenna Butland is an East Coast transplant to Los Angeles, although after over fifteen years here she considers it home. She has spent over twenty years working with children in various capacities and sees providing kids with a loving, stable environment as one of her defining accomplishments. Now she is excited to transfer the skills and knowledge she has acquired during that experience to Friends of the Children.

One of her core principles is to “do what you can, where you are, with what you have” (Theodore Roosevelt) and she strives to attain that belief in all her interactions with kids by being present and open. She credits her ability to connect with kids to a foundation based in consistency and understanding. Integral to that philosophy is listening to what kids are saying and meeting them where they are at emotionally and intellectually.

In her free time she enjoys going to live music events, her connections with friends and family, rooting for her beloved Boston sports teams, and being active in nature. Jenna also considers herself a life-long learner and is always looking for ways to expand her knowledge in areas of interest in academics and culture.