Research has shown that the single most important factor for building resiliency in children who face the highest risks is a long-term, consistent relationship with a caring adult.
Our children are statistically at serious risk of continuing the cycle of poverty in their own lives.
Moving mentorship out of the volunteer realm is a key component to getting the quality, consistency and commitment that our children need. Several of our Friends have been with us for 20 years; the average tenure is over 7 years.
We commit to every child for the long term, from kindergarten through graduation. 12.5 years. No matter what.
Each child gets a dedicated, one-on-one Friend who spends a minimum of 16 intentional hours per month with them. We develop a road map for each child and design activities to build life skills. We create meaningful experiences to explore each child’s unique talents and interests.
Friends spend time in each child’s home, school, neighborhood, and community. They are able to provide continuity in these often unstable environments and serve as a link between the different facets of the child’s life. This means we advocate for children at their school and become someone their family trusts in emergencies.
We are in an ongoing longitudinal randomized control trial conducted by researchers affiliated with the University of Washington, Princeton University, and University of Oregon. We are also assessed annually by an independent third-party evaluator. This allows us to continue to identify ways to make our program stronger.
It isn't just a job.
Often, the Friend is the only person the family calls when a crisis occurs.
83% of our youth graduate high school
98% of our youth avoid early parenting
92% of our youth enroll in post-secondary education, serve our country, or enter the workforce
93% of our youth avoid the juvenile justice system
Friends of the Children – Los Angeles (Friends L.A.) pairs children, ages 4-6, of parenting foster youth with a salaried, professional mentor (a Friend) who stays by their side for 12+ years, no matter what. Friends help youth navigate life, building on their personal strengths and empowering families to access the resources available to them. We combine the strength of our long-term relationships with the expertise of community service providers to meet the unique needs of each of our program youth and their families.
Who is eligible
To refer a child to our program, download and fill out the form available at the link below and email it to Valerie Esquivel, Program Manager, at vesquivel@friendsla.org.