The Model
Research of childhood risk and resilience factors indicates that one of the strongest single protective factors that a child can have is a close relationship with a caring adult who serves as a mentor and role model. Friends of the Children takes this research to its fullest conclusion by providing our most-at-risk children with a long-term, caring, consistent mentoring relationship.
Friends of the Children:
- Selects children who are most in danger of school failure, abuse, neglect, juvenile delinquency, gang and drug involvement, and teenage pregnancy. These are children who often live in poverty and many have been in foster care, on welfare, have parents who are incarcerated, or are homeless.
- Matches each child with a carefully screened, full-time, professional mentor (called a Friend). Each week, a Friend spends quality one-on-one time with each of eight children. Friends teach valuable life skills, instill positive attitudes, and help our children grow into responsible adults. By modeling healthy behavior, exposing children to new, positive experiences and caring for each child individually, Friends take an active, preventative approach to breaking the cycles of poverty, violence, and abuse.
- Intervenes early and commits for the long-term. Friends of the Children stays with each child from first grade through high school.
- Is outcome-oriented. It is our goal that, through the intervention of Friends, children in the program will:
- Avoid involvement in the criminal justice system
- Avoid early parenting
- Graduate from high school with a plan for the future
What are "Friends?"
Friends are full-time employees of Friends-Boston who work as mentors in the program for an average of four hours per week per child.
Why Pay Mentors?
Our mentors spend time with children consistently.
Even in established and respected mentoring programs, volunteer mentors make only a yearlong commitment and may leave the program suddenly when other obligations take priority in their lives or they experience the burnout common among volunteers. Leaving suddenly can jeopardize the child/mentor relationship, making the child feel resentful and betrayed rather than secure and supported. At Friends-Boston, each Achiever spends time with a Friend consistently throughout his/her twelve-year involvement in the program.
Our mentors spend time with children frequently.
Friends spend 16 hours a month with each Achiever. Other national mentoring programs require only two to four visits per month with a child. For children facing risk factors, that is not enough.
Our mentors give Achievers their full attention.
Friends are not preoccupied with or tired from their "real" jobs because being a Friend IS their real job. Friends receive ongoing training, support, and guidance from experts to help them cope with the challenges of mentoring. Friends are paid the equivalent of a teacher's starting salary, and receive excellent medical, dental, and retirement benefits.
What is an Achiever?
An Achiever is a child who is enrolled as a mentee in the Friends-Boston program. Many Achievers have a high degree of vulnerability to school failure, gang and drug involvement, teenage pregnancy, and criminal behavior as a result of the community and environment. Our program addresses the specific needs of children who are living in communities that make them statistically at-risk.
Friends work with Achievers for twelve years and assist parents and caregivers in developing the skills and experiences to graduate High School with college bound aspirations
How can my child become an Achiever?
Friends-Boston admits children upon their entrance into the first grade through a collaborative review process with local educational and child development professionals. To become an Achiever, your child must attend a Friends-Boston selection school.
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