Friends Of The Children - Seattle

Friends of the Children is a revolutionary program that is transforming the lives of our most vulnerable children. Through long-term mentoring relationships, we empower youth facing the toughest challenges to achieve their greatest potential. We provide our community?s most at-risk children with a Friend (Friend = Highly Qualified Full-Time Professional Mentor/Advocate) from kindergarten through high school graduation. 12 ½ years, no matter what. Our unique program takes a preventive, early intervention approach that breaks the cycle of poverty and abuse by helping children in need overcome the obstacles in their lives. In 1992, The Campbell Institute for Children conducted extensive research on resilient youth and the factors that influenced their success. The research found that the single most important protective factor that fosters resiliency in high-risk children is a caring and supportive relationship with an adult. Intervention and support must begin early, continue as the child matures, and consistently address the needs of the whole person. Utilizing the key findings and principles from this research, Friends of the Children was founded in Portland, Oregon in 1993 by Duncan Campbell, an entrepreneur, himself a former at-risk child. After he achieved success in the timber industry, Mr. Campbell put his energy and wealth into the establishment of a mentorship program that supports children, throughout their entire schooling career, to be successful, productive members of society. Thirteen years later, 35 mentors help guide and support 275 children who attend more than 97 different schools throughout the Portland-metropolitan area. Friends of the Children-Seattle began in 2000, as Mr. Campbell invited other entrepreneurs to join with him to form independently incorporated non-profit Friends of the Children organizations in nine communities throughout the country. In 2000, the Seattle program became an independent non-profit and recruited two full-time mentors who served 16 children from Thurgood Marshall Elementary School. Since then, the program has grown exponentially. Friends of the Children currently mentors 99 children from schools throughout Seattle and south Snohomish County, with eleven full-time mentors.

Friends of the Children is the only program in the nation that connects young children with paid, professional mentors for 12 ½ years. During kindergarten, children are matched with a full-time, professional mentor, called a Friend, who is experienced in child development. Friends spend a minimum of four hours of one-on-one time per week with each child, from the time the child enters kindergarten, through their completion of high school. Friends work with the children as well as their teachers, families and/or guardians to develop achievable short and long-term goals that build toward an overall personalized vision. Friends use activities and projects to help build the child?s skills and confidence to reach these goals. At least half of the time Friends spend with their children is focused on academic success. Outside of academics, the Friends enhance the children?s social, emotional and physical well-being.