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Before. Friends of the Children (Friends) is an intervention program for the most vulnerable children living in seriously high-risk environments. Vision.
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Friends of the Children (Friends) is an intervention program for the most vulnerable children living in seriously high-risk environments Vision • Teachers, Firefighters, and Friends*—Friends will become part of the “social fabric” of our communities; helping our nation’s most vulnerable children develop the relationships, goals, and skills necessary to break the cycles of poverty, abuse, and violence and become contributing members of their community Service model • Most vulnerable children are selected based on research-based risk factors • Children receiveearly interventionstarting in kindergarten or first gradeandlong-term mentoring and support continuing through high school graduation • Children spendone-on-one quality timewith a “Friend” who is a full-time, carefully selected, and trained professional • Children are offeredcomprehensive services to meet their academic, social, emotional, and physical needs Outcomes for children • Avoid involvement in criminal justice system • Avoid early parenting • Graduate from high school with a plan for the future
Friends’ unique program is specifically designed to identify and support our nation’s most vulnerable children Identify the most vulnerable children early… …and provide them with a supportive, qualified adult … and holistic services over a sustained period of time • Proactive child selection process • Research shows that early risk factors can identify young children most likely to fall victim to later serious negative outcomes • Friends works with schools in high-poverty areas to select children based on risk factors and then conducts extensive outreach to families to enroll children • Early intervention • Children enter by the end of first grade • Supportive, qualified adult • Professional Friends • Full time, paid employees • College educated • Are experience and talented working with high-risk youth • Selected through rigorous hiring process • Receive extensive initial and ongoing training • Are highly supported and supervised by program staff • Holistic approach • Friends develop quality one-on-one relationship with child • Meet with each child 8 times for 16 hours/month • Develop and update individualized goal plan for child • Engage in community service and other activities • Friends and program staff work to support each child’s academic, physical, emotional, social, and mental health needs
Demonstrated potential of the unique service model sparked interest across the country and led to the creation of the national network Oregon Initiative (Salem & Eugene) opened Cincinnati, New York City, San Francisco, Wilmington opened National office, Klamath Falls and Seattle opened Chester opened Washington DC opened Portland opened Source: Friends of the Children
4.…needed to successfully implement these strategies 2…..to provide these activities and services 1. National Friends needs these resources 3….so that chapters have these elements 5.…to produce these outcomes among children and youth • Qualified and Effective Personnel • with Expertise in: • Management • Business/strategy planning • Program Development and Quality • Assurance • Management of quality, including database and reporting system • Curriculum development for child and adolescent programming • Training of supervisors and child serving staff • Evaluation management • Developing and maintaining collaborative partnerships • Infrastructure/Operations • Financial and HR systems, including hiring practices • IT • Financial Sustainability/ • Development • Fundraising with national and local major donors • Developing/testing fundraising strategies including new products • Marketing and Public Relations • Grant writing (government and foundations) • Government Relations (lobbying) • Developing and maintaining corporate Partnerships • Board Members with • Commitment to Friends of the Children • National connections (corporate, foundations, individuals) • Expertise in a substantive area (finance, law, public relations, national organizations) • Willingness to help with fundraising • Budget to support personnel High Quality Friends ·High quality Friends who remain in relationship for a minimum of four years with a monthly minimum of 6-8 contacts of 16 hours with each child ·Friends with an associates degree or more (preferred); a minimum of two years direct experience with children living in seriously high-risk environments; safe driving record ·Friends who work with no more than 8 children Selection of Vulnerable Children Living in High Risk Environments ·Children served by each chapter meet specified screening criteria (see risk and protective factors chart) ·Children identified by the end of the first grade ·Children selected in collaboration with credible and supportive community organizations ·A working relationship with child’s parents or guardians High Quality Program Resources and Support, Directly or through Partnerships ·A safe space for Friends and children ·Educational support services ·Physical, emotional and social services ·Caregiver support for basic needs and appropriate interventions when necessary for child’s progress ·A strong working partnership with schools ·A commitment to program children through high school and as they move within the service area Financial Sustainability/Development ·Personnel with development expertise ·Engaged and effective board ·Sound and active development plan, including local major donors ·Sound and active marketing and PR plan ·Adherence to national branding standards ·Diversified funding base ·In-kind and volunteer resources Program Development • Lead efforts to refine the program • Provide assistance in addressing ad hoc program questions • Quality Assurance • Establish standards and best practices for chapters; • Review outcome data for children and assist chapters in using data to improve program • Assist chapters in selecting and retaining both children and Friends • Provide curriculum and training for Friends, supervisors, Executive Directors • Conduct site visits, provide coaching • Assist chapters in identifying gaps; suggest strategies for addressing gaps • Infrastructure/Operations • Provide support for hiring qualified and effective Executive Directors • Establish standards for accounting, HR, and insurance; provide templates and free/fee-based support for implementation • Assist in Board development (clarify roles, orientation, training, support) • Implement regular processes to share information/lessons learned through intranet, conference calls, meetings • Establish database system including forms, software, hardware; • Financial Sustainability/Development • Coordinate donor prospects • Provide marketing/PR strategy and selected products, materials (like sponsorship); train chapters • Provide case statement, framework and assist chapters in developing strategic plans including growth and development plans; Board, ED training • National Evaluation • Provide leadership in seeking funds for and in managing program research, longitudinal evaluation study • Dissemination of evaluation results • An enduring high-quality relationship • for each child with a professional • paid) mentor (the Friend) • One-on-one long-term positive relationship • Individualized plans for success for each child • Review progress semi- annually • Friends who have the knowledge, • experience, and ability to provide skill • building and/or resourcesfor: • Social development • Emotional development, including anger management • Academic development • Problem solving/making positive choices • Appreciation of own culture and cultures of others • Skills that build towards independent living (i.e. hygiene, nutrition, time management, social courtesies, budgeting) • Development of individual talents and interests • Participation in meaningful and quality extracurricular activities and community service. • Program resources and support, • directly or through partnerships, in • the following areas of need: • Services for children, including physical, emotional and educational support, community service activities, special talent opportunities • Services for caregivers, including referral to social services • A safe space for Friends and children to gather To start the business planning process, Friends developed a comprehensive Theory of Change for the network Helping our most vulnerable children living in seriously high-risk environments develop the relationships, goals, skills, and resources necessary to thrive. • Intermediate • Social and Emotional • Development • Strong relationships with adults, peers, and community • Improved mental and emotional health • Making Good Choices • Reduced aggression and problem behaviors • Avoidance of substance abuse • School Success • Academic performance and progress (attendance, appropriate classroom behavior, progression in reading/math/ computer literacy and promotion) • Other • Improved health care (both physical and mental including reproductive when appropriate) • Plan and skills for the future (post high school) • • Long-term • Avoid Involvement in the Criminal Justice System • Avoid Early Parenting • Succeed in School with a minimum of a high school diploma (1st choice) or GED
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What makes a good story? What makes a good story? BARRIER PROTAGONIST BARRIER BARRIER INCITING INCIDENT GOAL ACT I ACT II ACT III STRUCTURE RESOLUTION
Meet A.J. In elementary school, he was suspended 22 times. In one year. He lived with his mother in a rundown neighborhood, surrounded by gangs and drugs. He was just the kind of child we look for.
We matched A.J. with a Friend who would be a positive force in his life -- four hours each week, 52 weeks each year, until A.J. graduated from high school.
Today, AJ (#2 in the photo) is a star player for Jefferson High School. He’s being recruited by Division I colleges and will probably receive a full scholarship. His life has turned around. And that’s just the kind of result we work for.
Friends of the Children was founded in 1993 by Duncan Campbell. Duncan was an “at-risk youth” before the term even existed. After succeeding in business, he decided to use his wealth to help kids just like he used to be.
We started in Portland with 24 children, and today we have 11 chapters serving nearly 700 children across the United States. Seattle Portland Cincinnati Salem Eugene New York KlamathFalls Wilmington Chester San Francisco Washington
Our work is based on a bedrock principle: The single most important protective factor that fosters resiliency in high-risk children is a caring and sustained relationship with a supportive adult.
These adults, whom we call “Friends,” are full-time, paid professionals who bring both experience and heartfelt commitment to working with at-risk children.
Our Friends are diverse: 60% are people of color, 50% are women, ages range from the twenties to the fifties, and they come from all walks of life.
Each Friend receives extensive training, supervision, and support from our program staff.
Each Friend works with no more than 8 children. Each child has a Friend from 1st through 12th grade.
Friends also maintain regular contact with each child’s family to keep us connected to the most important influences in the child’s life.
We set 3 clear, measurable goals for each child in our program: • Graduate from high school with a positive plan for the future. • Avoid involvement in the criminal justice system. • Avoid early parenting.
Based on results from our Portland chapter alone, we can already see that Friends of the Children is making a difference…
98% of children in our program are still in school, and 97% have passing grades.
Friends of the Children also benefits the larger community by removing costs that can be incurred when at-risk children do not receive early and sustained care… Becoming a career criminal $1.3 million Becoming a teen mother $800 thousand Dropping out of high school $500 thousand 0.0 0.5 1.0 $1.5M Total lifetime cost to society and taxpayers per individual (net present value.)
And when compared on a per-child basis, the annual cost of supporting an individual in our program is considerably less than the alternatives taxpayers often must bear. $50,000 $47,000 $50,000 $40,000 $27,000 $30,000 $20,000 $8,100 $10,000 Annual Cost Residential care program Juvenile incarceration Adult incarceration Friends of the Children
“In my professional life, I’ve seen only a few programs that I think have a shot at really making a difference. What [Duncan Campbell] created in Portland could change the way this country tries to help its children.” Gary Walker, President Public/Private Ventures
And that’s only part of our story. To find out more, please call Vanessa Wilkins at 503.281.6633, or visit us on the Internet at www.friendsofthechildren.com.
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